Boston Celtics: 5 goals for Kyrie Irving in 2017-18

A fresh start for Kyrie Irving with the Boston Celtics can elevate his status in the NBA even further, while restoring true championship aspirations for the winningest team in league history.

Armed with the most impressive collection of future assets in the NBA, the Boston Celtics opted to finally cash in by acquiring Kyrie Irving in a blockbuster deal.

The stockpile of desirable draft picks acquired by general manager Danny Ainge were linked to numerous superstars throughout the league, with rumors circulated about DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Anthony Davis and other stars joining the Celtics.

As the 2017 NBA trade deadline passed, Boston opted to keep the core of its roster together. The cohesion led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals, giving the organization an enhanced look at Irving.

The 25-year-old guard thrived in the series, posting 25.8 points on 62.2 percent shooting. He also connected 15 times from 3-point range in the five-game series at a 50 percent clip. Along with his sizzling shooting performance, Irving added 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Irving unexpectedly demanded a trade out of Cleveland, providing the Celtics an opportunity to land the four time All-Star in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and a coveted first round pick from Brooklyn in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Boston is expecting Irving to propel the offense to even greater heights, even after the team ranked seventh in the league in scoring, posting 108 points per game.

During his six-year career, Irving has achieved plenty of individual success, including Rookie of the Year, All-Star Game MVP and a selection to the All-NBA Third Team. Irving sank the winning shot in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, capping a 26-point effort in the series finale.

Out from the shadows of LeBron James, Irving is now the central figure for a franchise with 17 championship banners. Here are five goals for Irving’s debut season with the Celtics.