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Pierce talks potential Kyrie departure: 'There is no loyalty to a franchise anymore'

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

NBA free agency has evolved into a game of musical chairs in recent years, with high-profile players from around the Association finding new homes at an alarming rate.

Kyrie Irving will soon get a crack at testing the open market himself when he potentially becomes unrestricted in the summer of 2019 should he opt out of his deal. While it's difficult to imagine the All-Star point guard leaving a young, promising title contender that could take a stranglehold over the Eastern Conference, Celtics legend Paul Pierce wouldn't be surprised to see Irving take his talents elsewhere.

"You know what? It’s hard to really get a read on the players these days. There are so many changes being made," Pierce told the Boston Sports Journal's Brian Robb. "Who would have expected Kevin Durant to go to the Warriors? (DeMarcus) Cousins to the Warriors? LeBron (James) to Miami a few years ago? Players are just showing that they have the control and the power to do what they want.

"There is no loyalty to a franchise anymore. You are not going to see a player stay with one franchise for 10-15 years. That’s the generation we live in. You have to brace for it. Guys want to play with certain teams, they want to play with certain guys they know, their friends. They’re showing they have the power.”

Related - Report: Kyrie's long-term intentions unclear; Nets, Knicks would pursue

"The Truth" was with the Celtics for 15 seasons after being selected 10th overall in the 1998 draft, and had stints with the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Clippers before retiring in 2017 on a one-day contract with Boston.

Irving - who hasn't given any indication that he's looking to leave Boston - is set to earn $20 million in 2018-19, with a player option of $21.3 million the following season. The crafty 26-year-old averaged 24.4 points and 5.1 assists in Celtic green after coming over from the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was absent for Boston's playoff run following successful surgery to remove two screws from his left patella.

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