Danny Ainge confident Boston Celtics can keep Kyrie Irving

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is confident All-Star guard Kyrie Irving will commit to the team this summer.

The former No 1 overall pick can opt out of the final year of his contract this summer and test free agency.

The 26-year-old stated prior to the season his intention was to re-sign in Boston but sounded less sure of his future plans when quizzed earlier this month.

Speaking to reporters on February 1, Irving said: "At the end of the day, I'm going to do what's best for my career, and that's just where it stands. That's just where it stands. Ask me on July 1."

Those comments do not appear to overly worried the Celtics, with Ainge telling Boston sports radio 98.5 "The Sports Hub" on Friday, that the team and Irving still have an "engagement".

"The way I viewed the situation is that I think a lot of people, because of Kyrie's announcement at the beginning of the year, thought that it was a marriage," Ainge said of Irving's public proclamation last fall that he would remain with the Celtics instead of pursuing free agency.

"And I think that it's more like an engagement. And we're going to get married on July 1st. I think that engagement is still on, as far as I know.

"In my individual conversations with Kyrie, we're still engaged but we really can't make those vows, sign that contract until July 1."

On the season, Irving is averaging 23.8 points, 7.0 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game.