Report: Kyrie preparing to sign with Nets

It appears where there was smoke, there's fire.

Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving is preparing to sign with the Brooklyn Nets when he becomes a free agent in July, a source told Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. Bulpett's source has ties to Roc Nation, the organization Irving is reportedly expected to hire as his new representation.

A source with a third team said that franchise has been told the same about Irving's preference, Bulpett adds. This all echoes a Wednesday report from SNY saying that the Knicks' Irving chase has cooled due to his believed desire to join the Nets.

Boston, meanwhile, hasn't received any concrete information about Irving's free-agency decision, according to Bulpett. The 27-year-old will reportedly decline his player option for the 2019-20 season.

Roc Nation and the Nets have been connected over the years.

Rapper and business mogul Jay-Z founded the entertainment company in 2008. He went on to own a minority stake in the Nets and helped the team move from New Jersey to Brooklyn. He sold his stake in 2013, however, after starting Roc Nation Sports, as NBA rules don't permit agents owning teams.

There are also family ties between Roc Nation and the Nets. Roc Nation's president, Michael Yormark, is the twin brother of Nets CEO Brett Yormark.