We all know last season it seemed like the Cleveland Cavaliers had multiple franchise cornerstone pieces with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, but after the NBA Finals loss in 2017 we heard rumblings that the younger Irving wanted out. When you first heard the rumors you brushed it to the side as just a rumor, but as each day passed this rumor took a life of its own and started to become a reality. So, the star guard was traded to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, a can of paint and the 8th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Per ESPN
The Boston Celtics have acquired All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers for point guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and Brooklyn‘s 2018 unprotected first-round pick
Per NBA.com
The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded guard Isaiah Thomas, center Channing Frye and their own 2018 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr
The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guard George Hill from the Sacramento Kings and guard Rodney Hood from the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. Cleveland has also received the draft rights to Arturas Gudaitis from the Kings. In exchange, the Cavaliers will send guard Iman Shumpert, a 2020 second-round draft pick via Miami and the draft rights to Dimitrios Agravanis to Sacramento, and forward Jae Crowder, guard Derrick Rose and the right to swap second round picks in 2024 to Utah. The Kings will also receive forward Joe Johnson from the Jazz.
Thomas had a busted hip and is under 6 feet so adding one of the worst defensive players in the league on a team that can’t hide him was troublesome from the start, but they did get a coveted lottery pick for their star guard so all the milk wasn’t spilled. My question is with Irving still under contract why didn’t they just stand tall and try to work it out? You could see the Boston plan coming from a mile away they are on the road to being the Warriors of the East, but with LeBron and Kyrie you always have a shot.
After watching Game’s One and Two it is for certain that if they would’ve kept Irving they would have a strong chance at beating the Warriors, with all the active bodies they have and with how well Kevin Love is playing if you inserted Irving into this team the Warriors would be in trouble this year the stars would be aligned for the Cavs, but them not working it out with one of the best players in the league has league being the only consistent creator on his team and it isn’t enough to beat the Monstars “I mean the Warriors”.
Much props to LeBron you can’t bash him for his play at all, but if he had his second alpha male this year he would have a chance to tie the rivalry at two. Can the Cavs get a do over? Because not only are the Celtics built to last, this teams window may be closing right in front of our eyes. Let’s just hope they hit gold on the 8th pick this year or turn it into a trade for a superstar.
