After a month of Kyrie Irving rumors, the Cavaliers and Celtics struck a mega-deal on Tuesday that sent the All-Star point guard to Boston in exchange for a package headlined by another All-Star point guard. In exchange for Irving, the Cavaliers received Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick (unprotected).
While there was plenty of speculation about the Celtics being a fit for Irving, it’s still a stunning deal — multiple All-Stars aren’t often included in the same trade, and the two top teams in a conference are often reluctant to deal with one another. So which side came out on top in the swap? Let’s break down the argument for each side…
For the Cavaliers:
After teams received somewhat underwhelming returns for stars like DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, and Paul George in recent months, there was some skepticism that the Cavs would be able to land an appealing package for Irving. Cleveland had wanted a return that would allow the team to stay competitive in the short term while building for the long term, but it appeared that the Cavs might have to compromise that stance.
That wasn’t the case, however. Thomas was one of the NBA’s leading scorers in 2016/17, and could potentially replicate Irving’s production if he’s healthy. Crowder, meanwhile, is a talented two-way player on an extremely affordable contract. He’s exactly the sort of player the Cavs will need to match up with the Warriors and Kevin Durant, and he’ll only cost Cleveland about $7MM per season for the next three years.
Zizic is a wild card, and while his Summer League performance showed that he may not be ready for a major role quite yet, there was plenty of enthusiasm for his long-term potential based on his play overseas last season. Finally, the Cavaliers also secured Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick. The Nets shouldn’t be quite as bad in 2017/18 as they were last year, but that pick still has a good chance to be a top-five choice, allowing the Cavs to land a young player with star potential.
Throw in the fact that the Cavs generated a modest trade exception (worth about $5.8MM) in the deal and slashed their projected tax bill by nearly $30MM, and that’s a pretty impressive return for a player who wanted out of Cleveland.
For the Celtics:
While the Celtics sacrificed some depth and future assets in the Irving blockbuster, the ability to go from Thomas to Irving is an upgrade in many ways, even if the two players posted similar numbers a year ago. Irving is three years younger than Thomas, making him a better candidate for a long-term, maximum salary contract.
Irving is also under team control on his current deal for at least one extra year (he can opt out in 2019), and is currently healthy, unlike Thomas, who is recovering from a hip ailment. Danny Ainge indicated in his remarks last night that Thomas’ hip injury was a concern for the C’s heading into training camp.
Losing Crowder, a reliable and affordable three-and-D wing, isn’t ideal for the Celtics, but the team added Gordon Hayward in free agency and has youngsters Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum poised to play larger roles — depth at the small forward position shouldn’t be an issue.
Boston likely would have preferred to keep Zizic as well, but he has yet to play a single NBA minute and his long-term outlook remains hazy. In recent years, the C’s have had to move on from a handful of young players that didn’t pan out, including R.J. Hunter, Jordan Mickey, Demetrius Jackson, and James Young — perhaps moving Zizic while he’s still considered a strong prospect will end up paying off.
The Celtics also parted with the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick, meaning Boston fans will no longer have to closely monitor Brooklyn’s position in the standings all season. It’s possible that first-rounder will turn into a future star, but the Celtics have three more first-round picks coming their way in the next two years – in addition to their own selections – and if the Nets take a step forward this season, that pick could end up being good, but not great.
Having traded three guaranteed contracts for one, the Celtics now have an open spot on their 15-man roster, which could come in handy later in the year — perhaps Boston looks to bring back Tony Allen to help replace Crowder’s defense? Even if they go in another direction, the C’s gained some added flexibility by opening up that roster spot.
What do you think? Did one side clearly come out on top in this trade, or did both teams do well? Or would you argue that this swap wasn’t ideal for either club? Vote below in our poll and then jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!
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Celtics, Thomas will be there 1 injury filled year, Crowder won’t mesh, the pick will be good but not great (4-6) and Zizic will be a solid center
Anyone that watched Zizic “play” in the Summer Leagues know that he was only included to make salaries work. IT expects a max contract next year and Celtics were not likely to give it to him. Crowder is a terrific player but with Hayward, Brown, Tatum, and others he was expendable. Irving the better all around point guard. And Celtics still have truck load of first round picks. C’s in better position now than before trade
I’m disappointed that there wasn’t a way to vote for the Lakers in the pole. Bevause Lebron is gone.
Not really. This actually feels like a last ditch effort to get LeBron to stay.
Huh ?
Cavs should add Marc gasol or porzingis with that pick and triston. More length and stretching the center to the 3 point line makes lebron and IT scary
Yes but there are other things to move besides Brk’s#1 for Gasol. NY sounds commited to Porzingis and he’s not finished yet anyway. The next draft offers possibly equal but more stable talent. I might wish Zinger played in a less wound-up location… I hope he does not go all Darryl Strawberry… :/
If they get gasol for less than awesome but they need to stretch the 5 position and touch zaza like the dragons did the white walkers
Cavs should move triston and that pick for Marc gasol or porzingis. More length and stretches the center to the 3 point line
Knicks wouldnt do that
I doubt the Grizzlies would either
Grizzlies need to rebuild and the 1st overall pick is the fastest way to do it
Hard to rebuild with Conley and Parsons on max deals for another 3 years
The Knicks won’t do that. Also the Cavs won’t trade a lottery pick for Gasol.
I wonder if the cavs use the nets pick to try and snag a young upcoming star instead of hanging on to it themselves.
Translating the two salt merchants above: “Plz plz pretty plz LeBron come play in LA! We’re tired of not winning and watching bad basketball! We’ll cry if you don’t play for the Lakers… or the Clippers, sure, So Cal types are happy to bandwagon jump.”
Two years from now when Kyrie is killing the CAVS, CAVS fans will ask themselves, “Now who did we get for Kyrie again?” and I’m a CAVS fan.
Celtics win.
Agree man I’d honestly rather lebron leave than kyrie. Kyrie is just reaching his prime and will be a top 5 player for years.
Cavs had no chance this year with kyrie. Maybe IT and crowder help them when lebron is resting because kyrie wasn’t able to hold it down. Probably not enough but nice to shake things up
You’d rather have Kyrie than LeBron? That makes zero sense
In two years, you poor Cavs fans will be watching your opponent drive right past your 5’7 point guard for an easy post up, plus the foul. And I’m sure you’ll love the really mean stares Crowder will make at the other team when he misses wide open 3 after wide open 3. Also, don’t worry about Zizic bc within two years at the rate hid administration is going, Trump will tear up his work visa and have INS raids your locker room to deport him for “taking American jobs” lol
Cavs did the best they could in the deal. But ya if the young players around kyrie pan out celtics could be the next super team
Love the perennial “X player is going to the Lakers anyways”. Because every year they don’t and every year its a new player
Here’s the thing: BOTH teams did great. I bleed green through and through, but you can’t deny how well Cleveland did. To get Brooklyn’s pick (even if it has lost some luster since the offseason started) is a great move. Then getting Jae Crowder was such a great get for Cleveland. He’s on such a team friendly contract and can be a great 6th man for the Cavs. Obviously adding Isaiah is nice for them, but the other assets are just as good of value.
That said, Boston did fantastic too. They somehow upgraded the PG spot in getting Kyrie. Crowder was also likely to be squeezed out of he starting 5 with Hayward and Morris on board. The biggest thing I’m thrilled about is that they managed to swing Kyrie without having to move Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, or Marcus Smart. Plus, it makes the Philly trade at the start of the offseason look so much better.
I definitely think the Cavs did better in the deal, but it also makes a lot of sense for the Celtics to consolidate their assets and not give up Tatum or Brown. IT will be pretty similar to how Kyrie always was (great offense, horrible defense, injury questions) even if it’s only for a year, Crowder is the perimeter defender they’ve needed for years, Zizic is nothing more than a lottery ticket but he’s a young guy with potential which is something the Cavs haven’t had for a while (and now they have Osman too), and that Brooklyn pick could end up being a game changer. At worst, it becomes a solid role player or even trade bait to add another player. The Cavs aren’t significantly better right now than they were yesterday, but they’re deeper and they now have somewhat of a contingency plan in the event that LeBron leaves next summer.
Ha ha ha ha … hang on, I gotta go change my underwear I just peed myself …. hahahahaha…..
Luke: poll means we vote! So where is it? You just posed a question and asked for comments.
Poll should be there. I also included a link at the bottom if the embedded version isn’t showing up. Anyone else having issues?
Cavs! IT Jae! Michael porter? Not bad!
LeBron 2018>Cavs
The Celtics won that trade. They traded an injured, older all star for a younger 3 straight finals appearance all star. The Celtics are clearly the better team. They have talented youth and two certified scorers. Also that infamous Brooklyn pick, imo will not be lower than sixth. The eastern conference is weaker than it was a year ago and Brooklyn seems like (on paper) that they are better than they were last season. All in all, we will not see the clear winner until the end of next season.
Red is lighting a stogie and dancing a jig as Trader Danny just pulled off the biggest heist in Beantown since the Brinks robbery. A 25 year old clutch super star for a broken down guard who’s smaller than most high school players, a “supposed” D man with no jump shot who pulls a good disappearing act when it counts and another “can’t miss” 7 foot Eastern European? My lord, Danny had to give up the Nets pick or the poor fans in Cleveland would look like the mob with pitch forks and torches headed to Dr Frankenstein’s castle…