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East Notes: Wizards, Brown, Tatum

August 27th, 2017 at 8:01pm CST by Austin Kent

The Wizards have gone all-in on preserving their core and head coach Scott Brooks understands just how important that can be. Brooks has, Chase Hughes of CSN Mid-Atlantic writes, seen what happens when a promising young roster falls apart thanks to his time with the Thunder.

“We have our three players that we drafted all wanting to stay here and stay long-term,” the Wizards’ bench boss said. “That’s good. That’s good because if you don’t have your best players wanting to stay here, then nobody wants to stay here.”

Thanks to Wizards’ owner Ted Leonsis‘ willingness to commit to their young players, Washington was able to match the offer sheet that the Nets signed Otto Porter to this summer and then follow that up with a supermax contract extension for John Wall.

Under their current deals, Wall, Beal and Porter will be under Wizards control for seven total years. Eight, if Porter ultimately exercises his player option for the 2020-21 season.

There’s more from the Eastern Conference:

After assigning challenges to Isaiah Thomas and DeMar DeRozan, Kobe Bryant was asked to give one to Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Black Mamba responded with three letters: MVP. An NBA.com report has details.
This will be Goran Dragic‘s last stint with the Slovenian national team, Niki Lupo of Sportando writes. The 31-year-old Heat guard tweeted that he’ll be done with the program following Eurobasket 2017.
If the Cavaliers and Celtics start formally renegotiating the Kyrie Irving trade, the Cavs are expected to inquire about the C’s young players. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that could include Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, although their involvement in any actual deal remains highly unlikely.

Latest On The Kyrie Irving Trade

August 27th, 2017 at 9:10am CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers and Celtics are still talking in an effort to complete the four-player deal that would send Kyrie Irving from Cleveland to Boston. While neither side has commented publicly on the reported snag, sources indicate the Cavs are seeking another asset because a physical on Friday showed that Isaiah Thomas‘ injured hip is in worse shape than they believed, while the Celtics are resisting the request.

Several writers are offering their perspectives on the trade this morning:

If the Celtics do add another asset, it probably won’t be very significant, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE. He notes that Boston was in a similar situation when it acquired Jeff Green from the Thunder in February of 2012. Green needed heart surgery 10 months later, and the Celtics petitioned the league for more compensation, claiming that Oklahoma City wasn’t forthcoming about Green’s condition. Former commissioner David Stern awarded Boston a second-round pick, which is what Blakely believes the Celtics would be willing to surrender to wrap up the Irving deal.
Thomas was very upset about being traded away from the Celtics, writes Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. The two-time All-Star played a major role in bringing free agent Gordon Hayward to Boston and had planned a long-term future there. Pluto states it would be a “miserable situation” if he has to return to the Celtics now. However, some executives that Pluto discussed the deal with expressed concerns of a potential clash in Cleveland, fearing that Thomas’ “alpha dog” persona may not be a good fit on a team where LeBron James is the unquestioned leader.
The Cavaliers’ decision to hold up the deal is the latest indication of dysfunction in Cleveland, charges D.J. Bean of CSNNE. The franchise has been through a tumultuous summer, with GM David Griffin not being re-signed, then Chauncey Billups turning down a job to run the team. The front office chaos has played out against persistent rumors that James may be leaving town as a free agent next summer. Like Blakely, Bean thinks the Celtics will probably throw in a minimal asset to complete the trade.

Cavaliers To Request Extra Compensation From Celtics

August 26th, 2017 at 6:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

7:57pm: Celtics officials believe they were “completely transparent” regarding Thomas’ physical condition and will “strongly resist” adding to the deal, tweets Chris Mannix of The Vertical.

6:51pm: The Cavaliers are refusing to comment on Wojnarowski’s report, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Two sources told him the team is “still in the review process” and hasn’t determined whether to ask Boston for additional assets to complete the deal.

6:00pm: The Cavaliers plan to ask for “further compensation” before agreeing to complete the Kyrie Irving deal with the Celtics, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Sources tell him that Cavs officials could threaten to veto the trade unless additions are made.

The decision was made after Cleveland’s front office reviewed the results of a physical that Isaiah Thomas underwent on Friday. Thomas is dealing with a hip injury that he aggravated in the playoffs and may not be ready for the start of the upcoming season.

It hasn’t been reported what the Cavaliers plan to ask for, but speculation revolves around the many first- and second-round picks that Boston has accumulated in recent years. The teams discussed Thomas’ condition, sources tell Wojnarowski, but Cleveland could argue that the Celtics weren’t completely forthcoming about the extent of the injury or the likelihood that he might miss the beginning of the season. Celtics president Danny Ainge admitted this week that Thomas’ injury had “some” influence on the decision to trade him.

Under league rules, the deadline to take physicals is Wednesday at 10 a.m. Eastern for all players involved in the trade, with the deadline for passing physicals set for 24 hours later. That gives the Cavaliers and Celtics until Thursday morning to finalize the deal, although that could be extended if both sides agree to do so.

Thomas’ injury, a strain of the right hip, forced him to miss two games during the regular season. It became an issue again in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals and sidelined him for the rest of the playoffs.

Both teams would face awkward situations if the deal falls apart, Wojnarowski notes. Irving had requested a trade out of Cleveland, and the Cavs would have a difficult time finding an offer better than Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder for next year. The Celtics, meanwhile, would have to repair relations with three players who were traded away, and may have to find a new point guard if Thomas’ injury keeps him sidelined for an extended time.

Celtics Have Picks To Offer To Complete Irving Deal

August 26th, 2017 at 5:04pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics have plenty of draft picks available if Cleveland asks for another asset to complete the Kyrie Irving trade. The deal is currently on hold as the Cavaliers review the results of Isaiah Thomas‘ physical, and Brian Kalbrosky of HoopsHype examines some options for resolving the impasse.

Boston owns the Grizzlies’ 2019 first-rounder, which could be very valuable if Memphis decides to start rebuilding a team that is already showing some age. The pick is protected from spots 1-8 in 2019, 1-6 in 2020, then becomes fully unprotected in 2021. It’s a selection that could have as much value as the Nets’ pick that the Celtics just agreed to send to Cleveland.

Boston also has the Lakers’ first-rounder for next year, but only if it falls in the 2-5 range. If not, the Celtics will get the better of the Kings’ or Sixers’ first-rounders in 2019, unless it falls first overall. Another deal brought Boston the rights to a future Clippers’ first-rounder, which is lottery protected in both 2019 and 2020. If it doesn’t convey in either of those years, it will become a second-round pick in 2022.

In addition, the Celtics own all their future first-rounders and a wealth of second-rounders that they have collected over the years.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor tweets that Boston officials have been worried about Thomas’ hip becoming an issue since the trade was completed, and he believes an extra draft pick for Cleveland is the most likely outcome.

Boston has a competitive interest in having the trade go through, notes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, because having an injured Thomas on the Cavaliers at the start of the season would give the Celtics an easier path to the top seed (Twitter link).

Cavaliers, Celtics Set To Discuss Issues With Mega Trade

August 26th, 2017 at 11:51am CST by marksuleymanov

With Isaiah Thomas‘ troublesome hip holding up the blockbuster trade agreed upon earlier this week, the Cavaliers and Celtics will discuss the issue on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

On Tuesday, both teams agreed to a deal that would send Irving to Boston in exchange for Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets’ unprotected first round pick. At the time, it was reported that Thomas’ hip — which caused him to miss a portion of the NBA Playoffs — was a cause for concern and a reason why the Celtics decided to move him. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge spoke with reporters on a conference call after the deal was announced and mentioned that Thomas’ hip played “some” part in his decision to deal the beloved point guard.

Wojnarowski reported at the time that the Cavaliers were “anxious” to give Thomas his physical but had made the deal with the belief he would be healthy.

Both sides have up until Thursday to come to a resolution. As Wojnarowski mentions, there are three possible outcomes to this current situation: the Cavaliers can pass Thomas on the physical and complete the deal as is; request additional compensation from Boston; or veto the deal altogether.

Thomas took the physical in question on Friday in Cleveland and Irving is currently in Boston to take his physical, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).

Thomas, 29, and Irving, 26, both had comparable seasons in 2016/17 but Thomas is a free agent after 2017/18 whereas Irving comes with two years of control. Boston was reportedly reluctant to give Thomas the maximum deal he desired and this trade not only brought in a younger All-Star point guard but eliminated the issue of having to pay Thomas.

While several days remain before a final verdict is required, both sides will reportedly work to reach a determination sooner rather than later.

Cavs Weighing Options Following Thomas Physical

August 26th, 2017 at 9:00am CST by Austin Kent

10:55pm: Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe tweets that a source close to him said the Cavs and Celtics would attempt a renegotiation before rescinding the deal, should it ultimately reach that point.

10:13 pm: Following the results of Isaiah Thomas‘ physical, the Cavaliers are “weighing their options” with completion of the Kyrie Irving trade, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.

Earlier this week, the Cavs and Celtics agreed to swap Irving for a package involving Thomas, despite the fact that the C’s guard was forced out of last spring’s postseason with a hip injury.

As is customary, the trade is contingent upon players passing physicals with their new teams and it’s here where things appear to be hitting a possible snag.

Per Celtics executive Mike Zarren in a question and answer on Boston’s official site: “A trade is not officially complete, and no player may suit up for his new team in a game or practice, until all players report to their new teams and pass a physical exam.”

Wojnarowski adds in another tweet that a source involved in the process says that the C’s and Cavs have found themselves in a “very sensitive situation.”

In a feature published earlier today, Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher discussed the lingering impacts of Thomas’ hip injury. In July, the guard opted to let the injury heal without surgery but uncertainty about his recovery remains.

“We all have the numbers when a guy gets hip surgery,” a league executive told Bucher. “They’re not good. Now what if he’s not right and needs surgery anyway? That is not nearly the same trade.“

Kyler’s Latest: Irving, Cavaliers, LeBron

August 24th, 2017 at 11:57am CST by Luke Adams

One of the most surprising things about the blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving from Cleveland to Boston this week was the Cavaliers‘ willingness to deal with their closest conference rival, just months after facing the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Cavs did try to find a deal with a Western team, having worked the Suns and Nuggets “pretty hard.” Cleveland also had some discussions with the Spurs and Clippers, but those clubs didn’t have the right combination of assets to really intrigue the Cavs, Kyler adds. Eventually, the Cavs circled back to the Celtics, who had expressed interest in Irving earlier and could put together the right sort of package to appeal to Cleveland.

Kyler’s latest piece at Basketball Insiders includes many more notes on the Irving deal, so let’s round up some of the highlights…

After news of his trade request leaked, Irving essentially stopped talking to the Cavaliers, sources close to the situation tell Kyler. Even before that news came out, the Cavs hadn’t heard much from Irving’s camp after he informed them of his desire to be moved, per Kyler.
Sources close to Irving tell Kyler that the star point guard was very aware of the age difference between him and many of his Cavaliers teammates. Irving is looking forward to joining a roster that features more players around his age, and hopes that he can build stronger connections and become more of a team leader rather than being viewed as a “little brother,” according to Kyler.
Kyler hears that new Cavaliers GM Koby Altman spoke to LeBron James on Tuesday after completing the deal. Although LeBron had hoped the relationship between Irving and the team could be repaired, he’s happy to have closure on the situation, says Kyler.
The Irving trade hasn’t changed James’ stance on his future — the four-time MVP enjoys having options and the freedom to make his own choices when the time comes, and doesn’t intend to give that up by locking himself into anything early, says Kyler. This stance was reflected in a series of pro-player tweets issued by LeBron earlier today.

Celtics Notes: Irving, Grousbeck, Tatum, Defense

August 23rd, 2017 at 9:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck is happy to welcome Kyrie Irving to Boston, calling the point guard a “transcendent player,” relays A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE. Speaking at an event today in Boston, Grousbeck said the team views the Irving deal as its best path toward another NBA title.

The Celtics, who were the East’s top seed last season at 53-29, have shaken up the roster over the summer, with Irving, Gordon Hayward and rookie Jayson Tatum as the main additions. Grousbeck said the moves were made with an eye on the immediate and long-term future, but he declined to speculate on whether Boston is ready to knock off Cleveland in a playoff series. “I’m not going to make any predictions about that,” he said. “I think we’re in a good position to represent Celtic pride well. We have a strong team, an up and coming team, a young team with more youth on the way. We want to be good for a sustained period of time and it starts now.”

There’s more news tonight out of Boston:

Cleveland’s desire to obtain Tatum held up the deal for several weeks, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. Appearing on NBA TV, he said the trade could have been completed much earlier if Boston was willing to part with its No. 3 pick out of Duke. Charania added that any dispute in Cleveland was more about Irving than LeBron James, and James stayed in the background while owner Dan Gilbert and GM Koby Altman worked on the deal.
Tatum is “just as surprised as everyone else” to be playing with his fellow Duke alumnus, Blakely writes in a separate piece. Tatum said he heard rumors that he might be headed to Cleveland in a deal and is relieved to stay in Boston. Blakely confirms that the Cavs asked for Tatum at first, then talked to several Western Conference teams after the Celtics refused. When that didn’t pan out, they revisited negotiations with Boston. Tatum, who vacationed with Irving in the Bahamas this summer, is looking forward to playing alongside his new teammate. “I’m pretty sure it’ll be a lot of fun,” Tatum said. “He’s a tremendous player, a superstar in this league.”
The Celtics now have multiple stars who will enable them to compete for a title, according to Nick Ashooh of CSNMidAtlantic. He notes that newcomers Hayward and Marcus Morris ranked higher last year in Defensive Win Shares than former Celtics Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk, which should help Boston improve its team ranking of 15th in points allowed per game.

Cavs Inquired On Klay Thompson Before Trading Kyrie To Celtics

August 23rd, 2017 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers completed a trade with their top Eastern competitor on Tuesday and had apparently been willing to deal with another notable rival. Before they worked out an agreement with the Celtics that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston, the Cavs called the Warriors to inquire about a possible swap involving Irving and Klay Thompson, reports Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. Spears describes Golden State as “uninterested.”

From a cap perspective, a Thompson/Irving deal would have made some sense, since both players have two guaranteed seasons left on their respective contracts and are earning similar salaries. However, there was little reason for the Warriors to break up the core of a roster that is coming off a championship, particularly since Thompson – an excellent shooter and defender who doesn’t need the ball much – is probably a better fit in Golden State than Irving would have been.

It’s the second time this offseason that we’ve heard about a team shopping a star and contacting the Warriors about a possible deal involving Thompson. The Pacers reportedly reached out to Golden State about a potential Paul George/Thompson swap back in June. As they did when the Cavs called about Irving, the Warriors told the Pacers they weren’t interested, which Thompson appreciates, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

“It’s really cool,” Thompson told Slater. “It shows the Warriors believe in me and these other teams want me to be a part of their success. So I appreciate it. I’ve been in trade rumors forever. Everyone has. Except for maybe LeBron James, Steph [Curry] — well, even Steph early in his career. It’s part of the business. It is flattering and I do appreciate it.

“When you hear the rumors, it means you’re wanted,” Thompson added. “You’re doing something right. Look at the bright side. But I’m happy I’m still with the Warriors. I hope to be here my whole career. It’s a great place to play.”

Bucks Made Competitive Offer For Kyrie Irving?

August 23rd, 2017 at 12:58pm CST by Luke Adams

12:58pm: Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press (Twitter link) hears that the Bucks didn’t offer Middleton, Brogdon, and a first-round pick for Irving. It’s not uncommon for there to be conflicting reports on trade offers, since there can be ambiguity about what a team is willing to offer and what that team formally offers. Whether or not the Bucks put that package on the table, it was unlikely to be enough for the Cavs.

11:32am: The Suns were long viewed as a potential frontrunner in the Kyrie Irving sweepstakes, but Phoenix never really got close to landing the star point guard, per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link). According to Gambadoro though, another team that was in the mix for Irving and made a strong offer was the Bucks, who put Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon, and a first-round pick on the table.

It’s easy to see why the Celtics’ offer – which included an All-Star in Isaiah Thomas and a stronger first-round pick – was more appealing to the Cavs than Milwaukee’s proposal. Boston’s package, which also featured Jae Crowder and rookie center Ante Zizic, should give Cleveland a better chance to contend for a title in 2017/18, and may also give the Cavs a better chance to land a young star, since that 2018 Nets pick may end up in the top five.

Still, Thomas’ hip is a concern and he’s under contract for only one more year, making him a bit of a risk. The Bucks’ offer would have given the Cavaliers the reigning Rookie of the Year (Brogdon) on an extremely affordable contract (about $3MM over the next two years), and a dangerous shooter and scorer in Middleton, who is on a reasonable contract of his own (about $27MM over the next two years). Milwaukee’s 2018 first-round pick figures to fall in the late-teens or 20s, however.

While the Bucks fell short in their pursuit of Irving, it’s worth remembering that the team was willing to make a play for the All-Star point guard. That point guard spot is perhaps the most glaring area of concern for Milwaukee heading into 2017/18, so the team figures to keep an eye out for potential upgrades again at the 2018 trade deadline and next offseason.