OT: Cavs trade Irving to Celtics for Thomas, 1st round pick, and more
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:42 PM ^
will have going for it. THE rivalry will finally have the correct current champion. LeBron and Isaiah Thomas will be signing elsewhere. MSU miserable. Ohio miserable. What does it say about me that this is very satisfying, even in prospect?
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:47 PM ^
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:57 PM ^
While I do agree that the Cavs got more in return, I don't think that Thomas is better than Irving. Kyrie Irving is a better offensive player than Isaiah (creating his own shot etc). While Kyrie's defense is horrible, it isn't the huge liability like IT given the fact that IT is 5'9
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:27 PM ^
I'm looking at the ease rankings at Basketball Monster and the Cavs gave up more points to PGs last year than Boston did, allowed more PG threes, allowed a better PG shooting percentage, forced fewer PG turnovers, allowed more PG assists. Opposing point guards blocked more of IT's shots and got more rebounds against Boston--those were the only categories where Thomas was worse.
It's true that, unlike IT who's simply too small to get it done, Kyrie could play defense. But he doesn't, and I don't see it changing.
August 23rd, 2017 at 11:28 AM ^
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:59 PM ^
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:20 PM ^
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:26 PM ^
August 22nd, 2017 at 11:53 PM ^
for this to be a win for Cleveland, the Nets pick was the best trade asset in the league
August 23rd, 2017 at 12:11 AM ^
Good trade for Cleveland if IT stays AND lives up to the max deal; someone's going to offer that even if they don't. Doesn't seem like a great fit with LeBron so I don't know if this helps keep him.
This is kind of a weird one? It feels like the range of outcomes includes everything between very good for both teams and pretty bad for both teams.
August 23rd, 2017 at 12:18 AM ^
So Kyrie is better than Thomas hands down. He's NBA bigger and although he doesnt play D like we would like to see, other guards arent shooting over the top of him like they do Thomas, who's a defensive liability. IT does have the heart and skills to play this game and has shown it night in and night out. He gave the Cavs hell and almost pulled the upset, until getting hurt and missing game 7.
However when you add in Crowder, who's a good defender and also showed what he's capable of in high pressure situations, the guard swap evens out. Finally to add an unrestricted 1st round pick from Brooklyn (who by the way will be shitty again) the Cavs basically get a lottery pick and potentially become long-term formidable, I'd say Cleveland won here.
August 23rd, 2017 at 10:11 AM ^
1. Thomas' age, contract, and medical condition. As you noted, Thoman had a serious hip injury that sidelined him at the season's end. Perhaps the Celtics know something about its long-term impact on his game. In any case, Thomas is older than Irving, who fits better with the developmental stage of the team now. Also, Thomas becomes free agent after next year and has announced he wants the "Brinks Trucks" to come to his door--ie he wants a max deal that the Celts may be unable or unwilling to give him.. So he may be a one year rental who is struggling with a lingering injury. By contrast, Irving has an acceptable two-year deal, and the Celts feel they can get him to renew.
2. The 2018-9 draftsand beyond.. The Nets division is prediicted to have more company toward the bottom of the league standings this year, (ESPN predicts they will be among ten bottom teams within 3-4 wins of each other*). And the Nets are not predicted to be in the bottom 3. That's one reason why the Celts preferred to give up the Nets pick in lieu of their other 2018 pick. It's one from the Lakers, who are predicted to be a lottery team again.*. The Lakers pick for the Celts will either be 2-5 next year or an unprotected pick from Sacramento the year following. Sacto is predicted next year to be in a virtual tie for the worst team in the NBA in 2018 and it's likely they will continue to suck in 2019. That draft is predicted to be the strongest one in a long time. .
Finally, the Celtics have far more draft picks than they can possibly use in the next few years---including up to 5 first rounders and at least that many 2nd rounders in the next two years. They absolutely needed to unload some bodies. And in doing so, they got a 4-time all star in the early prime of his career. Certainly, they gave up a lot to get him, but now you see the reasons why.
*
http://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/20225286/projected-records-win-tot…
August 23rd, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
It was a good trade for both teams.
The Cavs probably only have one more year with LeBron, and by adding Thomas and Crowder, they didn't hurt their chances in the short term. Thomas is probably a little worse than Kyrie, but Crowder helps balance that out and fits Cleveland's need for a 3-and-D wing.
The Celtics definitely won in the long term, though. They were faced with the prospect of handing a max contract to a 5'9" guy with injury issues who will be about to turn 30. Now they've swapped him out for a 25-year-old star on a below-market contract for the next three years. Crowder was redundant since they have two highly-drafted wings in Brown and Tatum who will need playing time, not to mention Gordon Hayward. The Nets' pick is a pretty steep price to pay, but the Nets look like they might be better this year, and Kyrie Irving is far more valuable than a pick somewhere in the back half of the lottery.
August 23rd, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^
Great trade for Cleveland. They are a better team for one last run because of it. And they are set up better than they were for the future with the young center and the pick now. Wade will join them this season too. So they added Thomas, Crowder, Rose, Calderon, Zite, Jeff Green, and probably Wade to their team while losing Irving. The roster is much better.
Boston got rid of IT because his contract is up and he's not worth a max deal. Crowder was expendable because they signed Hayward. They now have the core they want to try tio win a title with. Giving up that pick was a lot though.