After almost a week of speculation and back and forth negotiations, the Cavs and Celtics managed to finalize a blockbuster trade, sending Kyrie Irving to the Celtics in exchange for isaiah thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, an unprotected 2018 first-round pick, and a second-round pick in 2020. The second-round pick was the only addition to the initial trade, as the Cavs backed off their initial request of younger talent and another first-round pick. Boston was unwilling to do so and offered a second-round pick. The Cavs didn't want to miss out on this trade simply because of greed, so they took the players and the pick to complete the deal.
Cutting it close
The news of the superstar trade was released about a week ago, but it was held up from being finalized due to issues with both teams, mainly the Cavs. The Cavs explained how the Celtics weren't completely transparent about Isaiah Thomas' hip injury, and that caused the Cavs to be hesitant about completing the deal, fearing he won't be the same guard who averaged 28.9 points per game last season. The Cavs also had problems with the number of assets they were receiving for a player of Irving's caliber. They were asking for a young star in the deal, specifically Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown. They backed off once they realized that wasn't going to happen.
This was the definition of a deadline deal, as time was winding down on this trade.
Both teams had until 10 a.m. Thursday to finalize the trade or it would've been canceled. The teams weren't trying to have this situation occur, as players involved in the deal would've been very unhappy when they returned to their teams. Teams like the Bucks were also lurking in the shadows to see if the Irving deal was going to collapse so they could give the Cavs their shot of trying to get Kyrie.
Focused on the Future
Now that the trade is over with, the future for both teams is very bright. The Celtics get one of the NBA's best scorers in Kyrie Irving, alongside Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, and Marcus Smart. The Celtics were already a threat to the Cavs without Irving on the roster, but now they are a powerhouse team that could stop LeBron from getting to a record eighth straight Finals.
The amount of scoring on the Celtics is scary, so all NBA teams should get an extra nights sleep before playing this behemoth of a team.
The Cavs get much-needed depth with a superstar of their own. Jae Crowder is a quality small forward who can give great minutes when LeBron is on the bench. Isaiah Thomas will excel playing with LeBron, as James is a pass first player. He can set up Thomas with spot up threes, and they can work magic of the pick and roll as well. Thomas is also good finisher inside, but that won't be required of him as much when he's playing next to a freight train in LeBron.
The Cavs and Celtics finally finished this superstar deal, with both teams coming out as winners. New pieces need time to adjust, so we won't see the true greatness of these teams until the holiday season. Offseason NBA drama is almost as good as reality television, and the Kyrie Irving saga proved that.
