Instead of voiding the trade due to isaiah thomas’ hip issue, the Cleveland Cavaliers may ask for additional compensation from the #Boston Celtics before approving the deal. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Cavaliers and Celtics scheduled a phone call Saturday to thresh out the issue involving Thomas, who traveled to Cleveland and underwent physical Friday. During the process, the Cavaliers expressed some “uncertainty over the fitness” of Thomas' injured hip. Last Tuesday, the Celtics shipped Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving.

Wojnarowski said the Cavaliers may ask for additional compensation from the Celtics in a form of additional picks, instead of abandoning the deal. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE said the Celtics may throw in the second-round pick into the mix for the trade to be finalized. If they will not reach an agreement, then the Cavaliers have the option to veto the trade altogether. The Cavaliers have until Thursday to decide whether to veto the trade or not. Irving, for his part, will undergo his physical Saturday, according to league sources.

Celtics considered Thomas’ injury before making trade

According to Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, the team first considered Thomas’ hip injury before including him in the package for Irving.

In June, Ainge admitted that Thomas' hip was improving, but it could still require surgery, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPN. Last season, the 28-year-old Thomas tallied 28.9 points and 5.9 assists in 76 games as he carried the Celtics to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. He steered the Celtics to a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals but he aggravated the hip injury, forcing him to miss the rest of the series against the Cavaliers.

Thomas advised to rest, rehab

Instead of undergoing surgery, doctors advised Thomas to rehabilitate and rest during the summer. Sources said Thomas also avoided undergoing surgery because it will diminish his value when his contract expires after this season. Before he was traded, Thomas was planning to ask the Celtics for a maximum contract after playing on a bargain deal that he signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2014.

If the trade is voided, Thomas would return to the team with bitterness in his heart as he showed his full loyalty to the franchise in his tenure in Boston. One day after his sister’s death, Thomas still suited up and played for the Celtics their first-round series against the Chicago Bulls. Several NBA players were bothered by how the Celtics treated Thomas despite his loyalty. Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant said the NBA front office has no loyalty to the players, especially when the time to consider the salary cap comes.
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