The excitement over Kyrie Irving in a Boston Celtics uniform may have been premature. The deal between Boston and the Cleveland Cavaliers was agreed upon, but those pesky physicals still needed to be taken. Generally, those physicals are nothing more than a procedural issue, completed and forgotten about. But there was a known concern with one player in the deal and that concern has now exploded into a possible voiding of the trade.
Cleveland looks at Isaiah Thomas' hip
Thomas failed to finish his team's Eastern Conference Finals series with the Cavaliers last season because of a torn labrum in his hip.
The Celtics downplayed their concern about the injury this offseason but admitted that there was some cause for concern in the immediate wake of the Irving deal. Cleveland decided to send their new star to a renowned hip specialist as part of his physical, where things seemingly took a turn for the worse.
Sources: After Isaiah Thomas underwent physical today, Cavs still evaluating injured hip and weighing options w/ completion of Irving deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
It's not clear if Thomas failed his physical, but whatever happened, Cleveland didn't like. The league is set up so that teams can't screw other teams by trading a player that had an undisclosed injury - in other words, the Cavaliers can choose to void the entire deal if they don't want Thomas on their roster due to his hip problem.
It's rare for that to happen, but it's not unheard of; it would be quite interesting, however, after the high emotion of the week for Irving and the rest of the league.
Thomas traveled to Cleveland, took exam and flew back out of town, sources said. All players must pass physical, or a deal can be voided.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
What happens if Irving trade is voided
The most obvious consequence of the trade being voided is that players and assets will be returned to their teams.
Irving will be back on the Cavaliers, while Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets' first-round pick will head back to Boston. It will be like the trade never happened - except it won't be like that at all.
There's no closing the door that's already been opened. Fans have already burned and bought jerseys. Players have already become accustomed to their new digs and spent some time scouring the real estate market.
Irving has been embraced by a New England minor league baseball team, while Crowder has already been comforted by his new community after his mother passed away on the day of the trade. It will be awkward for everyone involved if Cleveland and Boston have their players and assets returned. Then again, it would mark the logical conclusion to an NBA offseason that has seen twists and turns at nearly every juncture.
