By now, the news about Kyrie Irving's trade is well known to almost every NBA fan around the world. Irving requested a trade from Cleveland in July as he apparently wanted a fresh start in a different environment and on a different team. It was reported that Irving reportedly stated that he was tired of playing alongside LeBron James as he wanted to be the focal point and to lead a team by himself. The news about Kyrie's trade request created drama in Cleveland, but also in the NBA in general. He eventually got traded to the Boston Celtics after spending six years with the Cavaliers and it will be interesting to see him compete in his first game against his former teammates.
Many are wondering how will the fans in Cleveland welcome him but also how will his former teammates react after seeing him in Boston Celtics uniform. One thing is for sure, Tristan Thompson has no ill feelings toward Kyrie Irving.
Tristan sends a farewell message to Kyrie
Right after it was officially announced that Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics, Tristan Thompson posted a message to Kyrie on his Twitter account. Thompson and Irving entered the league the same year, as they were both drafted in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Obviously, Irving was the number one overall pick while Thompson was drafted as the fourth pick by the Cavs. The two of them apparently built a strong personal relationship throughout their six years in Cleveland and it seems that their friendship will not end with Kyrie being traded.
Thompson posted this on his Twitter account when Kyrie's trade became official:
Gonna miss my broddie @KyrieIrving !! Came into this together and we seen eachother grow into the men we are today. #DraftBrothers
— Tristan Thompson (@RealTristan13) 31. kolovoza 2017.
The fans in Cleveland are maybe wondering if they could've kept Irving in Cleveland and it was even reported that several people in LeBron James’ camp had wished Irving and James had worked out their differences and ultimately nixed the blockbuster trade.
Thompson and the Cavaliers will have to move on quickly, as the 2017/2018 season is about to start in a couple of weeks and it was reported that LeBron James will host a minicamp in Santa Barbara later this month.
Solid season for Thompson
The 6-foot-9 Thompson had a solid last season with the Cavaliers, even though they failed to win the title.
Tristan played 78 regular-season games for the Cavs during the 2016/2017 campaign and averaged 8.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. His numbers were pretty much the same in the postseason, as he played 18 playoff games last season and averaged 8.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while playing an average of 31.2 minutes per game. The 26-year-old from Canada has three years left on his current contract with the Cavaliers and he's considered as one of the fan-favorites in Cleveland. He's expected to be one of the key players for the Cavaliers next season also.
