Cleveland was able to squeeze a 2020 second-round pick out of Boston in addition to the previously agreed upon compensation in order to finalize the deal. That’s another story for another day. Ultimately a 2020 second-round pick was the final piece that saw the trade go through. The options included voiding the trade completely or renegotiating.
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The Kyrie Irving trade saga is finally over.
Many considered the crown jewel of the deal to be the Brooklyn pick for the Cavs – a potential lottery pick, maybe even in the top three or five.
It’s hard to imagine Cleveland getting a better deal elsewhere for Irving.
On Tuesday, Thomas told ESPN he is “not damaged” and believes he will return to All-Star form.
Boston’s nightclub scene is no doubt more robust than Cleveland’s, where Kyrie played for the past six seasons, but it hardly compares to NY, where millionaire athletes can get into trouble at all hours of the day and night – and sometimes do.
Many pondered why anyone would want to leave a situation with LeBron James.
Where the Cavs should be entering the season with a degree of concern is on the defensive end. That’s not to say he won’t be good, but he just probably won’t be a legitimate MVP candidate again, as he was last season. The obvious fix was to go after superstars Paul George and Jimmy Butler, two of the best defenders in the league who just happened to be on the trade block. The trade turned out to be one of the most important parts of one of the most impressive rebuilding projects in National Basketball Association history, with Crowder quickly becoming a fan favorite and eventually drawing hard defensive assignments in the playoffs.
The Cavaliers are looking for a long-term plan since super star LeBron James can become a free agent after the upcoming season.
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On his Instagram account, Irving took the time to thank the individuals he had met along his journey with the Cavs, and all those who have supported him since he was drafted as the first overall pick back in 2011 – but made no special mention of LeBron James. In 52 career playoff games, Irving has averaged 23.9 points, 4.7 assists and 3.21 rebounds, according to ESPN. That was a fantastic deal for the Cavaliers, way more than anyone expected them to get. They need only look across the table to their trade partner in Ainge and the Celtics, who thought they had a core back in 2008 that would net multiple rings, to know that one trophy doesn’t guarantee another.
