The Celtics said they had acquired Irving in exchange for Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, centre Ante Zizic and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick. It was mid-afternoon on the east coast when Shams Charania of The Vertical shocked us all with a report that the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics were in talks of a Kyrie Irving trade.
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Irving might be the best pure scorer in the league.
Having spent three seasons- and there trips to the NBA Finals- with him in Cleveland, No. 23 took the star point guard under his wing.
In their three years together since James returned from Miami in 2014, the Cavaliers have been to the NBA Finals three consecutive seasons. “For all he’s accomplished, we think his best years are ahead of him”.
Irving finally got his wish of leaving Cleveland after submitting a trade request back in July as his relationship with LeBron James became frayed. Now as they enter a new phase with a foundation in place to be competitive, a trade between the Celtics and the Cavaliers could affect their position in the standings in the future. His contract was ending next year. He averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and shot 34.2 percent from beyond the arc in his lone season with the Duke Blue Devils. Thomas’ season ended following Game 2 of the conference finals because of a torn labrum and aggravation of a previous injury.
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In Crowder, the Cavaliers have a tough-minded wing who can contribute with his competent defense and outside shooting. Irving, 25, can not become a free agent for two more seasons and his contract includes a player option for 2019-20. Players in a contract year always have extra incentive to play well. If the Cavs can’t get past the Celtics – or any other team for that matter – will he stay or seek a title elsewhere? If Irving produces a clutch performance in an Eastern Conference series against the Cavaliers, well, Altman is not going to be very popular. That does not even consider the draft pick Cleveland obtained, which could turn out to be the No. 1 overall choice. The Nets are not expected to make the playoffs, which means they would be one of 14 teams whose fate is decided in a draft lottery about a month before the draft.
