Cavaliers – Celtics strike blockbuster deal
Cavaliers Receive: PG Isaiah Thomas, SF Jae Crowder, C Ante Zizic, Brooklyn Nets 2018 1st round pick
Celtics Receive: PG Kyrie Irving
Source: ESPN’s Brian Windhorst
— Cleveland gets quite the haul for Irving that sets up them to remain the team to beat in the East for 2017-2018, while also giving them some security for the future in the event LeBron James leaves again.
While Isaiah Thomas is smaller than Irving and can get caught in mismatches because of his height, he’s still a better all around defender than Irving, and the Cavs lose next to nothing in going from Irving to Thomas when it comes to a dynamic ability to get buckets in averaging 28.3 points per game in 16/17.
A must for the Cavaliers this summer was adding a wing defender and Jae Crowder is an excellent fit. Averages 13.9 points per game, can play multiple positions and bolsters their perimeter defense greatly for a matchup against Golden State. Crowder is also signed through 2019 on a team-friendly deal.
Ante Zizic was a 2016 first round pick and the Cavs are a win-now team that is starving for development players in the long-run, but most importantly, nabbing the Brooklyn Nets 2018 first round pick puts Cleveland in the ballpark of potentially having the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.
If LeBron commits to chase more championships in Cleveland, the Brooklyn pick becomes a major trade asset or if he leaves, a team built around Thomas, Kevin Love, 18 lottery pick and the current surrounding cast stays competitive post-LeBron in a bad conference that probably wins a round or two and would have $30 million in cap space next summer.
Combine the addition of Derrick Rose as the backup point guard, the Cavaliers are deeper and more equipped to compete with Golden State than they were in June with Irving.
