- If the Cavaliers and Celtics start formally renegotiating the Kyrie Irving trade, the Cavs are expected to inquire about the C’s young players. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that could include Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, although their involvement in any actual deal remains highly unlikely.
The Cavaliers and Celtics are still talking in an effort to complete the four-player deal that would send Kyrie Irving from Cleveland to Boston. While neither side has commented publicly on the reported snag, sources indicate the Cavs are seeking another asset because a physical on Friday showed that Isaiah Thomas‘ injured hip is in worse shape than they believed, while the Celtics are resisting the request.
Several writers are offering their perspectives on the trade this morning:
- If the Celtics do add another asset, it probably won’t be very significant, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE. He notes that Boston was in a similar situation when it acquired Jeff Green from the Thunder in February of 2012. Green needed heart surgery 10 months later, and the Celtics petitioned the league for more compensation, claiming that Oklahoma City wasn’t forthcoming about Green’s condition. Former commissioner David Stern awarded Boston a second-round pick, which is what Blakely believes the Celtics would be willing to surrender to wrap up the Irving deal.
- Thomas was very upset about being traded away from the Celtics, writes Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. The two-time All-Star played a major role in bringing free agent Gordon Hayward to Boston and had planned a long-term future there. Pluto states it would be a “miserable situation” if he has to return to the Celtics now. However, some executives that Pluto discussed the deal with expressed concerns of a potential clash in Cleveland, fearing that Thomas’ “alpha dog” persona may not be a good fit on a team where LeBron James is the unquestioned leader.
- The Cavaliers’ decision to hold up the deal is the latest indication of dysfunction in Cleveland, charges D.J. Bean of CSNNE. The franchise has been through a tumultuous summer, with GM David Griffin not being re-signed, then Chauncey Billups turning down a job to run the team. The front office chaos has played out against persistent rumors that James may be leaving town as a free agent next summer. Like Blakely, Bean thinks the Celtics will probably throw in a minimal asset to complete the trade.
The Celtics are unhappy that the Cavaliers are asking for more compensation in the Kyrie Irving trade and may be planning a hard-line response, tweets Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. The Celtics front office believes it was fully honest about the condition of Isaiah Thomas when the teams discussed his injured hip prior to completing the deal. The Cavaliers seem to think that Thomas is months away from returning to action, according to Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link), who also speculates that Boston could offer to include Terry Rozier to get the trade completed. (Twitter link).
7:57pm: Celtics officials believe they were “completely transparent” regarding Thomas’ physical condition and will “strongly resist” adding to the deal, tweets Chris Mannix of The Vertical.
6:51pm: The Cavaliers are refusing to comment on Wojnarowski’s report, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Two sources told him the team is “still in the review process” and hasn’t determined whether to ask Boston for additional assets to complete the deal.
6:00pm: The Cavaliers plan to ask for “further compensation” before agreeing to complete the Kyrie Irving deal with the Celtics, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Sources tell him that Cavs officials could threaten to veto the trade unless additions are made.
The decision was made after Cleveland’s front office reviewed the results of a physical that Isaiah Thomas underwent on Friday. Thomas is dealing with a hip injury that he aggravated in the playoffs and may not be ready for the start of the upcoming season.
It hasn’t been reported what the Cavaliers plan to ask for, but speculation revolves around the many first- and second-round picks that Boston has accumulated in recent years. The teams discussed Thomas’ condition, sources tell Wojnarowski, but Cleveland could argue that the Celtics weren’t completely forthcoming about the extent of the injury or the likelihood that he might miss the beginning of the season. Celtics president Danny Ainge admitted this week that Thomas’ injury had “some” influence on the decision to trade him.
Under league rules, the deadline to take physicals is Wednesday at 10 a.m. Eastern for all players involved in the trade, with the deadline for passing physicals set for 24 hours later. That gives the Cavaliers and Celtics until Thursday morning to finalize the deal, although that could be extended if both sides agree to do so.
Thomas’ injury, a strain of the right hip, forced him to miss two games during the regular season. It became an issue again in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals and sidelined him for the rest of the playoffs.
Both teams would face awkward situations if the deal falls apart, Wojnarowski notes. Irving had requested a trade out of Cleveland, and the Cavs would have a difficult time finding an offer better than Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder for next year. The Celtics, meanwhile, would have to repair relations with three players who were traded away, and may have to find a new point guard if Thomas’ injury keeps him sidelined for an extended time.
The Celtics have plenty of draft picks available if Cleveland asks for another asset to complete the Kyrie Irving trade. The deal is currently on hold as the Cavaliers review the results of Isaiah Thomas‘ physical, and Brian Kalbrosky of HoopsHype examines some options for resolving the impasse.
Boston owns the Grizzlies’ 2019 first-rounder, which could be very valuable if Memphis decides to start rebuilding a team that is already showing some age. The pick is protected from spots 1-8 in 2019, 1-6 in 2020, then becomes fully unprotected in 2021. It’s a selection that could have as much value as the Nets’ pick that the Celtics just agreed to send to Cleveland.
Boston also has the Lakers’ first-rounder for next year, but only if it falls in the 2-5 range. If not, the Celtics will get the better of the Kings’ or Sixers’ first-rounders in 2019, unless it falls first overall. Another deal brought Boston the rights to a future Clippers’ first-rounder, which is lottery protected in both 2019 and 2020. If it doesn’t convey in either of those years, it will become a second-round pick in 2022.
In addition, the Celtics own all their future first-rounders and a wealth of second-rounders that they have collected over the years.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor tweets that Boston officials have been worried about Thomas’ hip becoming an issue since the trade was completed, and he believes an extra draft pick for Cleveland is the most likely outcome.
Boston has a competitive interest in having the trade go through, notes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, because having an injured Thomas on the Cavaliers at the start of the season would give the Celtics an easier path to the top seed (Twitter link).
With Isaiah Thomas‘ troublesome hip holding up the blockbuster trade agreed upon earlier this week, the Cavaliers and Celtics will discuss the issue on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
On Tuesday, both teams agreed to a deal that would send Irving to Boston in exchange for Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets’ unprotected first round pick. At the time, it was reported that Thomas’ hip — which caused him to miss a portion of the NBA Playoffs — was a cause for concern and a reason why the Celtics decided to move him. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge spoke with reporters on a conference call after the deal was announced and mentioned that Thomas’ hip played “some” part in his decision to deal the beloved point guard.
Wojnarowski reported at the time that the Cavaliers were “anxious” to give Thomas his physical but had made the deal with the belief he would be healthy.
Both sides have up until Thursday to come to a resolution. As Wojnarowski mentions, there are three possible outcomes to this current situation: the Cavaliers can pass Thomas on the physical and complete the deal as is; request additional compensation from Boston; or veto the deal altogether.
Thomas took the physical in question on Friday in Cleveland and Irving is currently in Boston to take his physical, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
Thomas, 29, and Irving, 26, both had comparable seasons in 2016/17 but Thomas is a free agent after 2017/18 whereas Irving comes with two years of control. Boston was reportedly reluctant to give Thomas the maximum deal he desired and this trade not only brought in a younger All-Star point guard but eliminated the issue of having to pay Thomas.
While several days remain before a final verdict is required, both sides will reportedly work to reach a determination sooner rather than later.
In a blog post for MSG.com, Knicks president Steve Mills discussed the team’s future and plan for the upcoming season. Mills mentioned Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, offseason signee Tim Hardaway Jr., and this year’s first-rounder Frank Ntilikina but conspicuous by the absence of his name is Carmelo Anthony.
Mills said in the post that the “plan to become more youthful and athletic is underway” before mentioning the Knicks’ young assets. This comes shortly after the Knicks released promotional content for their season ticket plans with the featured players being Porzingis, Hernangomez, and Ntilikina. Even though Anthony is still a member of New York’s roster, the team appears to be showing through subliminal signs that the team has moved on from their superstar.
Trade talks regarding Anthony to the Rockets are “fairly dormant” and the Cavaliers are possibly interested in his services; however, a trade is not imminent. While it’s possible that Anthony begins the season with the Knicks, he is not expected to remain with the team for the remainder of his contract.
Read below for additional news tidbits around the Atlantic Division:
- While Porzingis has been absent from Team Latvia, the Knicks’ big man remains committed to the team for Eurobasket, according to basketball journalist David Pick (Twitter Link).
- Speaking to reporters, including ESPN’s Chris Forsberg, from the Basketball Hall of Fame Friday, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens discussed the team trading away Isaiah Thomas. “What [Thomas] did in Boston the last two-and a-half years has been incredible,’ Stevens said. “I said earlier what he’s meant to me, what I think of him, how great he’s been in the locker room, what kind of teammate he’s been.” While the trade is currently complicated by Thomas’ troubled hip, Stevens was complimentary of the player who helped lead his team to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
- Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald joined CSN New England to discuss the Thomas trade — which is currently in danger of being nixed due to his hip injury — and said that the organization owes thanks to him. Thomas emerged into one of the league’s top players while in Boston and Bulpett also covers the effort that the former last pick of the 2011 draft put in to help the team.
10:55pm: Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe tweets that a source close to him said the Cavs and Celtics would attempt a renegotiation before rescinding the deal, should it ultimately reach that point.
10:13 pm: Following the results of Isaiah Thomas‘ physical, the Cavaliers are “weighing their options” with completion of the Kyrie Irving trade, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.
Earlier this week, the Cavs and Celtics agreed to swap Irving for a package involving Thomas, despite the fact that the C’s guard was forced out of last spring’s postseason with a hip injury.
As is customary, the trade is contingent upon players passing physicals with their new teams and it’s here where things appear to be hitting a possible snag.
Per Celtics executive Mike Zarren in a question and answer on Boston’s official site: “A trade is not officially complete, and no player may suit up for his new team in a game or practice, until all players report to their new teams and pass a physical exam.”
Wojnarowski adds in another tweet that a source involved in the process says that the C’s and Cavs have found themselves in a “very sensitive situation.”
In a feature published earlier today, Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher discussed the lingering impacts of Thomas’ hip injury. In July, the guard opted to let the injury heal without surgery but uncertainty about his recovery remains.
“We all have the numbers when a guy gets hip surgery,” a league executive told Bucher. “They’re not good. Now what if he’s not right and needs surgery anyway? That is not nearly the same trade.“
It has been an eventful week in Boston, with the Celtics having acquired a four-time All-Star on Tuesday, sending Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving. The NBA world is still buzzing about that deal, and we have a few more Celtics-related notes on the swap to pass along today:
- The Celtics aren’t in a rush to fill their newly-opened 15th roster spot, but have been in touch with a few free agents this week, including veteran center Andrew Bogut, reports Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
- Appearing on The Bill Simmons Podcast this week, Finals MVP Kevin Durant praised Irving for standing up for himself and deciding it was time for him to move on from what seemed like a good situation in Cleveland. “He showed a lot of courage, man, because it’s hard to take that type of criticism,” said Durant (link via ESPN.com), who has some experience in that field himself.
- Durant also suggested during that podcast appearance that Irving and the Celtics will be “perfect” for each other, as DJ Bean of CSNNE.com details. “It’s a perfect fit, because he’s a 6-foot-3 Isaiah Thomas, basically,” Durant said. “And Isaiah just thrived in that system, and then he’s got Gordon Hayward and Al Horford that are going to be able to make plays for him, too. It’s going to be pretty sweet. I think it was a great deal.”
- Revisiting Danny Ainge‘s assertion that the Celtics “have a lot of good players, but need some great ones,” ESPN’s Chris Forsberg makes the case that Ainge’s willingness to roll the dice on Irving signals that the team is making good on that statement and raising the roof on its expectations for 2017/18.
- Young wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum may end up being the biggest winners of the Irving blockbuster, according to Benny Nadeau of Basketball Insiders, who notes that the departures of Avery Bradley and Crowder open the door for those youngsters to take on significant roles in Boston.
The Celtics‘ decision to trade Isaiah Thomas is drawing anger from some former players on social media, relays Andrew Joseph of USA Today. Caron Butler blasted the deal on Instagram, saying “Celtics traded a guy who played in a game for them a day after his sister died, but y’all expect players to be loyal to the franchise, sure.”
Butler’s post drew a response from ex-Celtic Ray Allen, who alienated many teammates in 2012 when he signed with the Heat. The bitter feelings still linger, as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce excluded Allen from a Celtics reunion in May. “But since the team does it I guess it’s just business,” Allen wrote in response to Butler’s post. “Smh!! It is just a business so when the teams do it there’s no difference when the players do it!!”
- The Thomas family is taking a different approach to the deal, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Thomas’ father, James, offered thanks to the Celtics for the opportunities they gave Isaiah. “There were good times in Boston,” he said. “They were good to us. They gave my son a chance to play in the NBA. It’s nothing against them. I have only good things to say. I can’t cut them. Hey, every starter that was there this year is gone except one. Maybe they did what was best for Boston, or at least they think they did.”