Kyrie Irving traded for Isaiah Thomas - Celtics and Cavs emergency podcast
Trader Danny aka Danny Ainge is at it again
But I think this is a good basketball move for the Celtics, The Cavs and for Isaiah Thomas — for Kyrie — maybe it’s the best move — but the other 3 made out like bandits
Losers in the near term are Celtics fans and the mojo they’ve created through their fandom of IT4
Win for Isaiah:
Play a year with LeBron, maybe win a ring in his final Cleveland season
Get a max deal during the summer of 2018 — LeBron will be gone — Cleveland has trouble getting marquee free agents — Cavs will have a ton of cap space - and he wants a max contract that Boston can’t afford after paying Gordon Haywood and others
So, a lovable underdog who is an offensive dynamo is going to be embraced by Cleveland — which is a city that will be craving just that type of player, if LeBron leaves.
NBA fans win — this is going to be a BRUTALLY HEATED RIVALRY this season
Win for the Cavs:
Fix their huge team chemistry problem
Still have a shot at a 2018 Title
Have a plan for post LeBron in - Jae Crowder at a great price, plus the 2018 Nets pick in addition to likely resigning Thomas
Win for the Celtics:
Keep Jayson Tatum
Move Jae Crowder out of a log jam at small forward
Kyrie isn’t coming off of major hip surgery and Isaiah is
Kyrie is basically a taller version of Thomas — but w/o the Hip questions mark and w/o a contract expiring next summer (he’s got 3 years remaining - 2 plus a 1 year player option
Once undersized guards, like Allen Iverson lose it — they LOSE IT - WITH NO WARNING — Trader Danny wasn’t going to roll the dice on a 5 year 200million deal for a 5’7’ guard who may or may not ever get back to his 2016-17 form.
Celtics have a couple of years to convince Kyrie that this team, with Gordon Haywood, Al Horford, et al — can be his marquee big market team - and he’ll be the alpha dog.
Losers: Celtics Fans and their love affair with Isaiah Thomas — nothing will ever take away the amazing run — and no matter what happens Thomas and Boston will love eachotehr forever. He’s the Celtics version of Big Papi — the heart and soul of the franchise — the emotional touchstone — this one hurts
But - I like this a lot - because the Celtics don’t have to worry about paying a 5’7” point guard a max deal for the next 5 years