The inevitable has finally happened…Kyrie Irving has been traded.  The Cavaliers completed a blockbuster trade this evening with the Boston Celtics sending Irving to Boston in exchange for all-star point guard Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets 2018 unprotected 1st round pick.  While Irving being traded was not much of a surprise…going to Eastern Conference rival Boston is a bit of a surprise.  The Cavaliers were holding out for the best possible deal that would help them both now and long term.  This is a pretty impressive return that should accomplish both.  Let’s take a look at what the Cavaliers will be getting for Irving.

Isaiah Thomas

Thomas is coming off of his best season in which he averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists while being selected as an Eastern Conference all-star.  He also shot a career high 46% from the field and 91% from the free throw line.  Despite his small stature Thomas is crafty at getting inside amongst the big boys and finishing at the rim.  He is also a decent outside shooter and can create his own shot off of the dribble.  He will be a very capable replacement for Kyrie Irving along side Lebron James in the starting lineup.  The big question is has Thomas recovered from his late season hip injury?  Thomas is also a free agent at the end of the 2017/2018 season though the Cavaliers will retain his bird rights and can sign him to a 5 year $180 million dollar max extension.

Jae Crowder

Jae Crowder is coming off of a solid 2016/2017 season with the Celtics.  He averaged 13.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.  Crowder is coming off of his best season shooting the ball as he shot 46% from the field and 40% from three point range.  At 6’6″ and 235 lbs Crowder is a solid and physical defender who is capable of defending both wings and bigs.  After starting 73 games last season for the Celtics he will serve as the backup to Lebron James with the Cavaliers.  Many remember the tense moment during game four of the 2015 first round playoff series when Cavs guard J.R. Smith hit Crowder with a backfist to the face nearly knocking him out.  They have since made amends and there should be no hard feelings between the two new teammates.

Ante Zizic

The most unknown of the Cavaliers acquisitions is Croatian center Ante Zizic.  He was drafted by Boston 23rd overall in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft.  Zizic played in the Euroleague for former Cavaliers coach David Blatt last season averaging 9 points and 6.7 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.  The 20 year old is an athletic seven footer who is catch and finish player around the rim.  He is still a work in progress in the post.  Defensively he has all the tools to be an impact defender.  The Cavaliers need a defensive minded big off of the bench and Zizic could very well provide them with this need.  He will have an opportunity to earn minutes at backup center behind starter Tristan Thompson.

Brooklyn’s 2018 unprotected 1st round pick

A huge key to this deal is the draft pick that will be selected in the Nets draft position which could very well be in the top three.  This gives the Cavaliers an opportunity to draft an elite college player while still being an NBA championship contender.  It also gives them a jump start on a rebuild if Lebron James and Isaiah Thomas happen to leave Cleveland after the 2017/2018 season via free agency.  The other option Cleveland has using the pick in a deal attached with Iman Shumpert in an effort to land another star player.

 

On paper it appears the Cavaliers are the winners in this deal…but only time will tell.  This deal along with the Cavaliers free agent acquisitions should give them what is quite possibly the deepest team they have ever had in Lebron James Cavaliers career.  One thing is for certain…opening night at 8:00 pm on October 17th just became much more interesting!