Late August usually finds the NBA quiet, as NFL opening night inches closer, most people's minds jump to football this time of year. However, Tuesday's Celtic-Cavalier trade has the basketball world buzzing. That's right, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving in a deal with the Boston Celtics including Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Ante Zizic.
The question for many remains: Are the Celtics better for the trade, or was the point guard switch of Thomas for Irving one that the Celtics will regret?
Isaiah Thomas is a 28-year-old born in Washington. He started his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings in 2011, where he was the last selection of the draft and hasn't looked back since. In 2014 he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he sustained a debilitating ankle injury that left him out for 8 consecutive games. He returned the court in December, and shortly after that, in February 2015, he was traded to the Boston Celtics. Thomas thrived with the Celtics, and the beginning of the 2016 season found him being named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve for the 2016 NBA All-Star game. Standing at 5'9", Thomas tied with Calvin Murphy to be the shortest player ever selected to be in an All-Star game. In the past season with the Celtics, Thomas proved his worth by putting up 20 or more points in almost every game, including his career high of 52 points in a single game against the Miami Heat. Thomas is also one of only three Celtic players ever to make over 200 three point shots in his career.
Now onto Kyrie Irving, born in Melbourne Australia, 25 years old now and standing at 6'3", he started his career in 2011 being selected first overall. Unlike Thomas, he has stuck with the same team, the Cavaliers, since he was drafted in 2011. The 2011-2012 season ended with Irving being unanimously named Rookie of the Year. From there, he was voted by fans in the 2013-2014 season to be the starting point guard for the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star game. His 31 points and 14 assists in that game won him All-Star MVP as the East beat the West in 2014. Following that season, Irving found himself playing for the USA in the FIBA World Cup where he helped lead his team to the gold medal and was named MVP once again. In 2016 he most notably hit the game-winning three pointers to knock off the juggernaut Golden State Warriors. Later that summer he once again showed the United States what an outstanding player he is when he helped lead his team to gold, this time in the Olympics. Most recently in Irving's career his old team, the Cavaliers, beat his new team, the Celtics, in the Eastern Conference Finals on their way to the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers eventually lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games.
I will admit, I'm biased. Ever since I came home from work Tuesday night my boyfriend has been raving about the trade. He is all for Irving on the Celtics, which after doing my research, I am too. Irving is one of the best ball-handlers and offensive forces in the league. Add being an NBA Champion and two-time gold medalist to the resume, and that makes the Celtics a lot better. There's no denying that. However, it was a smart trade for the Cavaliers to make as well.
Are the Celtics better for the trade? Danny Ainge, the President of Basketball Operations for the Celtics, tells ESPN he would prefer to answer that question in April after he has seen the players interact with each other on the court. I guess that means we all wait and see!