On Tuesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics came together for one of the bigger trades of the 2017 NBA offseason. The Cavs, winners of last season’s Eastern Conference title, are sending All Star point guard Kyrie Irving to Boston. In return, the Celtics gave up Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets’ unprotected first round pick in next year’s Draft.
Everything sounds good, right? Well, “not so fast,” as Lee Corso would say.
Late Friday night, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Thomas had flown to Cleveland for a physical examination, as all players being sent to a new team must do. Upon completion of Thomas’ physical examination, some concerns with regards to his hip injury began to emerge.
If Thomas, now 28 years of age, can’t clear his physical with the Cavs, the deal could be pronounced void. As one source told Wojnarowski on Friday night, “it’s a very sensitive situation.”
Thomas traveled to Cleveland, took exam and flew back out of town, sources said. All players must pass physical, or a deal can be voided.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
As one source involved in the process involving Thomas' medical clearance told ESPN late Friday night, "It's a very sensitive situation."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
“It is possible that Cleveland could request further compensation from Boston before it’ll approve the trade, league sources said. Cleveland has until Thursday to make a final decision on approving the trade, sources said. Cleveland can veto the deal based on a failed physical, sending players back to their respective teams.”
Thomas’ hip injury occurred on March 15 in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The crafty ball-handler reaggravated the injury in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Washington Wizards. He then played two games for the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals before being ruled out for the remainder of the postseason.
On Saturday afternoon, Wojnarowski reported that the Cavs and Celtics are expected to engage in a telephone call to discuss the status of the trade. The two teams will have until 10:00 a.m. Wednesday to submit the physicals of the players involved in this trade. By NBA rule, the deadline for the players involved to pass their physical is 10:00 a.m. Thursday. If they so choose, both teams could agree to extend the deadline.
