The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are nearing the completion of a blockbuster trade that would that is centered around the swapping of All-Star point guards Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas.
Cleveland would also receive forward Jae Crowder, big man Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets 2018 first-round pick. With that in mind, former Cavaliers general manager David Griffin voiced during a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA radio that he believes the team has received a solid haul in return for Irving.
Although there are concerns about Thomas’ hip, he has developed into the premier scorers in the NBA. He is coming off a career-best campaign with averaging 28.9 points, which was only the second-highest mark in Celtics’ history after Hall of Famer Larry Bird. This helped him earn his second All-Star Game selection, and first All-NBA Second Team nod.
Meanwhile, Crowder has become a dependable player on both ends of the floor with the Celtics over the 2 1/2 seasons averaging 12.8 points on 44.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range with 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. His addition should make him a highly valuable asset off the bench for Cleveland.
Zizic has yet to play a single game in the NBA, but he has the potential to develop into a serviceable big man down the road. That said, the most impactful asset acquired could be the Nets’ first-round pick that could wind up being a top-five selection in next year’s draft that could be used to either add some promising talent or be used to acquire another high-impact player via a trade.
If the teams are able to work out the deal prior to Wednesday’s deadline, the Cavaliers have made away with a haul that could have a positive impact beyond just this upcoming season.