Celtics trade Isaiah Thomas, Brooklyn 2018 pick & players for Kyrie Irving

[TBR]

Not much of a basketball fan, although, a) I would typically lean towards the Celtics, and b) have always thought Kyrie Irving was an incredible talent & very fun to watch.

So this is an intriguing move to me.

 

[Tony2046]

Slightly OT: But too funny.

 

[rochrist]

What big could they have gotten?

Ayton or Bamba. But they still may be able to.

 

[Doctor DDS]

IT is only 28 YO - not 30 as some have mentioned. I think the biggest issue was the max contract and Ainge had zero interest in going there with him. Plus IT would be too old/brittle by the time the kids start reaching their potential. The Nets pick is what bother me. Some high potential Bigs in the 2018 draft. Went from rooting against them to for them.

 

[TB_Helmet]

Danny makes a lot of really stupid decisions. This is one of them. This team, whether with Irving or Thomas, is not ready to beat the Warriors, even if it gets lucky enough to get by the Cavs. Getting the big was what was needed against Golden State, and Ainge just flushed that opportunity down the drain.

This is great analysis if it were still 1996 when 'bigs' still had the ability to affect an NBA game.

 

[Bartmac36]

If you put it that way, you swapped elite PGs, one of him was 5 years older, is damaged goods and was a total liability on the defensive end (not that Irving is a great defender but he's also not 5'6) .

In all honesty Irving is probably a decent upgrade over IT, but not nearly enough IMO to be the difference maker for a title run.

Crowder and that brooklyn pick were our two most valuable remaining assets outside of IT, and we just handed them to our rival as well as our chance to pull off another huge trade that COULD have been the potential difference maker

 

[rochrist]

So this guy Ainge didnt think an elite big (which the team needs more than anything) like george or butler was worth trading the brooklyn pick and key starters for, but trading for a point guard that does the same thing that our best player already does somehow IS worthy of that trade? Thats some logic right there..

Um...if you're calling Butler and George 'elite bigs' you have a pretty ...unique view of basketball.

 

[fightingirish595]

Ayton or Bamba. But they still may be able to.

Who he meant someone in the draft? Thought he was advocating for a trade for a big

 

[rochrist]

In all honesty Irving is probably a decent upgrade over IT, but not nearly enough IMO to be the difference maker for a title run.

Crowder and that brooklyn pick were our two most valuable remaining assets outside of IT, and we just handed them to our rival as well as our chance to pull off another huge trade that COULD have been the potential difference maker

Eh. Crowder isn't much more than a JAG.

 

[rochrist]

Who he meant someone in the draft? Thought he was advocating for a trade for a big

The only one out there is AD, and I doubt he's going anywhere for at least a couple more years. And you'd probably have to strip the team to get him

 

[Family]

In a few years Danny completely rebuilt this team into a title contender.

I understand he gave up a lot in the trade, but he didn't give up a lot to acquire the pieces that got Kyrie Irving.

If either Brown or Tatum develop into a superstar, they will win a title.

 

[slam]

The basketball merits of this trade is hard to disentangle from the feeling that Thomas is the most lovable player in the league. It's like clubbing a baby seal.

If we asked ourselves "would Belichick have made this trade"? I think the answer is yes.

 

[DaBruinz]

sorry, but this is a stupid deal for the Celtics..

 

[Bill Lee]

The word now is that Boston made the trade because they believe that they will be able to sign him to an extension without issue, and that Kyrie has already said he is thrilled and wants to do so.

If Kyrie signs an extension, it really swings the deal in our direction, IMHO. We're giving up a lot, but if we get Kyrie under control for several more years, things look a whole lot better. There's a reason why Kyrie was #1 overall and IT4 was #30. IT4's come a long way, but Kyrie has been there all along, is younger, and is healthier. In the NBA, superstars matter, and now we've got a bona-fide superstar on our team.

The Ringer's piece mentioned that this also is being seen as a salary dump for Cleveland. If so, I'm damn glad our owner is willing to sign the paychecks and am damn glad CLE's owner is dumping salary.

 

[Tony2046]

The basketball merits of this trade is hard to disentangle from the feeling that Thomas is the most lovable player in the league. It's like clubbing a baby seal.

If we asked ourselves "would Belichick have made this trade"? I think the answer is yes.

Clubbing a baby seal > what about the children

hahaha

 

[Bartmac36]

Um...if you're calling Butler and George 'elite bigs' you have a pretty ...unique view of basketball.

The modern definition of a "big" in my opinion is can you match up with the lebron/KD/leonards of the world, and those guys can.

Thats whats gonna make or break you in this modern NBA. Trading for AD or cousins isnt making you an nba title team in the 3-point era. Traditional bigs are dinosaurs

 

[rochrist]

If Kyrie signs an extension, it really swings the deal in our direction, IMHO. We're giving up a lot, but if we get Kyrie under control for several more years, things look a whole lot better. There's a reason why Kyrie was #1 overall and IT4 was #30. IT4's come a long way, but Kyrie has been there all along, is younger, and is healthier.

The Ringer's piece mentioned that this also is being seen as a salary dump for Cleveland. If so, I'm damn glad our owner is willing to sign the paychecks and am damn glad CLE's owner is dumping salary.

IT wasn't #30. He was #60!

 

[Bill Lee]

IT wasn't #30. He was #60!

Thanks for the correction.

 

[Froob]

This isn't about next year, Kyrie is 3 years younger, doesn't have a messsed up hip, and his game doesn't rely so heavily on speed. Danny Ainge......

 

[RobertWeathers]

If Kyrie signs an extension, it really swings the deal in our direction, IMHO. We're giving up a lot, but if we get Kyrie under control for several more years, things look a whole lot better. There's a reason why Kyrie was #1 overall and IT4 was #30. IT4's come a long way, but Kyrie has been there all along, is younger, and is healthier. In the NBA, superstars matter, and now we've got a bona-fide superstar on our team.

The Ringer's piece mentioned that this also is being seen as a salary dump for Cleveland. If so, I'm damn glad our owner is willing to sign the paychecks and am damn glad CLE's owner is dumping salary.

No one can ever accuse Wyc Gousbek , Pags or the rest of ownership of being Tom Yawkey, Billy Sullivan or Jeremy Jacobs