The Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas blockbuster trade, explained

Like a vicious alarm waking us from the doldrums of August, the Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets’ unprotected 2018 first-round draft pick.

Depending on your constitution and thirst for chaos, your first response to this news may have been a very loud “WHY?” If this is the case, we are so glad you asked! Let us explain, for there are many factors that made this happen and will dictate how it all plays out.

Good question. Cleveland didn’t really have much choice in the matter: Irving requested a trade in June. The delicate locker room politics found on high-end NBA teams pretty much dictate that such trade requests should be honored, lest seasons be ruined from the inside. Once Irving’s trade request became open knowledge, it was likely he’d be on another team by the start of the next season.

I covered this quandary extensively in my explainer on Irving’s initial trade request. The short version: Irving feels LeBron James’ omnipotence is limiting his own growth and stardom. He’d like to be the No. 1 option somewhere, and that would never happen as James’ co-star. There have also been subsequent reports that Irving is unnerved by Cleveland’s special brand of executive turmoil, especially in the wake of former GM David Griffin’s bizarre dismissal.

This is interesting, right? These teams just faced off in the Eastern Conference Finals. James and Boston have a decade’s worth of bitter rivalry. And here they are, swapping all-stars.

The bottom line is what matters here: the Celtics had the best imaginable trade offer for Irving. Getting a near-equal talent (albeit with a couple more red flags we’ll discuss in a moment) plus a premium draft pick, plus a dice roll prospect — this is a coup. It’s not foolproof (we’ll discuss that, too) but it’s a great return for flawed young all-star who wants out.

Irving is a better asset than Thomas. He’s three years younger, half a foot taller, under contract for longer, and didn’t finish the season with a torn hip labrum.

Thomas has been a genuine miracle in his seven NBA seasons, proving everyone who gave up on him wrong. He’s improved every single season.

But because of the nature of his body, he will still be doubted. Plenty of smart folks still openly wonder whether he’ll be worth a maximum contract as a free agent next summer. Why? Because his size and age — he’s currently 28 — spark fear of a sharp, sudden decline in his early 30s.

Absolutely! He’s a tough defender and shot the ball quite well last season. It remains to be seen whether coach Tyronn Lue will change up his starting frontcourt — neither Kevin Love nor Tristan Thompson came off the bench once last season — but we can expect plenty of minutes where Crowder and James play together as two big, tough, and agile forwards. This combination is exciting.

LMAO. No.

An Ante Zizic is a Croatian 7-footer. Celtics fans were pretty excited for his rookie season. Learn more and catch some highlights. Knowing how rookies fare in Cleveland during the LeBron James era, don’t expect to see him much in the NBA this season.

This move is the culmination of a wild offseason for Boston. The Celtics traded Avery Bradley for Marcus Morris, lost Kelly Olynyk, signed Gordon Hayward, and drafted Jayson Tatum. Rookies usually don’t contribute much to winning teams — Jaylen Brown was a rotation player off and on last season — so Tatum won’t move the immediate needle, in all likelihood.

The Bradley move clears the way for Marcus Smart to get the heaviest minutes load next to Irving, while the forward swaps should lead to even more smallball up front. Either Hayward or Morris should be the starting power forward; it remains to be seen whether Morris or the young Brown will get a starting nod.

Aron Baynes serves as Al Horford’s backup at center, and you can’t imagine Brad Stevens playing those guys together much. Terry Rozier should also take on added importance in the backcourt, though this was the case before the Irving-Thomas swap.

To answer the question: we have no clue whatsoever. There are so many variables at play.

James will be a free agent in 2018. He might leave Cleveland again.

According to reports, yes.

Dan Gilbert.

Sure. We know last year’s Cavaliers and Celtics were dead on arrival against the Warriors. By changing their rosters in meaningful ways, we can at least believe their respective odds are improved.

LMAO. No.