The Cavaliers finally traded Kyrie Irving to the Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick on Tuesday night after a months-long conversation of his desire to leave Cleveland. It was a historic trade for many reasons, namely that top conference rivals swapped superstars, but also because Mr. Relevant and Mr. Irrelevant were traded for each other.
Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas trade means Cavs and Celtics swapped the 2011 NBA Draft’s first and last picks
Who would’ve thought they’d ever be comparable players!
Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
Irving and Thomas bookended the 2011 NBA draft where the Cavs prodigy went No. 1 overall, and the 5’9 Washington point guard was taken last in a 60-player draft by the Kings. Nobody could have predicted that Thomas would be THIS good to warrant being the top name in a trade for Irving.
Thomas is three years older than Irving, but with the same NBA experience they are comparable players. Both struggle mightily on the defensive end, but are two of the league’s best — and highest usage — players on the offensive side. Swapping one for the other doesn’t make the Celtics or Cavaliers immediately better or worse, which is an unfathomable thought based on their league projections six years ago.
That has nothing to do with Irving, and everything to do with the greatness of Thomas.
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