Isaiah Thomas proves that hips, in fact, don’t lie

When we last met in the shadows, the Celtics had traded Isaiah Thomas to the Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving...but the deal was not yet official. All four players involved still needed to complete their physicals with their new teams.

It turns out that was easier said than done.

The Cavs ground everything to a halt after looking more closely at Isaiah’s hip. He’d torn his labrum late last season; it eventually ended his playoff run prematurely. Boston apparently vowed it was fine; Cleveland disagreed, upon further inspection. (Here’s everything you need to know about that hip.)

Where are we a few days later?

Apparently, neither team wants to cancel the deal. The Cavs like the package they got for Irving — especially that Nets pick — while Boston can’t stomach having to bring Isaiah back into the fold in a contract year after actually trading him.

So Cleveland is reportedly holding out for an additional asset from Boston, which is both smart and rude. Here’s a list of possible assets the Celtics could give up; it remains to be seen whether Boston will acquiesce. Until there’s resolution, we’re in a holding pattern.

What a strange league.

Houston and other communities in Texas continue to be ravaged by the remnants of Hurricane Harvey and record rainfall. Here’s how you can help. The Rockets gave $4 million. Clint Capela is trapped in his building but helping how he can. Gerald Green needs your boats.

Meanwhile in Dallas, Nerlens Noel signed his $4.1 million qualifying offer. That means he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer after spending the year with the Mavericks. His former agent confirmed Noel turned down a $70 million offer from Dallas earlier this summer. The Mavs pulled the offer when it was countered. Noel blew it. What now?

If Nerlens wants that max deal next summer, here’s what he needs to improve, writes Jake Rauchbach.

Clutch piece by Seerat Sohi on how the shot clock was invented on the back of a napkin and how it saved the NBA.

Boston’s decision on whether to play ball with Cleveland could alter the course of the franchise, writes Bobby Manning.

Wonderful column from Shams Charania on Lamar Odom and the career-altering trade to the Mavericks.

Here’s what Ice Cube has cooked up next for the BIG3.

The Isaiah-Irving trade isn’t the only headache negotiation Cleveland is dealing with right now. The Cavs had committed to spending $70 million on a $140-million renovation to The Q. But a community group won a major legal victory earlier this month that will put the public commitment — also $70 million — on a referendum ballot. The delay means Cleveland won’t be hosting the All-Star Weekend in 2021 or 2022 — the NBA had set a construction deadline. So the Cavs pulled out of the renovation deal entirely with an angry press release. Strange times.

Why do teams always think they can pry Klay Thompson away from the Warriors?

How would the revamped Cavs and Celtics look in NBA Live 2005?

LeBron has been very logged-on this summer.

YIKES. NBA 2K included Sonics legends on the all-time Thunder team...and Seattle was not pleased.

Elton Brand, who is great, is the new GM of the Delaware 87ers.

Manu Ginobili isn’t done yet: He signed a two-year deal with the Spurs. But wait ... did Gregg Popovich attend an Ed Sheeran concert with him?

Ray Allen, who has trust issues with the Celtics, ripped Boston’s trade of Isaiah.

Kobe is issuing challenges to famous people (including NBA players) on Twitter as a marketing stunt. I’M STILL WAITING ON MINE, KOBE.