Celtics wants to know what's up
Kyrie Irving trade rumors: Boston Celtics reportedly placed 'obligatory call' to Cleveland Cavaliers, but deal seems unlikely
The Boston Celtics are on a long list of teams that have placed an "obligatory call" to the Cleveland Cavaliers about Kyrie Irving, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe.
In an
informative piece detailing some of the Cavaliers' options, Lowe added that the Celtics, like "most teams," have let Cleveland "know they would like to be kept in the loop."
Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge should be doing his due diligence, checking in on any disgruntled star. But even with the lines of communication open, a deal between the two teams should not be expected or even considered much of a realistic possibility. Lowe believes a Boston-Cleveland trade "seems unlikely."
As the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics and Cavaliers presumably won't want to risk fortifying each other. For that reason alone, it would be shocking for them to strike a blockbuster deal. Even if they were willing to ignore their standing as chief Eastern Conference competitors, the Celtics and Cavaliers would have a tough time finding common ground.
While it's neat to debate whether a team should prefer Irving or Isaiah Thomas, it's not easy to create a realistic trade proposal involving both players. Because of Thomas' small contract, the Celtics would need to add at least one more valuable piece (maybe Jae Crowder) to any offer. While Irving's age (25), contract length (two more years plus a player option) and playoff history are all preferable to Thomas', it would be rare to give up additional value to acquire a player at the same position coming off a less productive regular season.
Irving is supremely talented. He has a track record of playoff brilliance and, unlike Thomas, no uncertainty regarding his hip. But after several seasons alongside James, there are still real questions about Irving's game. Can he lift up his teammates? Can he be more than one of the world's most dangerous isolation scorers? How much will Irving miss James? And in what new ways can Irving flourish without James?
The answers aren't clear. Even if they were, it would be difficult for Boston and Cleveland to put together a sensible trade. In my opinion, at least, this proposal would not fall into the category:
It would be misguided for the Celtics to give up a similarly productive player to Irving (Thomas), one of the NBA's best contracts (Crowder) and one of the league's top assets (the Nets pick). Maybe there's a balance to be found somewhere, but this offer would not be it.
It would be helping the Cavaliers now (if Thomas isn't better than Irving by himself, Thomas and Crowder are) and in the future (hello, lottery pick from Brooklyn). It would be Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge giving James more reasons to stay in the Eastern Conference beyond his current contract. It would be Cleveland's front office doing this to Ainge:
No, no, no, no, no. And no. Ainge only gets dunked on by his son.
This feels like a more reasonable offer:
Maybe throw a non-Brooklyn or -LA pick in there. But, really, any theoretical offer feels far-fetched. The last thing Ainge would ever want to do is entice James to stay in Cleveland. Ainge should be praying every night for a Western Conference team to lure James next summer, thereby opening the door for Boston to rule the East. Ainge should desperately want the Cavaliers to find weak value on the trade market. He should want the Cavaliers to collapse.
Considering how wobbly Cleveland seems now, the Irving trade request could ultimately benefit Boston. But it would be stunning if the Celtics land him. Actually, I would bet just about anything they won't.
. Nigga trying to make ANOTHER IT4 for Kyrie thread knowing damn well it was already like three threads on it
