[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’FEEL THE GAME BOBBY MOTUS Out of LeBron James’ shadow’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=”]
KYRIE Irving finally got his wish and gotten himself a team where he will be the main man and the Boston Celtics now have an experienced and offensively potent point guard with exceptional ball handling abilities. Only 25-years old, NBA titlist Kyrie joins another big-time transferee Gordon Hayward who’s just two years older. Together, they will form Boston’s version of the dynamic duo. Yes, both can combine for at least 50 points every playing night but they also need to improve on their defensive plays.
The two major acquisitions ensures the Celtics’ rise back to lofty status and by the time Kyrie and Hayward get past their prime, Boston’s younger studs headlined by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum would have found their own star powers and, hopefully, their team among the league’s elite.
Cleveland receives a clutch player in sub-six footer Isaiah Thomas and he brings to the Cavs a per-game average of almost 29 points. He is definitely an asset to LeBron James’ team but the most important addition to the Cavaliers is not IT4.
Along with Thomas came Jae Crowder and he makes Cleveland several notches better on the defensive end. He has the ability to protect the paint and can be a huge stumbling block to multiple frontcourt positions. LBJ’s defensive load will be significantly lessened and this will be crucial come playoff time. The Cavs are wanting in defense and Crowder is one addition that fills the need.
Like Boston, Cleveland has prepared for the future and the plan included the anticipated departure of LBJ at the end of the 2018 season. The Cavs, in addition to IT4 and Crowder get Brooklyn’s unprotected first round pick next year and, considering the dire straits the Nets had been in the past few seasons, Cleveland could be picking no lower from the top 10 selections. They also got Ante Zizic, a 7-foot, 20-year-old center from Croatia that we still have to get familiar with.
Zizic honed his skills in the Adriatic leagues under former Cleveland coach David Blatt and, along with fellow Croatians Ivica Zubac and Dragan Bender, was drafted into the league during the 2016 Draft. If indeed LBJ takes his talents again somewhere else, at least the Cavs won’t be left hanging.
As of this writing, the Boston-Cleveland deal still has to be finalized as the Cavaliers wanted to have either Brown or Tatum added to the package to compensate for IT4’s hip injury after he had his physical. That’s asking too much and it’s understandable for the Celtics not to part with their versatile wings, both top picks from the two previous drafts. They already received a fair package. The most the Celtics could give up will be their second round picks and maybe another serviceable player.
Both teams were aware of the injury but the physicals were not favorable to the Cavs that they wanted additional material. As per Celtics GM Danny Ainge, IT4’s hip issue had some role in the decision to deal him away, further saying that the injury might delay the start of his season. Cleveland does not like the possibility of Thomas having surgery as per physical exam results.
All things related to the trade were considered, especially health concerns, and both the Celtics and the Cavaliers followed policy, as the league requires teams to be transparent, “including any factors that could affect a player’s ability to play basketball at any point in his career.” They would be risking stiff penalties if health issues are hidden. As per CBA rules, the NBA can impose sanctions including “a fine of up to $1million, suspension of the team executives involved, rescinding the trade, and/or the forfeit of draft picks.”
At the moment, Boston and Cleveland are reworking on things that would eventually benefit both teams in the end. The Celtics must make things happen because Thomas already indicated that he won’t be coming back to Boston if the deal goes off. And please, Celtic fans, stop the IT4 jersey burning. It was management decision. Set Ainge on fire if you must./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
