Shams: Cleveland and Boston have agreement on deal to send Kyrie Irving to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas package to Cavs

[jonny three time]

Calling it now. Nets pick won't even be top 5 unless they got lucky through the lottery.

They likely have the worst record in the NBA so at worst it's the 4th pick in the draft.

Zero chance if Lin and Russell are relatively healthy.

They were teetering on .500 when Lin was in the line up. They will be competitive enough to avoid being at the bottom. Atkinson is legit.

Lin
Russell
LeVert
RHJ
Crabbe

Really not bad considering how bare Billy King left the cupboards.

Here's the NBA depth charts for every team...

http://www.rotoworld.com/teams/depth-charts/nba.aspx

Say the 5 teams you think are worse than the Nets. The only two I'd accept the argument for are Atlanta and Indy. Every other team has at least something you can point to which gives them an advantage over the Nets. Orlando (continuity), New York (two stars), Sacramento (defense), Lakers (superstar youngsters and veteran additions), Philly (superstar youngsters and veteran additions), Phoenix, Utah, Detroit and Dallas all have WAY BETTER veteran talent right now.

Even your argument about the Nets with Lin last year doesn't hold up, given that they made significant changes to their rotation. Mozgov, Crabbe, Russell, Carroll are all new players. Lopez and others are out. So your after-February-with-Lin record doesn't matter given they're a new rotation that needs to build chemistry together.

It was an extremely valuable pick the Celtics gave up that currently projects as top 5, with about as good a chance as any for #1.

[Syd-TK3]

It's gonna be interesting to see what Kyrie can do without Lebron.

What is the celtics lineup like now?

Assuming their done
Irving
Jaylen
Hayward
Morris
Horford

Smart, Tatum, Rozier, Baynes

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[Bank Shot]

That is a hell of an overpay. Ainge waited all this time to go all in on an Irving/Hayward/Past Prime Horford core. If Tatum and Brown are just role players instead of studs then yikes.

[SFour]

It's gonna be interesting to see what Kyrie can do without Lebron.

What is the celtics lineup like now?

Assuming their done
Irving
Jaylen
Hayward
Morris
Horford

Smart, Taytum, Rozier, Baynes

Sent from my SGH-I337M using RealGM mobile app

Irving/Hayward/Horford is a solid big 3 but nothing special. I'll be surprised if they can get past Lebron....

edit: but adding PG or Butler to that big 3 would of been special.

[JShuttlesworth]

Cleveland wins this deal.

My gut tells me to agree with you. If you have to pick a winner (today) I'd side with Cleveland. What if the Celtics come out of the East though? I think the trade worked out well for both teams.

Cleveland gets a nice guard coming back in IT, and get some good depth along with him in Crowder - They also happen to get what will probably be a good pick out of it. Boston gets Irving though - Irving is probably the Top-2 point guard in the East. We'll have to see how this whole thing plays out.

[Randle McMurphy]

Just a hilariously bad trade by the Celtics. No reason to include the Nets pick. Still don't see LeBron sticking around in Cleveland after this year, but there's at least a chance that he could after this deal.

[Federalies]

I'll go out on a limb and say this is actually a good thing for the Raps next year and likely beyond!

Now on paper a case can be made that both the Cavs and Celts improved (Boston gets an All Star guard with Championship winning experience while Cleveland gets a Kyrie clone, a starter and a top end pick next year) but I'd suggest both teams will take time to integrate their new players and that will cost them games. If Lebron's first year in Miami and first year back in Cleveland taught us anything, it's that good on paper is not an automatic on the court.

Boston has gotten better but just lost 4 of their 5 Starters from last years first place Eastern conference team! Let that sink in...the only remaining starter, Mr. Horford, will just be entering his second year with the team! Stevens is good but tough to manufacture the trust and innate understanding a team creates over time right out of the gate.

The Cavs give up their second best player for IT and his questionable hip. Crowder is decent but unless Lebron bumps Love to play PF, he'll be coming off the bench. The pick will be good (I'd love to have it) but it's small compensation if Lebron walks for nothing next off season!

In short, good job for both teams on paper but as a Raps fan I'm actually more excited about our regular season chances (and perhaps beyond ) then I was just yesterday!

[OhMyBosh]

Cleveland wins this deal.

My gut tells me to agree with you. If you have to pick a winner (today) I'd side with Cleveland. What if the Celtics come out of the East though? I think the trade worked out well for both teams.

Cleveland gets a nice guard coming back in IT, and get some good depth along with him in Crowder - They also happen to get what will probably be a good pick out of it. Boston gets Irving though - Irving is probably the Top-2 point guard in the East. We'll have to see how this whole thing plays out.

And what's Isaiah? At worst, a top-5 PG in the East?

Now add in a legit starting caliber SF, a 1st round prospect from last year's draft, and a top 5 draft pick next year.

Considering nobody thought Cleveland could get equal value for Kyrie, this is essentially highway robbery.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

Boston might be a mess next year, half their team turned over.

[Raps in 4]

I just realized Boston gave up the Nets pick too.

WOW. Cleveland absolutely fleeced them (AND they save money). Brutal, brutal trade for Boston. I take everything back I said about Ainge. This offseason has been Bryan Colangelo levels of bad for the Celtics.

[KrazyP]

Jheezus christ it boggles my mind how some of you guys just hate on Boston for the sake of hating on them. They added a guy that's proven to be a complete monster on the big stage. One of the best scorers in the game, just a pure offensive dominant talent. Just imagine him playing with a coach like Brad Stevens. Making him play team ball for once in his career. You guys are out to lunch. Kyrie is a special talent, and he's a guy that when the stage gets brighter his cojones hang lower unlike some of the players on our team. Last year we were hating on the Celtics team cause of "fake all star" Isiah Thomas, and how jar crowder and all their team were scrubs. Haha now they going to miss them??? Now they added a clear superstar point guard with a chance to be the man under a brilliant basketball mind in Brad Stevens. He's gonna become a better defender under Stevens as well and playmaker, that's what elite coaches do. He's only 25 , and locked in for two more years at a bargain contact. The cavs and celtics both won this trade. And if the rumours of D wade heading to Cleveland is true. The NBA is drooling absolutely drooling at an Cavs Celtics ECF. We're gone in the first round this year.

Its easier to shine in the limelight when you have Lebron next to you. Pre-Lebron, Irving was was just a injury prone, volume shooter with efficiency and defense worse than Demar. Decent scorer but nothing to write home about.

[sidsid]

Great deal for the Cavs. They arguably improve their current roster, plus get a top pick in the 2018 draft. Plus they save a boatload of luxury tax. Not sure what Boston was thinking here.

Boston has taken some big steps back defensively this off-season.

This is my other issue with Irving over Butler/George. With the addition of Irving, Hayward, and Tatum (assuming he isn't a bust), they are undoubtedly more talented, but as soft as ever inside and easily worse defensively on the perimeter.

The all in move of George plus Butler gave you a team that was all around strong, athletic, versatile, etc. Allowing you to compete with anyone. The core they assembled, is hoping to outshoot everyone like the Cavs did last season, but without Lebron to cover the holes.

[knickerbocker2k2]

I'm big fan of Kryie game but I think Cavs made out pretty good. At best Kyrie replicates Thomas production last year. Thomas had crazy efficient season last year. Thomas did this without any other real creator on offense, and Irving has not proven he can run offense all by himself. Strangely enough Celtics might be doing this move for the future vs now. Their team is probably worse off in the short term.

[rapcity10]

I find it mind boggling how were basically putting the fate of the season on the line with mediocore prospects while Boston has Tatum, brown, smart, rozier, the lakers/kings pick still, just blows the prospects pools out the window compared to ours and were here talking smack. Isn't this the same midget Isiah Thomas from last year, and the same overrated jar crowder? Hahahaha. They still have enough pieces to make a run at Anthony Davis as well. There team ain't finished. While we have a 4 page thread on a Bruno cacobcolo exhibiton again.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Ainge must really think there's another level for Irving to reach as a player. It's possible. I still would not have included that pick though.

[Mak]

I find it mind boggling how were basically putting the fate of the season on the line with mediocore prospects while Boston has Tatum, brown, smart, rozier, the lakers/kings pick still, just blows the prospects pools out the window compared to ours and were here talking smack. Isn't this the same midget Isiah Thomas from last year, and the same overrated jar crowder? Hahahaha. They still have enough pieces to make a run at Anthony Davis as well. There team ain't finished. While we have a 4 page thread on a Bruno cacobcolo exhibiton again.

What should we do? just give up and not hope for the best? NJ/Boston trade will turn out to be one of the worst ever if Tatum and Brown turn out to be all stars. Will they though?

[XxIronChainzxX]

Ainge is amazing. He got Isaiah for nothing right? Incredible work by him. Still think Cavs are the first seed but Celtics have done a decent job closing the gap. This will also allow Tatum to prosper with Crowder not there to take up wing minutes. Edit: Cavs also did well considering they got an allstar, a solid role player and a lotto pick. Edit edit: the more think about it the more I feel Boston gave up too much....

I think we'll learn IT's injury is way worse than disclosed. The deal makes sense if IT is teetering on the brink of a career crippling injury.

[rapcity10]

Ainge must really think there's another level for Irving to reach as a player. It's possible. I still would not have included that pick though.

Kryrie is an MVP candidate. Has the potential to reach all time great status under Brad Stevens. He has a real NBA coach for the first time in his career. He's a stud man, this man was putting on a show in 3 straight finals. The price is steep, yes, but a talent like Kyrie doesn't grow on trees. They also still kept Tatum, brown, and still have very likely a top 5 pick coming in next year from the lakers, or the year after from the Kings. Both teams got better, but Boston IMO made the move they needed to make. They weren't giving Isiah the max next summer.

[Raps in 4]

Ainge must really think there's another level for Irving to reach as a player. It's possible. I still would not have included that pick though.

Kryrie is an MVP candidate.

[rapcity10]

excellent trade for us, Raptors! fit wise, both teams have weaken themselves!

LMFAOOOoOOOoIoO