Celtics
Boston gets: Irving
Cleveland gets: Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, a future pick
As much as I’d love to see Uncle Drew running pick-and-rolls with the Unicorn, or Pop’s rolling eyes/murderous glare on every Kyrie’s botched defensive screw-up, I think this is the best trade scenario for Cleveland this late in the off-season, considering the timing of the trade request is a month too late.
Cavs are still on a win-now mode with a shorter IT4 (but defensively worse) in Kyrie’s place and a workhorse in Crowder, an almost-perfect 3-D player that Lebron loves in his arsenal (sort of like a pumped-up Shumpert on his best day). Plus, the Cavs gets their insurance with the future pick if Lebron leaves, presumably the Kings/Lakers number 1 pick (definitely not the Brooklyn pick; Ainge is not THAT stupid and desperate.)
As for the Celtics, they would get an upgrade in Kyrie in every conceivable way compared to IT4. He is younger, bigger, stronger, and has more upside than Thomas. The best part: Ainge doesn’t have to “bring out the Brinks truck” for a 5'9" scorer with a bad hip and would turn 30 in 1.5 years. Kyrie is still in a reasonable guaranteed contract for 2 more years. He still has enough time to acclimate himself within the team concept and grow together with Hayward, Horford and the 7/11 kids. Kyrie can become the alpha dog on this Boston team, while Horford can be the glue guy and locker room stabilizer, and Hayward as the ego-less, quiet leader who pats the backs of his teammates, like Scottie Pippen was with the Bulls.
Come to think of it… the Celtics MUST do this now before the Cavs change their minds. In fact, they can include the Brooklyn pick if they want. Ainge should go all out, as he may have the perfect superstar to pair with Gordon Hayward. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see Irving’s Celtics and James’ Cavs going mano a mano in the playoffs? That might be a bigger draw than the actual would-be finals against the 4-straight finalist Warriors (yawn..)
COME ON DANNY! LET’S DO THIS!!!
Boston gets: Irving
Cleveland gets: Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, a future pick
