The IT-Irving Trade From the Perspective of a Celtics Fan

I am sick of hearing analysts saying that the Celtics got fleeced. Yes, I am a Celtics fan. Yes, I would have faith in Danny Ainge if he cut Kyrie Irving tomorrow. However, I can tell you that the Boston Celtics most definitely did not get fleeced. This is a trade that will help a young Boston team in the present, while also preparing them to thrive in a league no longer dominated by the Warriors and Cavs.
Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas transformed a team led by Marcus Smart to a legitimate free-agent destination that finished first in the East and made an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals. The King of the Fourth Quarter made haters eat their words, making the All-NBA Second Team and receiving MVP votes while carrying the Celtics on his back. He had one of the most efficient scoring seasons in NBA history, stuffing the stat sheet with 28.9 PPG and 5.9 APG. Isaiah Thomas had a better season than Kyrie Irving last year. This isn’t disputed. However, is a Celtics squad without this trade better than the Cavs? Is it better than the Warriors? Hell, is it better than the Rockets or Spurs? To me, the answer is no. I love the Celtics, and I love Isaiah, but this trade is about the future. Kyrie Irving is 25 years old, and has yet to enter his prime.
“Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA. He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “He’s been an NBA Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a four-time All-Star. For all he’s accomplished, we think his best years are ahead of him.”
IT is 28. He is in the midst of his prime. However, Thomas is also in a contract year, and he will likely demand a multi-year max contract. Expect him to look for offers similar to the 3 year/$100 million contract Kyle Lowry received at 31 years old. Was Danny Ainge prepared to bring the Brink trucks out for Isaiah? No. He would much rather give that money to a younger and taller guard in Kyrie. It is easy to say that we already had Isaiah, and dealing him was not necessary. However, there are more concerns that exist outside of his contract issues. During the playoffs, Isaiah suffered a hip injury that sidelined him for the Cleveland series. While he didn’t undergo surgery this offseason, questions still remained on his health. Ainge told reporters that Isaiah’s murky status was a factor in the trade, and that Celtics executives had “significant concern” over the hip. With a game that is heavily reliant on quick bursts of speed to blow by defenders, diminishing athleticism could lead to a significant drop off in play. Forget a few years into the massive contract Isaiah will receive. I’m concerned about him now. If this hip is as serious as Celtics executives believe it is, Isaiah could suffer in this coming season in Cleveland. With a Celtics young core consisting of Gordon Hayward (27), Kyrie Irving (25), Jaylen Brown (20), Jayson Tatum (19), expect the Celtics peak to be reached as the Warriors and Cavaliers begin to crumble.
2018 Brooklyn Pick
Another coveted piece the Cavaliers acquired in this trade. This could very well be the number one pick in the draft that includes big names such as Marvin Bagley and Michael Porter Jr. Owning the worst record in the NBA last year, many expect the Nets to have another lackluster season. However, Brooklyn quietly managed to have one of the best offseasons in the NBA. While they lost their best player in Brook Lopez, they added D’Angelo Russell, an intriguing piece who was the number two overall pick just two years ago.

Russell was a vital piece to the Lakers, scoring 15.6 PPG with 4.8 APG. Russell will only continue to grow, now with the keys to the Nets offense. Brooklyn also added DeMarre Carroll, Allen Crabbe and Timofey Mozgov. These are all solid NBA veterans who will all start for Brooklyn. Throw in a healthy year of Jeremy Lin (who appeared in only 36 games last season), the growth of young players Sean Kilpatrick, Caris Levert and Isaiah Whitehead, and the addition of first round pick Jarrett Allen, and this has the makings of a not-terrible team. I’m not saying the Nets will make the playoffs (like Jeremy Lin says they will), but it’s not crazy to imagine them winning 30 games. With the Bulls, Hawks, Pacers and Magic all looking ready to tank, the Nets might not be the worst team in the East. With the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Pistons look ready to join the mix too. The majority of “The Process” has the potential to end up on the DL this year. And if Melo is finally traded, expect Kristaps and co. to end up at the bottom of the barrel. The Nets are not a good team, but there is no reason why they can’t finish ahead of all of these teams. In a top heavy draft, a pick that falls outside of the top-8 could end up being a non-franchise changing player on a post-LeBron Cavs.
Yes, I am a Boston sports fan who at times hates to hear his teams criticized, but I am putting my foot down this time. Danny Ainge pulled off a great deal that helps the Celtics in the present and future.
