Follow Author 
Finally, Kyrie Irving is out of Cleveland -- and he certainly got his wish, he’s now ‘the man’ on his new team the Boston Celtics. Yes, it was a one-for-three plus 1 deal -- Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic plus a first round draft pick.
Well, let’s get onto the debate, “Who won the trade?”
One. If it were a one-on-one deal between Kyrie and Thomas, Boston won. Kyrie is taller, younger, clutch with great handles -- he’s simply a better player. Yes, Thomas had a great 2016-17 season and even a higher points per game average et cetera than Kyrie but -- he’s the only guy who’s really scoring for the Celtics. He didn’t really have a LeBron James or even a Kevin Love which is why Kyrie’s PPG is lower than Thomas since the pie had to be divided in Cleveland..
Which is said to be the reason why Kyrie wanted out. And which is one reason why Kyrie is better since he even doesn’t want to play second fiddle to LeBron (who would be leaving again) -- unlike many stars who are just looking for other stars to team up with instead of courting them to come over to their team.
Two. Because of Jae Crowder and a first round pick in the package, this trade became even. Why? Cleveland now added another defender who could also shoot threes and a future pick who might turn out to be good, hopefully. As for Zizic, we still do not know what he could exactly do, so let’s just see.
Three. Now if Thomas lost his game because of his hip injury or because he could not adjust to being no longer ‘the man’ then obviously, Boston won the trade regardless if they gave away 2 other players and a draft pick. Thus, Cleveland would just have to be content with a lost Thomas, an injury-prone Rose and an ageing Calderon -- while Boston now has a whole lot of possibilities in their offense with Kyrie at the helm!
FINAL NOTE
Cleveland. More than getting an All-Star replacement in Thomas for Kyrie, they now have a big, physical wingman in Crowder who could greatly help LeBron in alternating on Kevin Durant among other stars. And if Thomas is still the Thomas we know then having a D-Rose as backup is indeed a luxury. Their lineup should get them to the East Finals, at least.
Boston. Hey, they just got Uncle Drew! And the Celtics did not lose their prized talents in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in this trade! More so, they now even have All-Star scorer Gordon Hayward and a physical stretch four in Marcus Morris -- so again, imagine the possibilities! This is why the Cavaliers may not be guaranteed to a Finals trip this time. It’s just now all up to Brad Stevens.
So who really won the trade? Short term, Cleveland. Long term, Boston.
Say what you?
Published by Consumer Live
6 years ago 
