Request granted
Irving dealt to Celtics for Thomas, Crowder, Zizic, first-round pick
The Cleveland Cavaliers granted Kyrie Irving’s request and traded the all-star guard to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night for star guard
Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, centre
Ante Zizic and a
2018 first-round draft pick.
Irving, whose late threepointer helped Cleveland win the 2016 NBA championship, is on his way to Boston, where he’ll try to help the Celtics unseat the Cavs.
The teams met in last year’s Eastern Conference finals wand will meet each other again in the season opener on Oct. 17.
Irving had asked Cavs owner Dan Gilbert to trade him so he could get out from LeBron James’ shadow and Cleveland waited until it had a suitable package.
Thomas gives them another proven playmaker, Crowder is a solid defender and the draft pick will help them reload if James leaves as a free agent next summer.
Irving joins a Boston team that lost to Cleveland in last season’s conference finals and has been unable to unseat LeBron James and Co. in recent years.
The Cavs were concerned about getting equivalent value for Irving, who has two years remaining on his contract, but in the five-foot-nine Thomas they are adding one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers. Thomas averaged 28.9 points last season.
He missed most of the East finals with a hip injury.
Cleveland is also getting Crowder, a solid perimeter defender, and one of Boston’s first-round draft picks to help reload for the future in case James opts out of his contract next summer and leaves Cleveland for a second time.
The Vertical first reported the possible blockbuster deal.
In acquiring Irving, the Celtics would replace a star to go along with Gordon Hayward, their prized free agent signing.