Celtics, Cavs finalize blockbuster trade
The Boston Celtics agreed to send the Cleveland Cavaliers a 2020 second-round draft pick via the Miami Heat to complete the blockbuster trade that sent four-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday.
The Cavaliers sought additional compensation for the deal that brought Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and an unprotected 2018 first-round draft pick via the Brooklyn Nets to Cleveland because of Thomas’ hip injury.
The Celtics resisted the Cavs’ attempt to get another first-round pick or a young star to compensate Cleveland for its reluctance to sign-off on Thomas’ injury, which Boston said it was transparent about.
Cleveland finally agreed to complete the deal late Wednesday night with the secondround pick.
Both teams risked walking away from the deal that had been announced on Aug. 22. The options included voiding the trade completely or renegotiating.
The Cavaliers felt the Celtics were not completely forthcoming about the length of rehabilitation facing Thomas, who suffered the hip injury in March. The Celtics claimed they provided the necessary information to the Cavs.
“There’s never been an indication that I wouldn’t be back, and there’s never been an indication that this is something messing up my career,” Thomas told ESPN on Tuesday. “Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that.”
It remains unclear when Thomas will return to action.
The 2020 pick that Cleveland will receive from Miami was sent to Boston in the Zoran Dragic deal in July 2015.