Horford deals with ‘unexpected’ trade

CANTON — The new Celtics might be every bit as star-studded as last season, perhaps more so, but as the team gathered for the first time yesterday, there was a clear emotional void where Isaiah Thomas used to stand.

Trading Thomas to Cleveland was a casualty of the Celts acquiring superstar point guard Kyrie Irving in the mega-trade last month with the Cavaliers.

Losing Thomas hit home for Al Horford.

“It was very unexpected that that happened,” Horford said at Celtics media day. “(Thomas) gave everything he had every night. That was something I appreciated about Isaiah, that it didn’t matter what was going on no matter how big or how small, he always gave everything he had. He was one of the guys that was recruiting me to come here initially. So he’s a guy I have great respect for, and I really wish him well and first of all to be healthy, and well moving forward in Cleveland.”

The C’s and Cavaliers will meet in the season opener on Oct. 17, but Thomas won’t be in the lineup. Yesterday, the Cavaliers said Thomas, who doesn’t need surgery on a torn hip labrum that cut short his final playoff run with the Celtics but instead will continue rehab for the injury, is not expected to return to the court until January.

LeBron James sounds as if he was touched by Thomas’ connection with Boston, too. The Cleveland star said he recalled watching Celtics games and hearing Tom Heinsohn call Thomas “the little guy.”

“He captivated the fans, captivated the city,” James said at Cavs media day. “It’s unfortunate that there had to be a change of scenery for him.”