1 PERCENT GET RICHER
Sorry, Knicks, Celtics snag Irving from Cavs for Thomas and first-round pick
Point guard Kyrie Irving is headed to the Atlantic Division — but not to the Knicks.
The rich got richer as the Cavaliers and Celtics likely assured they will remain the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Tuesday night, they completed a blockbuster deal that put Irving in green and made Isaiah Thomas a new teammate of LeBron James in Cleveland.
In the blockbuster deal, the four-time All-Star Irving heads to Beantown for the pintsized stud Thomas, defensive forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the rights to the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick, which the Celtics controlled.
That first-round asset could be used as a pawn for a future trade. It’s unclear if the Cavaliers’ haul would entice Carmelo Anthony to agree to a trade there.
“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,” Celtics president Danny Ainge said in a statement. “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.”
“Isaiah and Jae have been a huge part of our success,” Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said. “Isaiah’s playoff performance under very difficult circumstances will live on in history, and we wish them all the best.”
Irving had demanded a trade during a July 21 meeting with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and, surprisingly, the West Orange, N.J., product placed the Knicks as one of the four teams on his original wish list, which also included the Spurs, Heat and Timberwolves. However, according to a source, talks didn’t progress with the Knicks.
An NBA source told The Post the Cavaliers were “fixated’’ on acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and didn’t want to discuss anything beyond that. The Knicks were adamant about keeping Porzingis out of any Irving deal after the damage created by former president Phil Jackson entertaining of- fers for the Latvian forward before the draft.
According to a source, Gilbert was behind the Cavaliers’ full-bore pursuit of Porzingis. Interestingly, new Cavaliers signee Derrick Rose and Porzingis didn’t mesh while with the Knicks.
The Knicks stood pat, leaving them with an intriguing three-headed point-guard derby at training camp among French rookie Frank Ntilikina, veteran Ramon Sessions and last season’s surprise, Ron Baker.
The full story of why Irving wanted out of Cleveland has yet to be told, but a recent report said the dynamic former Duke star was hurt James was keen on a proposed deal around draft time that would have sent him to the Suns in a package for Eric Bledsoe. There also were rumblings Irving stopped talking to his mates for a few days during the playoffs.
During those same playoffs, James said of Thomas: “I think he’s a special talent. Special guy. Special talent.”
There were widespread reports Irving wanted to escape James’ shadow, didn’t think he received due credit for the Cavaliers’ march to three straight NBA Finals and wanted to run his own show. Irving hit the biggest shot in Cavaliers’ history — a tiebreaking 3-pointer in the final minute of Game 7 of the 2016 Finals.
The Celtics, who earned the East’s top seed last season, upgraded their roster by signing Gordon Hayward as a free agent, but lost guard Avery Bradley to clear cap space.
The Irving-Hayward-Al Horford trio, plus emerging young wing Jaylen Brown, should again lead the Celtics to being the cream of the East — right alongside the Cavaliers.