Cavs reviewing Irving-Thomas deal

numerous offers before striking a deal with Boston. In exchange for Irving, the Celtics agreed to send Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the first-round pick they acquired from the Brooklyn Nets to Cleveland.

ESPN reported Friday night that the Cavaliers are “considering possible ramifications” after Thomas took his physical.

According to the NBA’s col lective bargaining agreement, a trade can be voided if a player fails his physical.

The Cavaliers and Celtics have until Wednesday to finalize the trade, pending the completion of physicals. It’s common practice for teams to perform comprehensive medical exams on players with prior medical issues, and the Cavs were well aware of Thomas’ history.

If Cleveland isn’t satisfied with its findings on Thomas, the club could scrap the trade. That seems unlikely, however, because the three-time defending conference champions were determined to deal Irving before training camp, and the Cavaliers coveted a high draft pick they can use to acquire another star next season or select a top-tier talent in the draft.

The Cavs could also request the Celtics alter the trade by giving them an- other player or pick.

This is all new ground for general manager Koby Altman, who has only been on the job full-time since mid-July. He was promoted after former GM David Griffin left the team not long after Cleveland’s loss to Golden State in the Finals.

The 34-year- old Altman has inherited a talented team, but also one that has had a tumultuous few months and could potentially lose superstar LeBron James next summer if the game’s best allaround player decides to opt out of his contract and hit the free- agent market. James left Cleveland in 2010 to play in Miami, where he won two titles.

“I’m excited for this year,” said junior lineman Wilson Christmas. “We’ve been working hard all summer. A lot of new plays, a lot of new guys to the team. I’m excited. It’s looking real good.”

Christmas is one of several returning starters for Camden, along with linemates Carter Steria and Ethan Russell. Tight end/defensive end Wyatt Palmer, running back/defensive back Josh Mayden and wide receivers/defensive backs Gavin Vera and Ty Harter all return as well.

Christmas, Mayden and Vera are all juniors who played as sophomores last year and Bates credited them for the work they put in over the summer.

“They’re really ready to play,” said the secondyear coach. “A lot of our JV guys last night in the Blue-White game, you can see are feeding off these guys and they’re starting to believe we’ve got to get in the weight room and do all these things. That’s a real big part of building the program.”

Joining the young Blue Devils squad are quar- terback/defensive back Kaden Gabler, running back/ linebacker Colby Johnson, wide receiver/defensive back Tyler Parent and running back/ linebacker Jared Barker.

“There’s a lot of chemistry this year,” said Barker. “We all really care about each other. It’s a big family so I like it a lot.

“It’s still moving forward, we’re still progressing and it’s definitely getting a lot better.”

The senior simply stated his goal for the sea- son as “to win,” not necessarily an easy task in the competitive Class B East. Bates wants his team to be competitive in each game this season, the same goal he sets for his baseball team each spring.

“If we compete every game positive things are going to happen,” he said. “That’s all we’re going to try to do. That’s my goal, to compete every single week.”

Camden opens its season at home against Oneida on Friday at 7 p.m.