Cavs reportedly want more from Celtics
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers declined to comment on an ESPN report Saturday that the team would seek further compensation from the Boston Celtics for Kyrie Irving because of the severity of Isaiah Thomas’ hip injury.
Two Cavs sources said only that the team was “still in the review process” in determining what do about the week’s trade in which Cleveland agreed to send Irving to the Celtics for Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and Brooklyn’s No. 1 draft pick in 2018.
Thomas, who missed the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavs because of a torn labrum, underwent his physical Friday in Cleveland.
Whatever the Cavs saw in Thomas’ hip — they won’t say — gave them pause and was apparently enough for them to go back to the Celtics and ask for more. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting the Cavs will ask for additional compensation, citing unnamed sources.
Thomas did not have surgery and instead chose rest and rehab, but he is not yet running.
Though the Cavs have not made a specific request to the Celtics, Boston could add its own first-round pick in 2018 or a Lakers first rounder that would go to the Cavs if it’s between No. 2-5 this year. The Celtics also have protected first-round picks from Memphis and the Clippers in 2019.
A Cavs source said the sides need to reach a conclusion by Wednesday or mutually agree to extend the deadline. Though the Cavs could void the trade based on Thomas’ injury, a source with knowledge of Cleveland’s thinking still expected a deal to get done.
But numerous reports out of Boston suggested the Celtics were not happy with the Cavs’ tactics and may take a hard line.
From the Cavs’ perspective, they need the draft picks and Crowder is an excellent wing defender who can help them against the Warriors. Even if Thomas misses months because of his hip, Cleveland has Derrick Rose on the roster to play point guard.
When Cleveland won the NBA title in 2016, Irving wasn’t a regular in the starting lineup until late December because of knee surgery.
Irving, meanwhile, completed his physical with the Celtics on Saturday. The Cavs could void the deal and seek to deal him to another team, but they obviously thought the Celtics offered them the best package and the market for Irving could be damaged by rescinding the trade.
From the Celtics’ perspective, they see Irving as a key piece of their future. Without him, they could open the season with virtually no point guard because of Thomas’ injury.
When the trade was announced Tuesday, Celtics president Danny Ainge said Thomas might not be ready for the start of the season but would be healthy to play. The Celtics shared information with the Cavs relating to Thomas’ injury, but apparently not enough.