Why the Kyrie-for-Isaiah swap doesn't necessarily make either team better
In terms of return, the Cleveland Cavaliers probably won Tuesday's blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets' first-round draft pick next year. By landing the versatile Crowder and the pick in addition to Thomas, they likely ensure that.
Yet when it comes down to just Irving and Thomas, the deal is a wash. In theory, Irving is the better player: First pick in the 2011 draft, Duke pedigree, and an NBA title in 2016. Except, that's really not the case. Thomas, the very last pick in the same 2011 draft, has churned out near-identical production over the same six years, and has arguably been the better player the past two seasons.
| Tale of the tape/6 seasons | Age | PTS | AST | FG% | 3P% | PER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrie Irving | 25 | 21.6 | 5.5 | 45.7 | 38.3 | 21.3 |
| Isaiah Thomas | 28 | 19.1 | 5.2 | 44.3 | 36.7 | 21 |
Both are score-first point guards who have proven capable a flair for the dramatic, or exploding for 50-point outings. It's just that one of them (Irving) is kind of expected to do it, while the other (Thomas) isn't, because he's shorter than his listed height of 5-foot-9.
"Why Kyrie 3 feet shorter" pic.twitter.com/FRLFvoDHQI
— ainge pls (@MPleasing69) August 22, 2017
The decision to make the trade, a week after it was reported the Cavs were insisting they get back a young player like Jayson Tatum in return for Irving, perhaps highlights Cleveland's desire to move on from him. They still get what is likely to be a lottery pick next June, and Thomas under contract for one year at a bargain $6.2 million.
And that's what else is at play here. Logic dictated the Cavs come away with at least one youthful asset, because they are fully aware that LeBron James could decamp their franchise again as a free agent next summer. Thomas is on record saying he expects a max contract in 2018; whether he deserves that or not is open to some serious debate.
Yet by bringing in Thomas and Crowder, Cleveland probably ensures they remain the same team to beat in the East this coming season, and nothing beyond that.
For Boston, they get the younger Irving and the apparent extra promise that comes with him, but it's a bridge too far to say they're a much better team than they were on Tuesday morning. Irving could be a terrific fit in a Brad Stevens system, and he at least has the ability to defend his position better than Thomas. Yet Irving needs to now demonstrate he belongs in the consistent conversation of being a top-15 player in the league, something he's yet to do.
Granted, his reported consternation in Cleveland came from playing in James' shadow, something he's now unencumbered from. Irving automatically becomes Boston's No. 1 option at the point of attack. Early reports suggest he's likely to want to stay with the Celtics long term, although the earliest he can opt out of his contract now is 2019.
For the last few years, the Celtics fan base has salivated at times over which superstar player the franchise was eventually going to parlay their wealth of assets into. By trading the last of the Nets' first rounders and a solid forward like Crowder on a very favorable contract (about $7.5 million per season through 2020), that answer appears to be Irving, teamed alongside free-agent signing Gordon Hayward.
Tuesday brought about a big trade. Just not necessarily one that moves the needle any great distance for either team.