So which team has more incentive to get the deal done?

[droopdog7]

Frankly, I thinks it's the celtics.  If IT really does have long term issue, then it's going to be hard to trade him anywhere else or resign him and the team will be worse than last year.  I know ghe Milwaukee trade looks pretty average but there probably but there's still a bigger market for him.  And for whatever reason, I like they can still keep him if worse comes to worse.  Will he be happy?  No, but he will play anyway.

Ah hell, I'm not really sure I even believe what I just wrote but I do feel like we really really need to make this work.  The ball is pretty much in the cavs hand as they can void the trade and there is noting the celts or the NBA can do about it.

[the TRUTH]

I really think the Cavs need to make this work more than Boston does. Without this deal, there's no way (IMO) that the Cavs can find a deal where they're both 1) at least close to as good as they were last year, and 2) acquire a phenomenal trade chip (the Nets pick) that can either be used to snag a star player to help entice LeBron to stay or to draft a future star that will ease the post-LeBron transition.

My prediction is that the deal still gets done, with either no changes, or the only change being a second round pick thrown in by Boston.

If the deal doesn't get done, Cleveland then has even less leverage when it comes to Kyrie, as the season is now even closer to starting than it was before, and the potential trade partner with the best assets in the league (Boston) will no longer be an option. There's no way the Cavs can realistically expect to find another offer that even comes close to ours.

If the deal is voided, the biggest issues for us are that IT and Crowder may not be too excited about returning to Boston. As for IT, I love what he's done in Boston, but he'll be fine. First of all, if the rumors regarding his injury are true, he wouldn't be playing in a game for at least another 3-4 months (if not a lot longer), and time heals all wounds. Second, he has no choice but to suck it up, try to have the best season possible for us and set himself up for the biggest payday possible next summer.

Crowder may be a bigger issue, as his contract isn't expiring and he's proven that he's sensitive in the past. If Ainge/Stevens feel that him returning will present a problem, we ought to be able to include him in a package along with one or two of our own first round picks that nets us a pretty good player.

In the long run, we may end up winning fewer games this season and/or not advancing as far in the playoffs, but we'd have the Nets pick back in our arsenal. Our future is bright either way. Cleveland's? Not so much.

[SparzWizard]

I really think the Cavs need to make this work more than Boston does. Without this deal, there's no way (IMO) that the Cavs can find a deal where they're both 1) at least close to as good as they were last year, and 2) acquire a phenomenal trade chip (the Nets pick) that can either be used to snag a star player to help entice LeBron to stay or to draft a future star that will ease the post-LeBron transition.

My prediction is that the deal still gets done, with either no changes, or the only change being a second round pick thrown in by Boston.

If the deal doesn't get done, Cleveland then has even less leverage when it comes to Kyrie, as the season is now even closer to starting than it was before, and the potential trade partner with the best assets in the league (Boston) will no longer be an option. There's no way the Cavs can realistically expect to find another offer that even comes close to ours.

If the deal is voided, the biggest issues for us are that IT and Crowder may not be too excited about returning to Boston. As for IT, I love what he's done in Boston, but he'll be fine. First of all, if the rumors regarding his injury are true, he wouldn't be playing in a game for at least another 3-4 months (if not a lot longer), and time heals all wounds. Second, he has no choice but to suck it up, try to have the best season possible for us and set himself up for the biggest payday possible next summer.

Crowder may be a bigger issue, as his contract isn't expiring and he's proven that he's sensitive in the past. If Ainge/Stevens feel that him returning will present a problem, we ought to be able to include him in a package along with one or two of our own first round picks that nets us a pretty good player.

In the long run, we may end up winning fewer games this season and/or not advancing as far in the playoffs, but we'd have the Nets pick back in our arsenal. Our future is bright either way. Cleveland's? Not so much.

It could create a domino locker room effect, especially to newly-acquired Gordon Hayward and Al Horford that they are having to deal with this mess by being part of this franchise.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I think the Celtics have a lot more to lose.  Kyrie requested a trade a year ago; he'd be fine playing one more season in CLE.  He'd make another ECF and have even more control over where he ends up.

But the Celtics sent IT4 up the crick without a paddle, with Crowder not too far behind.  While one can definitely argue that this trade was best for the organization long-term, the Celtics FO unarguably took a **** on Isaiah.  It's not a good look, and I think we have more pressure now to get it done.

[j804]

Anybody think the Cavs could have a better if not almost similar offer? And they are getting cold feet and rather ship him some place out west?

This sounds a lot like that.

[Big333223]

The thing about bringing back IT is that he's still in a contract year and now there are lots of questions about his health. Even if he doesn't like the idea of coming back to Boston, he still has all the incentive in the world to play the best basketball he possibly can and get paid, either by the Celtic or someone else.

Crowder is a little different but with his skills and contract he could be moved pretty easily if he doesn't want to play in Boston anymore and his minutes are easily replaced on this roster.

The Celtics are definitely in a tough spot but at the end of the day its the Cavs that have to make a deal. Given how public this has all been, they can't bring Kyrie back and if they renege on the deal only to turn around and get a worse deal, that new GM isn't going to be there for very long.

[greece66]

I know that many people will disagree with that, but IMO the potential locker room problems are vastly exaggerated. Professional players know they might be traded any time. It would be silly of them to hold a grudge against the team.

[Granath]

I know that many people will disagree with that, but IMO the potential locker room problems are vastly exaggerated. Professional players know they might be traded any time. It would be silly of them to hold a grudge against the team.

TP.

I agree. This whole concept of "betrayal" is mostly bull crap. There are a handful who have caused problems in situations like this but most just know it's part of the business, collect their millions and move on.

Will Thomas help us recruit another FA? No. But it's unlikely he's going to go into the locker room, pout and cause a scene. If he does that he destroys his reputation with both management and other players.

[KGBirdBias]

I think IT would need to assimilate himself back into the locker room very quickly because he is in a contract year. Crowder is a different story. I think Ainge needs to move him or he could be an issue with Hayward, Brown and Tatum getting minutes.

I think this deal hurts the Cavs in the long run. It's not like the Celtics were built only for this year and they weren't beating the Warriors. It hurts IT more than anyone.

[Surferdad]

I know that many people will disagree with that, but IMO the potential locker room problems are vastly exaggerated. Professional players know they might be traded any time. It would be silly of them to hold a grudge against the team.

TP.

I agree. This whole concept of "betrayal" is mostly bull crap. There are a handful who have caused problems in situations like this but most just know it's part of the business, collect their millions and move on.

Will Thomas help us recruit another FA? No. But it's unlikely he's going to go into the locker room, pout and cause a scene. If he does that he destroys his reputation with both management and other players.

Why?

[JHTruth]

Anybody think the Cavs could have a better if not almost similar offer? And they are getting cold feet and rather ship him some place out west?

This sounds a lot like that.

LeBrons silence on the deal is deafening. It seems to me LeKing and or Gilbert decided they want to go in another direction and are ready to void our deal.

As for IT and Jaew they'd get over it, especially IT as he wants to get paid next summer. Hard to get max deal when you were sulking on the bench all year. Crowder might be a pain but he's a friendly contract that can be moved for value at any time.

Not much downside to a voided trade..

[Granath]

I know that many people will disagree with that, but IMO the potential locker room problems are vastly exaggerated. Professional players know they might be traded any time. It would be silly of them to hold a grudge against the team.

TP.

I agree. This whole concept of "betrayal" is mostly bull crap. There are a handful who have caused problems in situations like this but most just know it's part of the business, collect their millions and move on.

Will Thomas help us recruit another FA? No. But it's unlikely he's going to go into the locker room, pout and cause a scene. If he does that he destroys his reputation with both management and other players.

Why?

I think that's quite obvious but I'll play along.

While I expect a guy like IT to put his all on the court - that's his personality and he knows he owes it to his teammates - I don't expect him to go out of his way for the organization. After all, they just attempted to trade him in a contract year when he's looking to make some serious bank. He simply feel that it's hypocritical for him to act as the face of the organization and, most likely, the Celtics will feel the same way.

Now I'm fine with that. Get him back, put him on the court when he's able and ride him for all he's worth. Let him test his value in the FA and if some other team wants to "bank up the Brinks truck", let him go. If his value is more reasonable, resign him. With (likely) two top picks next year I'm sure we can find a suitable replacement IF Smart/Rozier can't step up.

[johnnygreen]

The answer is clearly Boston, and Cleveland knows it. Arguably, the most important position is PG. Danny just passed on two in the draft because it was assumed that PG was a position of strength with Isaiah. Then all of a sudden, a top ten player in the league becomes available in Irving. The Celtics have the assets and agree on a deal. Assuming the deal is voided, the Celtics now have a disgruntled PG, who feels betrayed. Why would Isaiah risk further injury for a team that doesn't want him? If his main goal is to get paid, then he will elect to have the surgery, most likely miss this season, so that he can be fully healed for next off season. He could hold private workouts for interested teams that are willing to sign him as a free agent. Lets not forget that the Celtics will not have enough cap room next off season to sign any meaningful PG free agent.

[Big333223]

The answer is clearly Boston, and Cleveland knows it. Arguably, the most important position is PG. Danny just passed on two in the draft because it was assumed that PG was a position of strength with Isaiah. Then all of a sudden, a top ten player in the league becomes available in Irving. The Celtics have the assets and agree on a deal. Assuming the deal is voided, the Celtics now have a disgruntled PG, who feels betrayed. Why would Isaiah risk further injury for a team that doesn't want him? If his main goal is to get paid, then he will elect to have the surgery, most likely miss this season, so that he can be fully healed for next off season. He could hold private workouts for interested teams that are willing to sign him as a free agent. Lets not forget that the Celtics will not have enough cap room next off season to sign any meaningful PG free agent.

Because he's in a contract year and there are now a ton of questions about his health, in addition to all the questions that already surrounded his future. If the trade were to be cancelled and Thomas didn't play out of his mind for Boston, he'd be losing tens of millions of dollars, either from the Celtics or someone else.

What team would ever give him a big contract if he misses the entire year for hip surgery? Especially when a lot are skeptical a healthy IT could get a max deal.

[SHAQATTACK]

Besides getting Irving , i always thought it solved the nagging problem of what t do,about IT and his future , the contract , amount and number of years . 

I figured if IT was not damaged hed get a very nice offer , but he was going to,shop,himself around to get th max .

He just really needed this year to come back and prove he is 100% healthy before slinging max contracts his way .

I just have my doubts he can play up to max contract level again and sustain that level l uninjuried for a solid year. I guess Danny does too.