The Cavs were happy with the deal that yielded another All-Star point guard in Isaiah Thomas, three-and-D wing Jae Crowder, promising young center Ante Zizic and Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round draft pick.
Given Irving’s desire to play elsewhere, it was a trade that satisfied both teams.
Until Thomas took a physical with the Cavaliers.
Today, no one involved in the trade is thrilled.
Happiness is fleeting.
The results of Thomas’ physical have given the Cavaliers pause – enough so that voiding the trade is one option, though that would be the nuclear choice in this blockbuster deal. Per NBA collective-bargaining rules, a team can void a trade if a player fails a physical
Thomas sustained a torn labrum in his right hip March 15 against
the Minnesota Timberwolves, re-aggravated it in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference
semifinals against the Washington Wizards and aggravated it more against the
Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the conference finals.
Now, the Cavaliers are conducting a thorough review of the trade
and plotting their next step, which may also include asking the Celtics for more
compensation.
Thomas did not undergo surgery to repair his hip, and Celtics
president Danny Ainge admitted on a conference call last week after the trade
was announced that “there’s going to be probably a little bit of a delay for
Isaiah as he starts the season this year, but – um – I think that Isaiah should
be fine and healthy as the season goes along.”
Word out of Boston is that the Celtics aren’t thrilled with the
idea of adding another piece to the trade and are adamant they were up front
with the Cavs about Thomas’ injury. However, that doesn’t mean the Cavs’ medical
staff sees it the same way the Celtics did. It’s possible the Cavaliers believe
Thomas will miss more games than Boston did.
