The Kyrie trade saga is over.

According to multiple media outlets, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have agreed to a trade that’ll send Kyrie Irving to Boston.

The Cavaliers will receive Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn’s 2018 unprotected first round pick in return. 

Looking at this deal immediately, it seems like this is the best deal Cleveland could possibly do after attempting to make other trades for Irving. Adrian Wojnarowski reported that they tried to ship Irving to the Western Conference but no deals materialized. 

Boston made a ton of sense in terms of Eastern Conference teams that had assets to help Cleveland in the present and to help in the future.  The Knicks didn’t want to deal Kristaps Porzingis for Irving and there wasn’t any other team in the East that could give the Cavs the type of package they desired. 

I’m concerned about Isaiah Thomas’ health but I’m sure the Cavaliers team doctors looked over the medical records especially on the hip he injured in the Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland. When Thomas is on he’s an All-Star point guard as he was last year when he averaged 29 points and 6 assists per game. 

Jae Crowder is the defensive wing the Cavs needed last year against Golden State and will be a good fit in Cleveland. I know there’s some history between Crowder and JR Smith from a few years ago but I think they can put differences aside to try and win a championship. 

Crowder can also score as he’s averaged 14 points per game in each of the last two seasons and he made a significant jump in his three point shot from 33% to 40% from 2015-2016 to 2016-2017.

Ante Zizic was the Celtics first round pick in 2016. He averaged 9.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in the Euroleague where he played under former Cavaliers head coach David Blatt for Darüssafka Dogus in the Super Turkish League.

He’s a legit 7 footer which the Cavs needed desperately and in terms of a prospect, the Celtics assistant GM said he’d of been a top ten pick in the 2017 draft. I’ll be interested to see what he can bring to the Cavaliers this year and for the future. 

The biggest piece I think in this deal is the Brooklyn first round pick the Cavs acquired. The Nets are going to be a bad team once again this season. This means there’s a good chance the Cavs will have a high pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. 

The team can use it as a trade chip to lure another superstar in a trade or they have a chance to land a potential superstar to build around for the future in the chance that Lebron James leaves as a free agent next summer.  

As for Kyrie Irving, I want to thank him for six years as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made some unbelievable plays and highlights that will be remembered for years to come. Of course his biggest play came on June 19, 2016 when he hit the game winning three pointer in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to win Cleveland its first championship in 52 years.

Thanks Kyrie Irving and best of luck going forward in Boston……because you’re going to need it when Lebron dominates you starting October 17th and in continuing into the postseason.