I'm looking ahead with this deal. Sooner or later Lebron is gone - eventually even if he doesn't leave Cleveland, he has to slow down. I think that this deal sets the Celtics up for years to come. Think I'll just say it - Kyrie is bigger,younger and better than It. Keeping Crowder and IT would not have moved the Cletics closer to the top. I think that this move does - now and in the future. Might even help Cleveland this year and in the long run as well.
The Nets are probably better than the Pacers and the Hawks right now, and if they get some improvement from Russell, Carroll, and Crabbe they might have a punchers' chance at 30 wins. They also have no incentive to tank like some of the other cellar dwellers.
They didn't take a giant step back. IT, if healthy can still get you 20-25 PPG, and Crowder gives them another 3 and D guy. They still have a ton of shooting, and I wouldn't be surprised if Wade ends up there eventually.
And they still have LeBron. He's still the best player on the court by far, and the Celtics don't have anyone to guard him. Crowder didn't even come close in May.
If you are Celtics fan and maybe even a Red Sox fan, I think that it always tough to see good players - good team players - leave. I agree with "best handicapper" though that Crowder could not guard James - no one really can. With him gone, there is a clear avenue for Brown who really did look good this summer. Good as in ready now. This move also might allow for Tatum to get the needed minutes to progress as well. IT has good years ahead of him for sure I just could not see him getting the max contract that he is going to want. I also think that Irving is just better overall.
The pick you give up your hope would have been you get lucky enough to draft a player like Irving. You get him now and don't have to develop him for several years, and the BK pick could easily be 5-8 this year. I love Isiah Thomas, but I'd be fairly comfortable wagering that he will never be as good as he was last year. I don't think he will be worth a max contract, although he has earned it and that brew a troubled scenario when you factor in his size, age, and injuries. You get Irving in his prime, and you can make a good case at extending him. I'd take Irving over the next 4 year any day opposed to IT.
Yes we gave up a lot, but you have to give up a lot to get a guy like Irving. We still have Tatum, and Brown, and we still have some more draft assets that could pan out pretty well too. This team is still set up good for the future, but they will be able to compete now as well.
As a Thunder fan (not related to the username), I have no dog in this fight, but I'm just in total shock. I think both teams will be exponentially better, assuming the Celtics can re-sign Kyrie when his contract is up and assuming LeBron doesn't leave Cleveland after this year (which I highly doubt he'll do). But, man, watching IT in Boston this past year was so entertaining. I feel for the Celtics fans, especially the young ones, who fell in love with IT this past season, but I understand the motivation for trading him, the whole uncertainty thing about his hip injury.
Cavs are absolutely still the favorites. They still have the best player in the league, teamed up with IT and Love, and great role players. Plus its safe to assume they aren't done yet. I have a feeling that Brooklyn pick will be used as trade bait to acquire another star (Melo, Cousins, etc, someone along those lines).
Cavs did get the better in the deal. Short term anyways.
I can't see them trading that pick.
The Celt's roster is much different having lost 11 of 15 from last seasons playoff team.
They have a long way to go to being a cohesive unit. I don't expect the best from them for the first 30-40 games.
"Hating the Yankees like it's a religion since 94'" RIP Mike.
"It's also a simple and indisputable fact that WAR isn't the be-all end-all in valuations, especially in real life. Wanna know why? Because an ace in run-prevention for 120 innings means more often than not, a sub-standard pitcher covering for the rest of the IP that pitcher fails to provide. You can't see value in a vacuum when a player does not provide full-time production."