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SPORTS Thursday 24 augusT 2017

On Basketball: Kyrie gets a new address, but Cavs win trade

By TIM REYNOLDS Had Irving still been there,
AP Basketball Writer James surely would have
MIAMI (AP) — It’s not the been wondering if they
principals that will define could make it work again.
the blockbuster trade be- With Thomas, there won’t
tween Cleveland and be a question. James and
Boston. Great point guard Thomas already have
leaves one city for anoth- great respect for one an-
er. That seems fair. other, and Thomas runs on
All the other parts, they will the same prove-people-
tell the story. wrong gasoline that James
There are many ways to uses. Cleveland has been
claim victory in the deal through the free-agency-
made Tuesday night. Ky- is-looming dance with
rie Irving wanted his own James before, of course. If
team and got it, so he wins. the Cavs want to keep him
Isaiah Thomas gets to play next summer, they simply
with LeBron James, so he have to go all-in to make
wins. The Cavaliers got rid him as happy as possible.
of a supposedly disgrun- This trade probably wasn’t
tled star, so they won. The a bad start on that front.
Celtics now won’t have to In Boston, the Celtics will
decide if Thomas is worth look very different this sea-
something like a $180 mil- son.
lion deal next summer, so Irving and Hayward are in;
they won. It’s all semantics. Thomas, Crowder, Avery
But look past all that. Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and
In the end, Cleveland won. Amir Johnson are out —
James won, too. meaning five of Boston’s
Here’s a few reasons why seven top scorers from a
James will be celebrating No. 1 seed now play else-
this deal: He’ll still have a In this Nov. 3, 2016, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving, right, looks to drive against Boston where.
high-octane point guard; Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. The Cavs weren’t over-
he’s getting an absurdly Associated Press hauled; Irving is gone,
good defender in Jae that was a No. 1 seed and his team. A storied fran- James’ only motivation is Thomas, Derrick Rose and
Crowder (he could have got hammered by the Cav- chise is in his hands and he rings, and this move gives Jeff Green arrived.
helped the Cavs’ cause aliers in the East finals. Sure, will savor that. him just that. From a continuity stand-
against Golden State in the Celtics played most of It’s just a better deal for He will be looking to go point, obvious edge to
The Finals); he won’t be go- that series without Thomas, Cleveland, at least right to the Finals for the eighth Cleveland as well.
ing into the season dealing but that wasn’t going to now. consecutive year. Only Regardless of all these
with drama about Irving’s matter. The Cavs weren’t Minnesota never offered three teams in NBA history Celtics-Cavaliers fireworks,
Cleveland future; this trade losing that series. Andrew Wiggins. Miami have been to four straight it’s still Golden State’s world
might even reap the Cav- So Ainge goes out and gets never offered half its roster. finals — the Lakers, the and probably will be for a
aliers the No. 1 pick in next an All-Star point guard in Ir- Portland wasn’t giving up Celtics, and the Miami long time. This deal didn’t
year’s draft. ving, after he hauls in Gor- Damian Lillard. In the end Heat when James was with change that.
All good things, all edge to don Hayward during free the Cavs still got a star for them. Golden State will be The Warriors will still be the
Cleveland. agency and adds proba- a star, and since Thomas heavy favorites to join that favorites to win the last
Give the Celtics credit for ble rookie of the year front- is only making about $6.3 club next June. The Cava- game of next season.
being bold. Danny Ainge runner Jayson Tatum to the million next season they liers won’t surprise many if The first game of next sea-
knew winning the Eastern mix in the draft — plus gets got plenty of bonus parts they join them. son, as luck would have it,
Conference’s regular-sea- another draft pick in either as well to make the trade James will show up at camp just happens to be Boston
son crown last season was 2018 or 2019 for his trouble. work. in a couple of months and at Cleveland.
meaningless, so he com- It’s not a bad deal for the It also solved one big begin plotting ways to get And just like that, the NBA
pletely blew up a team Celtics. They get Irving. It’s Cleveland problem. his team back to the Finals. has drama again.q