The Boston Celtics sent the Cleveland Cavaliers a 2020 second-round draft pick to complete the blockbuster trade that sent four-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics, the Cavaliers confirmed Wednesday night.The key player headed to Cleveland in the deal, guard Isaiah Thomas, has a hip injury that prompted the Cavaliers to seek additional compensation. Cleveland also got Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and an unprotected 2018 first-round draft pick via the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Irving.The Celtics resisted the Cavs' attempt to get another first-round pick or a young star to compensate Cleveland for its reluctance to sign off on Thomas' injury, which Boston said it was transparent about.The 2020 pick that Cleveland will receive originally belonged to Miami before the Heat sent to Boston in the Zoran Dragic deal in July 2015.Prior to the Wednesday agreement, the teams risked walking away from the deal that had been announced on Aug. 22. The options included voiding the trade completely... [More]

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics plan to discuss the status of their blockbuster trade apparently because there are questions following Isaiah Thomas' physical examination and his recovery from a postseason hip injury.The deal sending Cleveland's four-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics for Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and a 2018 first-round pick via Brooklyn now has uncertainty with medical questions surrounding Thomas' injured hip, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.The Cavs and Celtics are planning a telephone call on Saturday, according to the ESPN report. Thomas took the exam in Cleveland on Friday.There is a possibility that Cleveland could request further compensation from Boston before approving the trade, league sources told ESPN. The Cavs have until Thursday to make a final decision on approving the trade.Cleveland also can veto the deal based on a failed physical, sending players back to their respective teams.Thomas suffered the injury during this year's playoffs and is rehabbing the hip but reportedly has not begun running.Boston general manager Danny Ainge acknowledged Thomas' hip injury played a factor in the Celtics seeking the trade.Irving, who had requested a trade from Cleveland, is scheduled to take his physical with the Celtics on Saturday, according to ESPN.

As the dust begins to settle from Tuesday's blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics and Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick to Cleveland, the larger picture for both teams starts to come into focus. The breakup of the partnership of Irving and LeBron James seemed inevitable after the former said he wanted to be traded. James offered nothing but respect to Irving in his Twitter message in response to the trade:"That's the only way to be to the kid! Special talent/guy! Nothing but respect and what a ride it was our 3 years together."James will now try to blend his skills with Thomas, a point guard who likes to have the ball in his hands.The question surrounding Thomas concerns his hip. Thomas' season ended following Game 2 of the conference finals because of a torn labrum and aggravation of a previous injury.The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Celtics general manager Danny Ainge speculated on a conference call on... [More]

The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to trade All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for a package led by fellow All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas on Tuesday.The teams confirmed the Celtics also sent forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick to the Cavaliers."Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA," Celtics president Danny Ainge said in a prepared statement. "He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years. He's been an NBA Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a four-time All-Star. For all he's accomplished, we think his best years are ahead of him."Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman said in a statement, "This trade needed to include both players and assets that we felt strongly could help us continue to compete for championships, and we believe it does. We look forward to Isaiah, Jae and Ante joining us and also felt that the unprotected first-round pick in the deal... [More]

The Boston Celtics signed three players on Saturday, including their top pick in last month's NBA Draft.Jayson Tatum, the No. 3 overall selection out of Duke, and 2016 first-rounder Ante Zizic each signed contracts, the team announced.Boston also reached an agreement on a two-year deal with German forward Daniel Theis, according to a report by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.The 6-foot-8 Tatum averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a freshman with Duke last season. He set a school single-season record with six games of at least 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.Zizic was the No. 23 overall pick of Boston in the 2016 NBA Draft. He spent the past year playing in Croatia and Turkey.The 6-11, 258-pounder averaged 9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and shot 64.9 percent in 20 Euroleague games and had averages of 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 68.8 percent in under 18 minutes in Turkey.Theis averaged 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds with Brose Bamberg of the German Basketball Bundesliga. He shot 59.8 percent overall and 41 percent from 3-point range.The 6-9 Theis also was named the league's best defender in helping his club win its third consecutive title.