The Boston Celtics have acquired All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers for point guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and Brooklyn's 2018 unprotected first-round pick, the teams announced Tuesday night.

Irving, 25, requested a trade during a July meeting with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. At the time, Irving said that he wanted to play in a situation in which he could be more of a focal point and that he no longer wanted to play alongside LeBron James, sources said.

Tuesday night, in response to a fan's video on Twitter thanking Irving, James tweeted:

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 Young Gode #Filayy https://t.co/wKYmYsmdgG — LeBron James (@KingJames) August 23, 2017

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge noted the bittersweet nature of Tuesday's trade.

"This has obviously been a roller coaster of a day for us, trading away Isaiah and Jae and Ante, especially Isaiah and Jae, who have been such a big part of our team and our success and our Celtic culture as leaders of our team. Very, very difficult day," Ainge said. "At the same time, a very exciting time [to add] one of the best offensive players in the league."

Ainge said that it was a very tough phone call to inform Thomas, who had emerged as the face of the franchise since he arrived at the trade deadline in February 2015.

Ainge also said the Celtics did their homework on Irving after his falling out with James in Cleveland and said Irving is "excited" to be joining the Celtics. Ainge also acknowledged that Irving's price tag was high.

"It is a high price tag," he said. "But acquiring a 25-year-old perennial All-Star, a player that fits a timeline for us and is a fantastic offensive player, one of the best offensive players in the league, you have to pay a heavy price."

Pressed on the difficulty of giving up the unprotected Brooklyn pick, Ainge noted, "We valued it from the time we got it, and it's still very valuable. Obviously, we value Kyrie more. It's that simple."

Irving has three years and $60 million left on his contract, but he can opt out of the final year before the 2019-20 season. The Celtics posted on Instagram that Irving will wear No. 11, as his familiar No. 2 is retired in Boston for Red Auerbach.

All-Star Goodbyes Six players who were selected as All-Stars in the 2016-17 season have switched teams this summer, the most ever in one NBA offseason. Old Team New Team Jimmy Butler Bulls Wolves Paul George Pacers Thunder Gordon Hayward Jazz Celtics Kyrie Irving Cavaliers Celtics Paul Millsap Hawks Nuggets Isaiah Thomas Celtics Cavaliers -- Elias Sports Bureau

Thomas, 28, led the Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 assists over 33.8 minutes per game during the regular season.

Thomas has spent the offseason recovering from a right hip injury that kept him out of the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals. He opted not to have surgery.

Ainge said Thomas' injury did play "some" into his making the deal. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Monday that he is not sure Thomas will be ready for the start of training camp.

Sources told ESPN that while Cleveland is not sure when Thomas will be able to return to the court, the Cavaliers have no short-term concerns about the injury. The team, sources said, is anxious to have its own doctors look at Thomas' hip and will spend the year monitoring it.

Thomas will become a free agent at the end of the 2017-18 season. He has said that he believes he's worthy of a maximum contract.

Isaiah Thomas, left, and Kyrie Irving were the last and first picks of the 2011 draft and now have been traded for each other. Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Crowder, 27, has been a core piece of the Celtics' resurgence. A solid perimeter defender, the forward averaged 13.9 points and 5.8 rebounds last season. He also has one of the friendliest cap numbers in the NBA: $6.8 million, $7.3 million and $7.8 million the next three seasons. He does not become a free agent until the summer of 2020.

Zizic was the Celtics' first-round pick in 2016 (23rd overall). He's a highly regarded 20-year-old out of Croatia described by ESPN's Fran Fraschilla as "one of my favorite kids in this draft. He's 6-11, 240. He has a mean streak." In addition to his tremendous upside, Zizic was included for salary purposes.

Irving waived a $5.8 million trade kicker -- 15 percent of the total money remaining on his Cleveland deal -- to join Boston, sources said.

The trade will give Cleveland $29.1 million in tax savings. Cleveland's tax is now $49.3 million, down from $78.4 million.

The Celtics and Cavaliers open the season against each other Oct. 17 in Cleveland.

"Opening night should be interesting," a Cavs player who requested anonymity told ESPN.

ESPN's Chris Forsberg, Dave McMenamin and Bobby Marks contributed to this report.</s>The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics. Yahoo! Sports was first to report the trade.

The Cavs will receive point guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, forward Ante Zizic and the Celtics' 2018 first-round draft pick.</s>Kyrie Irving, the four-time All-Star that played a major role in the Cleveland Cavaliers winning their first championship in 2016 has been traded to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick.

Cleveland Seems to get the Better End of the Trade

The Cavaliers got a nice return for themselves as they have picked up some major assets the Celtics have held for several seasons.

At just 28-years-old, Isaiah Thomas guided his team to a conference finals appearance last season averaging 28.9 points per game. He is the biggest name from the Celtics side joining the Cavaliers. Then there is Jae Crowder, who played a key starting role for the 17-time champions at small-forward, and Ante Zizic who impressed in the Summer League.

To add, The Cavaliers are treated with the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick from the Celtics-Nets trade that happened a few years back.

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge clearly feels the time is right to cash in his assets on a deal to land one of the best players in the league in Irving.

The 24-year-old point guard averaged 25.2 points and 5.8 assists per game last season despite falling short of back-to-back championships in a 4-1 NBA Finals series defeat against the Golden State Warriors.

Only Time Will Tell

Thomas is currently nursing a hip injury in what was a grueling season for him both on and off the court where he was on his last legs as his team’s season ended at the hands of the Cavaliers.

Will Thomas be fit to play his former team in the first game of the upcoming regular season? We shall see.

Crowder and Zizic will also add great depth to the Cavaliers roster along with the value of next year’s first round Brooklyn pick.

But the major talks of this trade are the first pick of the 2011 NBA Draft in Kyrie Irving and last pick of the same draft in Isaiah Thomas are swapping teams.</s>Kyrie Irving (right) heads to Boston Celtics from the Cleveland Cavaliers. — Picture by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY SportsLOS ANGELES, Aug 23 ― The Boston Celtics signed Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday in a blockbuster trade that saw Isaiah Thomas head in the opposition direction, the Celtics confirmed.

The Celtics said in a statement they had acquired Irving in exchange for Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, centre Ante Zizic and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick.

“Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA. He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years,” Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said in a statement.

“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.”

Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck meanwhile paid tribute to the contribution of the departing Thomas and Crowder, key performers for Boston last season as they finished first in the Eastern Conference.

“Isaiah and Jae have been a huge part of our success,” he said. “Isaiah's playoff performance under very difficult circumstances will live on in history, and we wish them all the best.”

Irving's request for a move away from Cleveland and LeBron James stunned the NBA when it was confirmed in July.

The Cavaliers have made it to the NBA Finals in each of the last three seasons, beating Golden State once and losing on two other occasions.

The Celtics meanwhile topped the Eastern Conference last season but were beaten by Cleveland in five games in the playoffs.

Playmaker Thomas missed the last three games of the series after suffering a hip injury and is reportedly struggling to be fit for the start of the new season in October.

Irving, 25, who averaged 25.2 points on 47.3 per cent shooting and 5.8 assists last season, has three years and US$60 million (RM256 million) remaining on his contract.

Thomas, third in the NBA last season with an average of 28.9 points, will be a free agent after the 2017-18 campaign. ― AFP</s>CLEVELAND - After a month of rumors, rumblings, subtweets and Instagram videos, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trading Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.

In addition to Thomas, an All-Star in each of the past two seasons, the Cavs will reportedly receive forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' unprotected 2018 first-round pick.

The Cavs trading of Irving comes nearly a month to the day after ESPN first reported that the 4-time All-Star had asked the franchise for a trade. A big part of Irving's desire to escape the city he helped bring a world championship to in 2016 appeared to be a fractured relationship with LeBron James, with ESPN reporting that Irving had grown "tired of being Robin to James' Batman."

In the weeks since Irving's trade request was first made public, James and Irving traded thinly veiled shots via social media.

Complicating Irving's trade request has been the uncertain future Cleveland faces with James possessing an opt-out clause in his contract for next summer. Earlier this month, Wojnarowski reported the Cavs were working under the assumption that James wouldn't be returning to the team and thus were targeting younger assets.

But in acquiring Thomas -- who will be a free agent next summer -- and the 27-year-old Crowder along with the Nets' unprotected first-round pick, Cleveland appears to have struck a balance benefiting both its short and long-term futures.

The 5-foot-9 Thomas averaged 28.9 points per game last season while helping lead the Celtics to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Nets, meanwhile, laid claim to an NBA-worst 20-62 record last season.

The Cavs and Celtics will meet on opening night in Cleveland on Oct. 17.</s>The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have agreed to a trade that will send Kyrie Irving to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas. Cleveland will also receive Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn's 2018 first-round pick in the deal. The Celtics announced the deal Tuesday night.

Irving reportedly requested a trade from Cleveland last month, but the Cavs new front office -- at least up until Tuesday -- had yet to find a deal that would satisfy what they were looking to gain in exchange for the All-Star point guard in the prime of his career.

Last season, Thomas averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists in leading the Celtics to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Irving, only 25, averaged 25.2 points and 5.8 assists while playing second fiddle to LeBron James -- one of the main reasons he reportedly requested to be traded in the first place.

In addition to landing an offense-heavy point guard in Thomas, similar to Irving, the Cavs also get a starter-level small forward in Crowder, a promising prospect in Zizic, and a potential top pick in next year's talent-heavy NBA draft.</s>The Boston Celtics have landed star point guard Kyrie Irving in a blockbuster NBA trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kyrie Irving got his wish and the Celtics got the star fans have been craving for years as Boston and the Cleveland Cavaliers finalised a blockbuster trade.

The Cavaliers and Celtics finalised a trade on Tuesday that sends Irving to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick.

Irving had asked for a trade out of Cleveland earlier this year, and the Cavs obliged.

"Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA. He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said.

"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."

The rumour mill surrounding a potential Irving trade had quietened in recent weeks, but it always seemed likely he would be playing for a different team during the upcoming season.

While the Cavaliers received a good haul in return for Irving's services, it was still shocking to see Cleveland agree to send him to an Eastern Conference rival.

Irving now has the chance to be the face of a storied franchise and will immediately have an opportunity to lead his new team to the NBA Finals.

Despite competing in three straight NBA Finals – winning one – the Cavs seemed to endure some discord this offseason with Dan Gilbert failing to renew former general manager David Griffin's contract.

LeBron James exit rumours started to swirl shortly after, followed by Irving's desire to move to a different team.

Turmoil aside, the Cavs will likely start James, Thomas, Crowder, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson next season. They could also add Dwyane Wade and will be among the favourites to challenge the Golden State Warriors for the title.</s>CLEVELAND - It's been a month since ESPN first reported that Kyrie Irving asked the Cleveland Cavaliers for a trade and the franchise has yet to acquiesce the disgruntled guard's request.

That, however, could soon change. And the Cavs might not only soon trade their star guard -- they may send him to a rival.

According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, Cleveland has engaged with the Boston Celtics in "active trade discussions" regarding a deal that would see the Cavs send Irving to Boston in exchange for All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas. The Cavs and Celtics have met in the playoffs in two of the past three years, including this past season's Eastern Conference Finals, which Cleveland won four games to one.

Listed at 5-foot-9, Thomas averaged 28.9 points per game in the 2016-17 season while leading Boston to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. In addition to Thomas, the Celtics possess several desirable assets, including forward Jaylen Brown, rookie Jayson Tatum and an unprotected 2018 draft pick from the Brooklyn Nets.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Boston forward Jae Crowder and multiple picks are also being discussed in the potential trade.

In July, ESPN reported Irving had asked the Cavs for a trade in part because he was "tired of being Robin to [LeBron] James' Batman." Cleveland, however, has been patient in seeking a deal for Irving, perhaps in part because it lacked substantial offers for the 4-time All-Star.

Earlier this month, Wojnarowski reported that the Cavs were already preparing for life after James, who can opt out of his three-year contract with Cleveland next summer.

Based on the reported deal the Cavs could be nearing, that could very well be the case.</s>A little over a year ago, Kyrie Irving hit one of the most dramatic shots in NBA Finals history to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win an NBA title. Now, he's no longer a member of the Cavs.

Cleveland traded the All-Star guard to the Boston Celtics for a package that includes Isaiah Thomas, The Vertical's Shams Charania reported Tuesday. According to Charania, the Cavs will also receive Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick.

Irving is reportedly "thrilled" to join the Celtics, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com, adding Boston has "strong belief" he will re-sign after his current contract expires.

While Thomas has been a member of one of the Cavaliers' biggest rivals in recent years, he'll already have a level of chemistry with one of Cleveland's biggest stars. Thomas, a native of Tacoma, Washington, crossed paths with Kevin Love, who grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, in AAU ball.

Most expected the Cavaliers to make at least one significant move this offseason to bridge the gap with the Golden State Warriors. Instead, they were unable to acquire either Jimmy Butler or Paul George, and David Griffin's departure compounded the sense of uncertainty swirling in Cleveland.

But even after he described the Cavaliers as being in a "peculiar place," almost nobody expected Irving to engineer a move out of Cleveland. ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst was the first to report of Irving's intentions, writing that he "wants to play in a situation where he can be more of a focal point and that he no longer wants to play alongside LeBron James."

Irving is coming off his best season in the NBA. He averaged a career-high 25.2 points a game, while his 5.8 assists a night were his highest since James arrived in July 2014. Irving's three-point shooting also rebounded following a 2015-16 campaign in which he hit a career-worst 32.1 percent of his attempts. He shot 40.1 percent from beyond the arc in 2016-17.

When Irving has a hot hand, he's nearly unstoppable, which the Boston Celtics learned the hard way when he scored 42 points in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Watching Irving can undoubtedly be frustrating at times nonetheless.

He has never been a good defender, with the Cavs allowing 3.1 more points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor, per NBA.com. Opponents also shot 41.8 percent from three-point territory when matched up against Irving.

Offensively, Irving can be too dependent on isolation situations, and the last two NBA Finals showed why that can be a double-edged sword.

In 2016, Irving had the confidence to go head-to-head against Stephen Curry and hit a go-ahead three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in Game 7.

In 2017, Irving attempted to do something similar with the Cavs down 114-113 inside the final minute of Game 3 against the Warriors. Rather than run an offensive set, Irving went one-on-one with Klay Thompson and settled for a difficult step-back three-pointer that hit the front rim. Cleveland eventually lost 118-113.

Still, Cavs fans accepted the drawbacks to Irving's game because he can single-handedly take over a game with his scoring.

Perhaps more important than what Irving provided Cleveland in the short term, he seemingly would've been one of the team's biggest building blocks in the event James leaves after his contract expires next summer.

In the four years after LeBron left and played for the Miami Heat, the Cavs won 97 games, fewest in the league during that stretch. The franchise had no discernible long-term plan despite having talented young players such as Irving, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters on the roster.

Between the departures of Griffin and Irving, Cavaliers fans may begin worrying James is the only thing separating the team from those dark days again.

The stakes are likewise high for Irving. He'll either look foolish for voluntarily eschewing the chance to continue teaming with one of the best players in NBA history, or he'll gain an even bigger respect from inside and outside the league for carving his own path to success.

ESPN.com's Tom Haberstroh showed that at least last year, the Cavs were a far worse team when Irving was playing a lead role:

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge received some criticism after failing to land either Butler or George, especially when it became known what the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers received for the respective All-Stars.

Now, the point of contention surrounding Ainge will be whether Irving represents enough of an upgrade to the Celtics roster that the trade is worth it.

Thomas is essentially the same player as Irving—just three years older. Thomas and Irving are both dynamic offensive players whose defensive struggles can make them liabilities, though Thomas' issues are more pronounced because at 5'9", he's six inches shorter.

Thomas only has one year remaining on his current deal, which was almost certainly a consideration in this trade. The Celtics will have Irving for an extra season, and they'll seemingly have a good chance of re-signing him when his current deal expires.

Still, Butler and George would've addressed what were clear issues with the Celtics roster, whereas Irving is seemingly more of a luxury addition rather than a necessity.

Boston already sacrificed some depth with the Gordon Hayward signing. The team traded Avery Bradley to have enough cap space to give Hayward a max deal. Now, the Celtics are parting with Crowder, another valuable role player and somebody who could match up relatively favorably with James on defense.

Cleveland, meanwhile, comes out as well as it could've given the circumstances, and this trade could ease some fears first-year general manager Koby Altman is in over his head.

In Thomas, the Cavs get an All-Star point guard who enables them to continue contending for an NBA title. Thomas' contract does little to stabilize Cleveland's long-term outlook, though the first-round pick via Brooklyn should.</s>The Cleveland Cavaliers will reportedly trade Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics and get fellow NBA All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas in a package deal.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly agreed to trade Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for a package led by fellow NBA All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas.

Irving, who made headlines earlier in the summer when it leaked that he had requested a trade, moves on from a Cavaliers squad that reached the NBA Finals in each of the last three seasons and won a championship in 2016.

He joins a Celtics squad that finished first in the Eastern Conference during the regular season last season but was bounced by the Cavaliers in five games the Eastern Conference Finals. Thomas missed the last three games of the series with a hip injury, and might not be ready for regular season opener.

Boston will also reportedly send small forward Jae Crowder, centre prospect Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets 2018 first-round pick to Cleveland in the deal.

Irving, 25, averaged a career-high 25.2 points on 47.3 per cent shooting and 5.8 assists last season.

He has three years and $US60 million remaining on his contract.

Thomas, who finished third in the NBA with an average of 28.9 points in 2016-17, will be a free agent after the 2017-18 campaign.
In the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics swap All-Star point guards, with Isaiah Thomas going to the Cavaliers and Kyrie Irving to the Celtics. The Celtics also send the Cavaliers forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Žižić, and a 2018 first-round draft pick that they had previously obtained from the Brooklyn Nets.