Did the Cavs Ultimately Win The Kyrie Trade? - Feb 14th, 2018

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Did the Cavs Ultimately Win The Kyrie Trade?
Feb 14th, 2018
In August of 2017 the NBA world was sent into a frenzy when Kyrie Irving's trade demand was actually completed. The trade sent him to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Heat's 2020 second round pick and the 2018 Brooklyn Nets first round pick. Just before the trade deadline in February of 2018, the Celtics were looking like the winners of the trade due to I.T.'s health and chemistry issues with addition to Crowder's sub par play. However, at the trade deadline the team turned Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and their own first rounder into Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr and Iman Shumpert , Derrick Rose, and Jae Crowder into George Hill and Rodney Hood.
So who actually won the trade? If we are speaking on the original deal it is clear to see that the Celtics won. When I access a trade I usually assign the winner by who ultimately gets the better player and this scenario strengthens that theory. From the original deal, it turned out to be the Cavs receiving the two picks in exchange for Kyrie and if I am Danny Ainge I would sleep well at night knowing that I executed that trade. On the other hand, you have to tip your hat off to first year Cavs GM Koby Altman for turning a bag of chips into a steak dinner. He got young scorers/shooters in Clarkson and Hood who look promising and solid role players in George Hill and Larry Nance Jr. and I think these were the deals of the season. Not only did they get a better supporting cast for LeBron, but they got younger and built a decent roster in the event that James leaves this summer in his free agency. When you balance that out with the addition of a lottery pick this offseason it looks like Cleveland made it work. All in all, because Cleveland had to make further deals I still think that Boston ultimately came out on top, but if Cleveland speaks by and wins the NBA Finals with their new look roster, I feel like they won the trade because they add a ring and most likely will be able to retain LeBron.

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