Kyrie Irving’s wish has been granted, and how. When the National Basketball Association unveils its 72nd season in October, he will no longer be part of the Cavaliers — which means that, as he wanted, he can strut his stuff without the shadow of LeBron James looming over him. The fact that he will be chasing his dreams in Celtic green is a pleasant bonus; apart from its storied past, the franchise boasts of a bright outlook fueled by the steady hand of chief of hoops operations Danny Ainge and head coach Brad Stevens. And, yes, he will be its biggest draw, principal ballhandler, and, most importantly, biggest — maybe even only — offensive weapon.
That said, the Cavaliers cannot but be declared the winners of the deal, and not simply because they were able to get rid of an erstwhile hero whose interests no longer dovetailed with theirs. His loss could have been devastating; they were negotiating from a position of weakness, what with their All-Star already having telegraphed his desire to pack his bags. Instead, they managed to net Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics’ lifeblood and the National Basketball Players Association’s (NBPA) newly minted “Clutch Performer,” along with hard-nosed defender Jae Crowder, talented prospect Ante Zizic, and the 2018 unprotected first-round pick of the Nets.
Chemistry is hard to predict, so it’s fair to wonder if Thomas and Company will fit with the Cavaliers as expected, which is to say from the get-go. Given James’ refusal to commit to stay beyond the 2017-2018 campaign, the need to hit the ground running is imperative, especially since anything but a ring on the finger is deemed by the four-time Most Valuable Player to be a disappointment. On the other hand, there’s a reason he has been to seven straight Finals, and it’s largely because he knows how to lead and make those around him better. Not for nothing has he continually been the winner of the “Player You Secretly Wish Was On Your Team” poll since the NBPA started taking it in 2015.
Moreover, the Cavaliers have effectively bought themselves insurance on the possibility that James will leave in 2018. In Thomas, Crowder, Zizic, and the Net’s pick, they got the assets they were determined to hold out for vice Irving; as tumultuous as the front office may have seemed following the departure of David Griffin, it nonetheless managed to claim a “Get Out Of Jail, Free” card, and from the unlikeliest of places. It’s a tribute to Koby Altman, just elevated to the hot seat following the departure of the successful David Griffin, that he looked past the Suns and the Nuggets, supposedly ideal suitors; the agreement with the Celtics, their biggest rivals in the East, speaks volumes of his confidence in himself, and of his belief that his decision will stand the test of time.
Considering the turn of events, fans will no doubt pay even closer attention to the league opener between the Cavaliers and the Celtics on Oct. 18. In terms of generating buzz, Commissioner Adam Silver couldn’t have scripted developments any better. There will be no feeling out in that game; every single player will be psyched to win. In the meantime, all and sundry are pursing their lips in anticipation.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.
