Nine Years Later, the Cavs’ Kyrie Irving Trade Still Stands Out

The vibes in Cleveland were as high as they have been in the city’s history back in 2016. After completing a 3-1 comeback against the Warriors in the NBA Finals, the Cavs finally hoisted their first Larry O’Brien trophy. LeBron James delivered on a promise made years earlier. The Cleveland Indians were also one good inning away from a World Series title.

However, just 14 months later, things changed just a bit. The 4X Cavs All-Star Point Guard & 2013 ASG MVP, Kyrie Irving, was reportedly unhappy and requested a trade. This was after losing the 2017 Finals to the Warriors in five games.

And not long after, he was on his way to the Celtics. Let’s talk about how this changed the trajectory of the franchise.

Moving On

August 22, 2017 was a tough day for the Cavs. 2K cover athlete and NBA Finals hero Kyrie Irving was officially traded. He was sent to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Ante Zizic, Jae Crowder, and a 2018 1st-round pick. For a team that still had LeBron James and Kevin Love, this was a tough omen.

Of course, Crowder had played really solid ball for Boston. IT was at an all-NBA level for the prior two years, though a hip injury would greatly change his trajectory and potential. Zizic was a project, while the pick would turn into Collin Sexton. Of course, he eventually played a key role in the team’s acquisition of Donovan Mitchell.

Irving was missed, both for his ability to create his own shot, and to hit in the clutch. Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals saw George Hill missing late-game free throws, and JR Smith forgetting how much time was on the clock. #2 probably would have sunk his free throws.

Thomas missed the start of the season as Cleveland shuffled through Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, and DeAndre Liggins as backcourt starters while bringing an older Dwyane Wade off the bench in the first half of the season. It was extremely confusing, and far from what the team envisioned.

The Thomas era ended with him not making it into a shoulder bump with LeBron (see below) after a win over the Timberwolves right before the trade deadline. Limited minutes and limited impact, and then the 2X All-Star was suddenly off to LA and team was adding Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.

Jae Crowder struggled with efficiency during his tenure. He was also dealing with a personal matter. The same night the deal had happened, he lost his mom. Playing the whole season with a heavy heart, he did what he could, but the impact was rather minimal. He would be moved at the deadline too, along with several other guys.

Never The Same Again

Kyrie Irving was absolutely missed in Cleveland. Injuries and off-court drama have changed his career a bit over the past years, though he helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals in 2024, where they fell to the Celtics in five games.

He had some fantastic moments with the Nets, but has not been able to deliver in quite the same way. His return from an ACL injury this year will be must-see TV. Thomas’ career was never the same, as he bounced around and found himself out of the league pretty quickly.

Again, the deal helped the Cavs eventually land Donovan Mitchell. But, one Finals drubbing, LeBron departure, and three seasons at the bottom followed suit. The deal set them back, and there’s no doubt about it.

At least they had Sexton as the team began their rebuild to electrify, and take over. He actually helped the Cavs hand Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden losses in their first two games together as members of Brooklyn. True story.

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