The Cleveland Cavaliers’ offseason continues to grow more chaotic by the day, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a bomb late Friday night, reporting that the Cavs will consider voiding the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade due to a recent physical examination taken by Thomas.
Thomas’ condition turned out to be worse than expected, and the Cavs, if they wish, could void the deal, sending Thomas back to Boston and Irving back to Cleveland. However, according to Wojnarowski, the deal is unlikely to be called off, rather, the Cavs could be looking for another piece to sweeten the deal:
“In the deal, Cleveland has placed the most value on the 2018 unprotected first-round pick that Boston controls from the Nets, league sources said. Instead of voiding the deal, Cleveland could potentially push for Boston to sweeten it — namely for another draft pick. For now, those are conversations still potentially to be had.”
Most likely, the Cavs are eyeing the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2018 first-round draft pick that the Celtics hold, which is explained in detail by this Philadelphia 76ers news release:
“The future first-round pick that Boston will receive will be the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, provided that such pick is No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, or No. 5 in the 2018 NBA Draft. If the Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick is No. 1 or is No. 6 or later, the Sixers will instead convey to the Celtics the rights to the more favorable of the Sixers’ own 2019 first-round pick or the Sacramento Kings’ 2019 first-round pick, provided that the more favorable pick is not the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. If the more favorable of the Sixers’ and Kings’ 2019 first-round picks is the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Sixers will instead convey the rights to the less favorable of those two picks.”
While another first-round draft pick would be ideal for Cleveland’s uncertain future, Thomas’ concerning hip injury coupled with a lack of win-now assets, the 2017-18 season and a shot at dethroning the Golden State Warriors may now be in jeopardy.
