Crowder to Cleveland?

[Newsdreams]

On trade involving Irving and Thomas
https://twitter.com/sportscenter/status/900126892954705926

[tower912]

This keeps Cleveland in the discussion for the championship.   

[wadesworld]

This keeps Cleveland in the discussion for the championship.   

In terms of getting back to the Finals and losing in 5 again yes. But it also could mean losing in the ECF which wasn't going to happen before the trade.

[tower912]

I mean extending it to 7 and winning if GS stumbles.   

[JWags85]

I mean extending it to 7 and winning if GS stumbles.   

D Rose and IT guarding Klay and Steph for stretches?  Yeesh.  Kyrie wasn't a good defender, but you couldn't easily shoot over him like IT.

Assuming you wash out IT and Kyrie.  The Cs added Heyward, Jayson Tatum, and get another year of growth out of Jaylen Brown, they lost Avery Bradley.  The Cavs added D Rose and Jose Calderon and Crowder.

Not sure how you think the Cavs got better this offseason moreso than the Cs.  And thats not even counting them bringing in Yabusele who was their first round pick from last year.

[jsglow]

Being reported as #donedeal.

[jficke13]

I honestly don't understand signing the shredded remains of DRose's knees. He's a shadow of the MVP he once was.

[brewcity77]

Cavs absolutely fleeced Boston in this trade. IT will do well next to James, and it's not like Kyrie is the second coming of Gary Payton. Crowder provides depth and defense. No idea how Zizic will pan out, but the real prize is the Nets pick. That could end up being Marvin Bagley, Michael Porter, or DeAndre Ayton. The Cavs will still dominate the East and this could set them up to be the East's best for another 5-10 years if they get Bagley. Highway robbery.

[StillAWarrior]

Cavs absolutely fleeced Boston in this trade. IT will do well next to James, and it's not like Kyrie is the second coming of Gary Payton. Crowder provides depth and defense. No idea how Zizic will pan out, but the real prize is the Nets pick. That could end up being Marvin Bagley, Michael Porter, or DeAndre Ayton. The Cavs will still dominate the East and this could set them up to be the East's best for another 5-10 years if they get Bagley. Highway robbery.

Time will tell. But honestly, given how motivated the Cavs were to move Kyrie, I'm stunned they got this good of a deal. I honestly feared they wouldn't get good value. I think they made a pretty good deal.

[GoldenWarrior11]

It's being reported here in Chicago that Wade will be bought out and sign with Cleveland.  Rose and Wade on the same team is, uhhhhh, interesting.

Both sides get value.  Boston gets the superstar game changer it has desired since the departures of KG, Pierce and Allen.  It also didn't relinquish Tatum or Brown.  Getting a long-term core of Irving/Hayward/Tatum will be very good, IMO.  Toss in Stevens, who is one of best coaches in the game today, and they are set for a special run in the coming years. 

Cleveland protects itself against the inevitable departure of LeBron.  It also gets strong win-now players in Crowder and Thomas, and Crowder definitely brings toughness and physicality that the Cavs have lacked.  A squad of Smith/Shumpert/Crowder/LeBron will be physically tough.  Getting the Nets pick is key.  If/when LeBron goes next year, you protect your future by once again getting another top pick. 

Final thoughts:
1.) How many top-5 picks can one organization acquire in a 15 year period with so little to show for it? (Lebron - #1, 2003; Irving - #1, 2011; Thompson - #4, 2011; Waiters - #4, 2012; Bennett - #1, 2013; Wiggins - #1, 2014)
2.) How funny is it seeing LeBron on a team that actually traded AWAY a star player?  That's a funny twist of fate.
3.) I cringe at having to root for Cleveland next year for Crowder and Wade. 

[Herman Cain]

I think this is a good opportunity for Jae. Will be great for the program to have another one of our MU guys in a high visibility position in the finals.

[Golden Avalanche]

Cavs absolutely fleeced Boston in this trade. IT will do well next to James, and it's not like Kyrie is the second coming of Gary Payton. Crowder provides depth and defense. No idea how Zizic will pan out, but the real prize is the Nets pick. That could end up being Marvin Bagley, Michael Porter, or DeAndre Ayton. The Cavs will still dominate the East and this could set them up to be the East's best for another 5-10 years if they get Bagley. Highway robbery.

Thomas is 29 with a bum hip and James is leaving in 11 months. They're not dominating the conference for the next decade.

[wadesworld]

Thomas is 29 with a bum hip and James is leaving in 11 months. They're not dominating the conference for the next decade.

Exactly.  If the pick turns into Bagley it's a win for both sides but the Cavs are still taking a bigtime nosedive.  If it turns into Porter, yuck.  Not only is LBJ gone and Thomas a 5'6" PG who can't defend anyone at 28, but he's also going into the last year of his contract.  Somebody is going to max him out.  Will it be the Cavs?  If not, he's almost surely gone as well.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Totally agree that this is a complete win for the Celtics, but if you read the comments on their SB Nation site, you would think they just traded Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie.

As irrational as Marquette fans are, never underestimate the ignorance of Boston fans...

Here's the link: https://www.celticsblog.com/2017/8/22/16187112/celtics-trade-isaiah-thomas-nets-pick-jae-crowder-ante-zizic-to-cleveland-cavs-for-kyrie-irving

[MU82]

How many top-5 picks can one organization acquire in a 15 year period with so little to show for it? (Lebron - #1, 2003; Irving - #1, 2011; Thompson - #4, 2011; Waiters - #4, 2012; Bennett - #1, 2013; Wiggins - #1, 2014)

Well, they do have an NBA championship to show for it, and that's a lot more than most teams have. They also have three other trips to the Finals to show for it.

How about the Bulls in the first decade A.M.:

1999 - Brand #1
2000 - Fizer #4
2001 - Curry #4 (and Chandler #2 by Clippers, acquired in trade for Brand)
2002 - Williams #2
2004 - Gordon #3
2006 - Aldridge #2 (traded to Blazers for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa - oy)
2008 - Rose #1

That's 8 top-4 picks in 10 years ... and what did the Bulls have to show for that? One trip to the conference finals, in which they got killed by the 2011 Heat.

Also during those years: Artest #16 in 1999; Chris Mihm #7 in 2000; Hinrich #7 in 2003 (after Pax refused to include Donyell Marshall in a deal that would have let Bulls draft Wade); Noah #9 in 2007.

So I think the Cavs would take what they got for their picks!

[real chili 83]

Well, they do have an NBA championship to show for it, and that's a lot more than most teams have. They also have three other trips to the Finals to show for it.

How about the Bulls in the first decade A.M.:

1999 - Brand #1
2000 - Fizer #4
2001 - Curry #4 (and Chandler #2 by Clippers, acquired in trade for Brand)
2002 - Williams #2
2004 - Gordon #3
2006 - Aldridge #2 (traded to Blazers for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa - oy)
2008 - Rose #1

That's 8 top-4 picks in 10 years ... and what did the Bulls have to show for that? One trip to the conference finals, in which they got killed by the 2011 Heat.

Also during those years: Artest #16 in 1999; Chris Mihm #7 in 2000; Hinrich #7 in 2003 (after Pax refused to include Donyell Marshall in a deal that would have let Bulls draft Wade); Noah #9 in 2007.

So I think the Cavs would take what they got for their picks!

Mike, why the need for the political tag at the end of your posts?  We all know you hate trump all ready.  This is Chicos level obnoxious.  It's not a good look.....regardless of conservative or liberal.

[avid1010]

Mike, why the need for the political tag at the end of your posts?  We all know you hate trump all ready.  This is Chicos level obnoxious.  It's not a good look.....regardless of conservative or liberal.

I like it. 

[real chili 83]

I like it.

No politics, please.

[GGGG]

Mike, why the need for the political tag at the end of your posts?  We all know you hate trump all ready.  This is Chicos level obnoxious.  It's not a good look.....regardless of conservative or liberal.

Use your options to hide signatures. 

[GGGG]

It's being reported here in Chicago that Wade will be bought out and sign with Cleveland.  Rose and Wade on the same team is, uhhhhh, interesting.

Both sides get value.  Boston gets the superstar game changer it has desired since the departures of KG, Pierce and Allen.  It also didn't relinquish Tatum or Brown.  Getting a long-term core of Irving/Hayward/Tatum will be very good, IMO.  Toss in Stevens, who is one of best coaches in the game today, and they are set for a special run in the coming years. 

Cleveland protects itself against the inevitable departure of LeBron.  It also gets strong win-now players in Crowder and Thomas, and Crowder definitely brings toughness and physicality that the Cavs have lacked.  A squad of Smith/Shumpert/Crowder/LeBron will be physically tough.  Getting the Nets pick is key.  If/when LeBron goes next year, you protect your future by once again getting another top pick. 

Final thoughts:
1.) How many top-5 picks can one organization acquire in a 15 year period with so little to show for it? (Lebron - #1, 2003; Irving - #1, 2011; Thompson - #4, 2011; Waiters - #4, 2012; Bennett - #1, 2013; Wiggins - #1, 2014)
2.) How funny is it seeing LeBron on a team that actually traded AWAY a star player?  That's a funny twist of fate.
3.) I cringe at having to root for Cleveland next year for Crowder and Wade. 

In that 15 year timeframe, Cleveland has been to 4 NBA Finals and won a championship.

Only Miami has matched their Finals appearances.  Only seven teams have won a title during that timeframe.  (4 teams have won it twice, 3 have won it once.)

That is hardly "so little so show for it." 

[WarriorFan]

My 10 cents... look for Cleveland to trade Crowder.  Why would he want to backup Lebron.  He can't start at the 2, or if he starts at the 3 then it's Lebron at 4 and Love at 5.  Cleveland needs a serviceable Big out of this ... look for Crowder to move again and Cleveland gets a big.

[GGGG]

My 10 cents... look for Cleveland to trade Crowder.  Why would he want to backup Lebron.  He can't start at the 2, or if he starts at the 3 then it's Lebron at 4 and Love at 5.  Cleveland needs a serviceable Big out of this ... look for Crowder to move again and Cleveland gets a big.

Embrace positionless basketball.

Crowder could start over JR Smith.  (Bringing JR off the bench might be a better option anyway.)  Crowder could also help spread the floor when Love is out of the game and they want to go small. 

Basketball these days is all about creating mismatches.  A guy like Crowder helps you with that because he is versatile. 

[wadesworld]

If guys like Otto Porter are getting the max, IT is obviously going to get the max.  Do the Cav's give a 5'6", 29 year old PG with hip issues that cannot defend a single NBA player a max contract with LeBron walking next offseason?  Or do they just bottom out, get a top pick in next year's draft (Brooklyn's pick) and a top pick in the following draft (their own) and move on without IT and LBJ right away?

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

My 10 cents... look for Cleveland to trade Crowder.  Why would he want to backup Lebron.  He can't start at the 2, or if he starts at the 3 then it's Lebron at 4 and Love at 5.  Cleveland needs a serviceable Big out of this ... look for Crowder to move again and Cleveland gets a big.

I disagree.  Crowder matches up well with Golden State.  They need Jae to go small and switchable.  I'd put him opposite Draymond.  Jae might even get under Draymond's skin and get him to commit some technicals and earn a suspension.  That wouldn't surprise me at all.

If Lebron leaves in free agency, the Cavs can trade Crowder for a first round pick in the off-season.  He could also be packaged with a pick in a salary dump involving someone like JR Smith or Tristan Thompson.

[tower912]

I think Crowder is as important as IT in Cleveland's plans to combat GS, for reasons others have stated.    He can guard a bunch of positions, hit the 3, and fight like hell.    And honestly, the regular season for Cleveland is nothing more than getting everybody ready to play GS.   Crowder, if he brings the intensity, could end up being LeBron's favorite teammate.