Cleveland will likely get one of these things, but the question is what.
The Cleveland Cavaliers want more compensation for Kyrie Irving after examining Isaiah Thomas’ injured hip in a physical, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Saturday. The deal with the Boston Celtics currently stands as Irving for Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick.
It’s almost certain that the deal will still go through. For one, Boston really has no recourse if this trade falls through — Thomas’ camp has essentially said that he has no interest in playing for Boston if he ended back up with the Celtics for any reason. Cleveland has slightly more flexibility, given that they can’t alienate Irving, who had already been alienated when he demanded this trade. But the Cavaliers likely aren’t getting a better offer than this one, additional asset or not. They really want to complete this deal, too.
But hey, if the Cavaliers can squeeze one more asset out of this deal due to Thomas’ hip injury, it’s worth trying. Give brand new general manager Koby Altman, still just six weeks on the job, credit for having enough guts to demand that from Boston. In all likelihood, it will work.
The question is what asset it will work for, though. Here are the most likely things Boston can offer, ranked.
1. Two 2020 second-round picks
Boston has shipped off their 2018 and 2019 second rounders, but the team has a 2020 pick and are owed one by the Miami Heat. This is the baseline of what the Celtics can give Cleveland that is 1) an asset and 2) hardly a loss. Boston will start here and insist it’s enough. Both sides are motivated enough that it very well may be. As SB Nation’s Paul Flannery says:
"Paul Flannery @Pflanns
That's the whole point of having a stash of second round picks. It's like carrying emergency cash
7:43 AM - Aug 27, 2017"
2. A 2019 first-round pick from Los Angeles Clippers
If a second-round pick isn’t good enough, then I’d guess Boston defaults to their stash of first rounders. A few of them are extremely valuable — we’ll get to those — but a Clippers pick two years out likely isn’t a lottery selection. Danny Ainge could insist on adding protections to it, too — maybe top-10 or top-12 protected, which would save Boston if the Clippers completely bottom out but seems more likely to transfer a mid-first-round selection. That’s expendable.
3. Terry Rozier
Rozier is 23-year-old and an alright prospect. It seems clear that he’s an NBA player, but probably not much more than that. He could turn into a solid backup point guard, or maybe he’ll stay as an emergency third option for a few years before falling out of the league. Still young and with room to develop, he’s a player worth having on the roster.
If Cleveland can sneak Rozier into the deal, he might be someone who even competes for the backup point guard spot along with Derrick Rose.
4. Semi Ojeleye or Guerschon Yabusele
Both are bigger unknowns with higher ceilings than Rozier, and Boston wants to keep them. I’d be shocked if they gave up either.
5. Other first rounders
These are all probably too valuable for Boston to give up.
Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick
Grizzlies’ 2019 first-round pick
Kings or Sixers’ 2019 first-round pick (whichever is better)
If Cleveland gets any of those, it’s an absolute steal. (It won’t happen.)
6. Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum
Nope.
