NBA Trade Rumors: Cavaliers trade Kyrie Irving to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, 2018 Nets pick

Kyrie Irving is headed to the Boston Celtics. And the Cleveland Cavaliers are getting a lot back from their biggest in-conference rival.

According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, the Cavs are dealing Irving to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first round pick. Per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the 2018 pick in unprotected. And with the Nets likely be one of league’s worst teams next season, the Cavs are likely to have a pick near the top of the draft.

In Thomas, the Cavs get a replacement for Irving. He’s coming off a hip injury, but was one of the league’s best guards last year. He’ll be a free agent next summer, but for at least a year, he’s a good fit.

Crowder should fit in seamlessly with the Cavs as well. He likely will not start, and he’s not a great shooter, but he’ll fit perfectly next to LeBron James as someone who can defend threes and fours and hit open threes. He’s also on one of the league’s best deals at under $8 millio a year for the next three years.

Zizic likely means that Edy Tavares, whose contract is non-guaranteed, will be cut. Zizic is 20-year-old center from Croatia who was the No. 23 pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft. He played last year in Europe with Darüşşafaka Spor Kulübü in Turkey.

The big get for the Cavs is the 2018 first round pick from the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets should be one of the league’s worst teams next season — giving the Cavs a good chance at getting a talent who could either learn from LeBron James or help the franchise rebuild if James exits next summer.