Bucks offered Malcolm Brogdon, Khris Middleton and a pick for Kyrie Irving

The Cavaliers have dealt Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Nets unprotected 2018 first round pick.

It’s not shocking, but the Cavaliers had other offers on the table, including an enticing one from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Now, this is the offer that many floated, and there was certainly a case for it. Isaiah is much more explosive than either player in the Bucks package, but size, defense, leadership, and affordable contracts would’ve made it an appealing package, though the first round pick would be significantly worse than the Brooklyn pick that the Cavaliers picked up.

Ultimately, the package the Cavaliers received was probably stronger from Boston, and it’s not like strengthening the Bucks, who are on the rise, would be much more palatable than strengthening the Celtics. Brogdon and Middleton would’ve changed the way the Cavaliers play fundamentally, while Thomas and Crowder allow the Cavs to maintain their identity.

It certainly would’ve been fun to see Kyrie and Delly be on the same team again, though.

An important tidbit from the tweet is that the Suns were never all that in on Kyrie, and that seems noteworthy, given that Irving’s teammates the past three years, James Jones, is now the Vice President for Basketball Operations in Phoenix. Maybe Irving just didn’t fit #thetimeline in Phoenix, but it’s not like Kyrie is old, and his youth is one of the reasons Boston pulled the trigger.

Jones knows Irving and his game intimately, and he decided to not try too hard to acquire him alongside GM Ryan McDonough, though it’s still unclear who’s really calling the shots in Phoenix.

Regardless, what’s done is done, but it’s fun to imagine what might’ve been for a different Cavaliers deal.