The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are giving NBA fans another reason to tune in for their season-opening clash on Oct. 17.
The Cavs are shipping Kyrie Irving to the Celts for Isaiah Thomas in a blockbuster trade of All-Star guards. Cleveland also gets forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and a 2018 first-round draft pick.
Irving asked Cavs owner Dan Gilbert to trade him earlier this summer. He joins the team that lost to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals last spring.
Irving has averaged 21.6 points and 5 ½ assists during a six-year career spent entirely with the Cavaliers. He averaged a career-best 25.2 points and 5.8 assists in 72 games last season.
Thomas averaged 28.9 points last season, giving him a 19.1 scoring average for his six-year career.
This blockbuster trade marks the end of the Cleveland trio of Lebron, Kyrie and Love who dominated the East coast since coming together. Questions are now raised as to who will challenge Golden State who have the strongest team on paper.
