NBA star point guard , Kyrie Irving, finally ended the repeated rounds of unsubstantiated rumors about trade deals and closed his run with the Cleveland Cavaliers by requesting a trade with his team.

His request came up last week when he stated that he wanted to play in a situation where he can be more of a focal point. ‘Kyrie made a reasonable decision where he can start a new team with himself,” stated a Hillsboro High School student, Jed H.

According to Chauncey Billups, a retired NBA Celtics player,  Kyrie Irving’s decision is down to his desire to step out of LeBron James’s shadow and be named MVP. Max a junior at HHS agreed with Billups, “If I was in his shoes I would want my name out there much as Lebron rather than being his side-kick”.

It’s unfortunate for the Cavaliers, because Irving has a special talent. So much of what he’s been able to accomplish on and off the floor has been as the beneficiary of having LeBron James. Sources say this call was blindsided and disappointing to the team and the fans. Blindsiding fans only fuels more fan discussion .

“Never should have left the team because they probably was going to get a trade request from someone else” -Coach Terrance, AAU basketball coach.

He has three more years on his current contract, also a player option in 2019-20 and will likely be a free agent in 2019. His “usage rate of 30.2 percent last season was the highest of his career, but much higher with James off the floor (41.7%) than with James on the floor (26.8%).”

He’s hungry to be the face of a team he can call his own, be the leader with his own supporting cast, and rise to the new challenge of leading a team forward to the playoffs. To forge a legacy of his own by not riding on the coattails of James, who — like it or not — is at the tail end of his prime.

” With Kyrie’s special abilities and point guard skills was just following his heart for the championship ring” – Daniel HHS.

With the trade finalized with Kyrie has found a team to accept him for the Celtics, Isaiah Thomas, that a new challenge was braced upon him. In addition the Celtics will add a second-round pick to the package with Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick they’re sending to Cleveland to work out an even trade. On the Celtic side they gave up a lot to have him and people forget he’s only 25 years old.It seems bizarre that this trade happened between last year’s Eastern Conference Finals’ opponents. Thomas was apart of an organization that was on the rise, and contend for years down the road.Did Danny really not want to pay Thomas? Was he worried about his injury? Did he want to rid himself of Thomas’ defensive liability?

Now Isaiah is on a new chapter for a road to glory with the Cav’s.

Unanswered Questions ________________________________________

The Celtics now have Marcus Smart, Al Hereford, Jaylen Brown, and Terry Rozier as the remaining players from last year’s roster. It’s hard to recognize the Boston Celtics on opening night with the new faces. With the separation of Avery Bradley and Crowder, Smart and Brown become very important pieces on the defensive side.

Jayson Tatum will have big minutes in his rookie year. This trade will take a while to sink in. The emotions and comments surrounding the trade, and the fact that between these two teams makes it unlike any other. Also, the coveted Nets’ pick is gone.

At the end of the day, the Celtics get Irving. He’s 25, Thomas is 28. Hopefully, Kyrie will play s defense in Boston because right now he’s not much better than Thomas in that department.

Will this bolster Celtics over the Cavs and into the NBA Finals? That is the big question that we’ll all need to find and answer for as the season unfolds. Remember #23 is still on the Cavs.

Sources
https://www.google.com/amp/www.newsweek.com/sport-kyrie-irving-cleveland-cavaliers-642172%3famp=1
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20124505/kyrie-irving-seeking-trade-cleveland-cavaliers
http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/21/report-kyrie-irving-seeks-trade-cleveland-cavaliers
https://hardwoodhoudini.com/2017/08/23/celtics-trade-for-kyrie-irving-reactions/