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8.22.2017

This offseason has been the gift that keeps on giving. But we were convinced the bulk of the big news had finally died out; that Kyrie-Cleveland would figure itself out. Sitting around on Monday, twiddling our thumbs, we scratched together some stories we liked and sent it out Tuesday morning. Little did we know the biggest story would come just 10 hours hours later.

KYRIE HAS PROFOUND SOLAR ECLIPSE MOMENT, HEADS TO BOSTON

In a Tuesday evening trade that seemingly materialized out of thin air, the Boston Celtics agreed to trade Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the unprotected 2018 Brooklyn Nets first round draft choice to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.

The exchange, which was first reported mid-afternoon and became official shortly after, caught many by surprise but was a logistical dream for both teams.

Ainge, who, at this point, can only be described as a complete sociopath, wanted an unquestioned superstar in his prime. Irving wanted out.

Thomas was a folk hero in Boston, who had just finished a historically good third season for the Celtics. What he wanted didn’t matter. His contract is up in a season; Irving has two years plus a player option for the 2019-20 season.

We’ll get to all the best reactions from the trade a little further down, but here are some things to consider:

• In a stroke of accidental genius by the NBA schedule planning committee, these two teams play each other in Cleveland on opening night on Oct. 17. The layers to that statement run deep, obviously.

• Both selected in the 2011 draft, this is the first time a blockbuster NBA trade has featured the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 60 overall pick from the same class as the main chips. These two’s careers are ridiculously intertwined and seemingly always will be.

• Ainge finally pulled the trigger on the fabled 2018 Brooklyn Nets draft pick. It was the last of the bunch dating back to a 2013 draft night trade.

• As previously covered by The Grip, who knows how The Little Man holds up going forward? How would Boston maneuver his max contract demands after next season? Of course, Ainge weighed these a million times over.

• Of the 15 players from last season’s Celtics team, 11 are now gone.

In Danny’s eyes: Above all else, draft picks are always speculation. Next year’s pick could be the next Anthony Davis, but it could also be the next Michael Beasley. As valuable as picks may feel, using one to secure a proven superstar entering his prime is smart, especially when you have a team that is built to win championships now, not five years from now.

In Cleveland's eyes: Your God/GM/Coach/All-star has heavily hinted that he wants to move west before his career ends. Your all-star point guard’s heart wasn’t in it anymore. You see a chance to get a head start on life after LeBron, while not compromising the season. Adding two solid starters, one of which can defend well, to a championship team might give you a fresh feeling. And who knows, a LeBron/Isaiah could be something special.

It’s strange to conclude, but this is a win-win situation. Danny Ainge got his first post-2013 superstar, getting a little bit better while making his main competition a little bit worse.

Cleveland is getting a wonderful player as well.

REACTION ARTICLES WE LIKE

• The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach does a decent job of breaking everything down, making the point that these two were perfect partners. [Tap Here]

• Our boy Frank Isola from the New York Daily News discusses Kyrie’s thought process that led him to being content with going to Boston. [Tap Here]

• Sports Illustrated did a bunch of worthy content on it, because Sports Illustrated. [Tap Here]

• The Ringer staff did an interesting Winner-Loser thing. [Tap Here]

REACTION PODCASTS WE LIKE

• Bill Simmons offers his annoying voice and his pretty good take. [Tap Here]

• Here’s the full press conference from Ainge. [Tap Here]

SHAMELESS PLUGS WE LIKE

• One of us wrote this three years ago for Slam Magazine, bunching these two guards’ destinies together.

We leave you with this.

Seems like yesterday...