Kyrie Irving is now a member of the Boston Celtics.David Zalubowski/AP
The blockbuster trade between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers that was in danger of falling apart is now back on as the Celtics have agreed to give up a second draft pick as compensation for Isaiah Thomas’ injured hip.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics will give up a 2020 second-round pick to complete the trade. Others have confirmed the report.
Wojnarowski earlier reported that the Cavs were “determined” to get a second first-round pick in the trade. That was after initial reports that the Cavs were going to ask for Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, the third picks in the 2016 and 2017 NBA Drafts, respectively.
The two teams were facing a 10 a.m. Thursday deadline to complete the deal.
The Cavaliers were seeking extra compensation in the trade because they felt the Celtics undersold the significance of Thomas’ hip injury and the amount of the upcoming season he would miss. In addition to Thomas, the Cavs also agreed to take forward Jae Crowder, rookie center Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round draft pick in 2018 in the original deal.
Thomas initially injured his hip in March during the regular season and missed two games. He re-injured the hip during the Eastern Conference semifinals and eventually missed the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After the trade, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge confirmed that the hip was still an issue for Thomas and that he would likely miss the start of the season, but that he “should be fine” at some point during the season. Thomas and the Celtics opted against surgery on the hip.
Thomas was emphatic during an interview with ESPN on Tuesday that he would be fine.
“I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be the same player again,”Thomas told ESPN. “No doctor has told me anything different than that.”
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