The Celtics are not happy with the mess the Cavs have created
The mess created by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the pending deal that brings Kyrie Irving to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the 2018 Brooklyn Nets 1st-round draft pick is not sitting well with the Celtics. The news that the Cavaliers were uneasy after Thomas took his physical before joining the team trickled out Friday afternoon, and just yesterday it was said they were going to seek further compensation from the C's:
Story posting soon on ESPN: After Thomas physical, Cavs planning to seek further compensation before finalizing Irving trade to Boston.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
While it's still unclear what "further compensation" the Cavs are looking to get in the exchange the word out of Boston is that the Celtics are not planning to pony up anything further. They feel they were completely transparent in regards to Thomas and his injured hip and were taken aback by the news that Cleveland was having second thoughts on the deal:
Source with knowledge of IT's hip said nothing in physical should've surprised. They built offer around his condition & told Cavs everything— Jason Lloyd (@JasonLloydNBA) August 26, 2017
Boston believes it was completely transparent w/Cleveland on IT's hip injury, per sources. Expect Celtics to strongly resist any sweetener.— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) August 26, 2017
Either the Cavs are being extremely deceptive and trying to stick up the Celtics for an extra pick here or they are just one of the worst run franchises in sports - I'll take the latter. Obviously the Celtics would have never let this trade see the light of day unless they were comfortable that it was definitely going to go through. Now they sit in the unfortunate situation of waiting to see if this mess of a franchise would actually go through with voiding a deal that was agreed to because one of the players who was injured when the trade was discuss is actually indeed injured, crazy I know.
If I'm Danny Ainge I'm not giving them anything at all in further compensation. See if they have the balls to go back on a deal in which they got a nice haul for a disgruntled star who forced his way out of town when we've seen some of the shit returns most teams have been getting for their star players doing the same thing (See: George, Paul).
I refuse to believe Danny Ainge won't outmaneuver a rookie general manager. #Celtics have to call the #Cavaliers bluff.— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) August 26, 2017
I agree with Kaufman, but Ainge has been put in a real tough spot here. Can't imagine Isaiah wanting to don the green and white again after getting blindsided with this deal. What. A. Mess.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkAL401
