On August 22, 2017, Cleveland took a swing that still hangs over the franchise nine years later.
The Cavs sent Kyrie Irving to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, Ante Zizic, Jae Crowder, and a 2018 first-round pick, a deal that came after Irving was reportedly unhappy and asked out following the 2017 Finals loss to the Warriors in five games. At the time, Cleveland still had LeBron James and Kevin Love, but moving a 4X Cavs All-Star Point Guard & 2013 ASG MVP was a jolt for a team that had just lived through the high point of 2016.
That 2016 stretch was as good as it gets in Cleveland. The Cavs erased a 3-1 deficit against Golden State in the NBA Finals, James delivered on a promise he had made years earlier, and the city was riding that wave while the Cleveland Indians were also one good inning away from a World Series title.
Irving’s departure changed the feel of everything that followed. Cleveland missed his shot creation and his ability to deliver in clutch moments. Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals made that especially easy to see, with George Hill missing late free throws and JR Smith losing track of the clock.
The return package never really gave Cleveland the stability it wanted. Crowder had been productive in Boston, but his stint in Cleveland was uneven and his efficiency was an issue. The night the trade happened, he also lost his mom, and he spent the season playing through that grief before being moved at the deadline along with several other players.
Thomas, meanwhile, never got the kind of run Cleveland envisioned. He missed the start of the season while the Cavaliers cycled through Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, and DeAndre Liggins as backcourt starters, with an older Dwyane Wade coming off the bench in the first half.
The whole setup felt disjointed from the start. Thomas’ Cleveland chapter ended after a win over the Timberwolves right before the trade deadline, when he never really got beyond limited minutes and limited impact before heading to LA.
Zizic was a project, and the 2018 first-round pick turned into Collin Sexton, who later became part of the team’s path to Donovan Mitchell. Sexton also had one of those little footnote moments that Cleveland fans remember: he helped the Cavs hand Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden losses in their first two games together as members of Brooklyn. True story.
Irving was still missed long after he left. Injuries and off-court drama have altered his career over the years, though he did help the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals in 2024, where they lost to the Celtics in five games.
He had big moments with the Nets too, but not quite the same level of consistent impact. His return from an ACL injury this year will be must-see TV.
Thomas’ career went in the opposite direction. It was never the same after Cleveland, and he bounced around before quickly falling out of the league.
The trade did help the Cavs eventually land Donovan Mitchell, but the damage around it was real. One Finals blowout, LeBron’s departure, and three seasons near the bottom followed.
For Cleveland, the Irving deal wasn’t just a transaction. It was a turning point that set the franchise back.
In Other News...
Cavs Still Face One Crucial Roster Decision This Offseason
With James Harden now locked in on a three-year, $97 million deal, the Cavaliers still have one open roster spot to sort through as the offseason moves along. Cleveland created that flexibility after waiving Cam Whitmore, and the front office is now weighing its next move with the rest of the roster largely in place.
Nick Richards has surfaced as a candidate worth evaluating, thanks to his experience and the kind of interior skill set that can matter over a long season. The Cavs are still looking at how he might fit, which leaves this decision very much in progress even as the major pieces of the offseason start to settle into place. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Suddenly Have A Starting Five Fans Need To See
After an offseason that brought plenty of roster movement, Clevelands rotation has taken on a very different look, and the opening five is suddenly the part of the roster drawing the most attention. The Cavs have moved on from Dean Wade, Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder and Max Strus, while adding Peyton Watson, Meleek Thomas and Mario Hezonja, leaving plenty of opportunity for the new mix to settle in around the established core.
The current starting group of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen gives Cleveland a lineup with size, scoring and versatility all in one place. What makes it especially interesting from the Cavs perspective is how much pressure shifts to the bench battle behind it, where the rest of the rotation is still being sorted out and every spot looks open for competition. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs May Need One More Tough Roster Move After Peyton Watson Deal
The Cavaliers busy summer took another turn with the Peyton Watson sign-and-trade from Denver, a move that sharpened the front offices push to reshape the roster while also tightening the financial squeeze. With the deal comes the hard-cap reality that often follows these kinds of transactions, and it leaves Cleveland looking for ways to keep its books in order as it sorts through the rest of its additions.
Cam Whitmore, brought in as part of the related multi-team trade, has already emerged as the name to watch in that equation. Chris Fedor of cleveland.com reported the Cavaliers have discussed waiving and stretching Whitmore to create enough room to stay under the salary cap apron, a stark reminder that roster-building in this phase is as much about subtraction as it is about talent. Whitmores limited role in his first three NBA seasons only adds to the uncertainty surrounding what Cleveland decides to do next. [Read more 🡒]