Boston Exchanged a Broad Package for Irving
The Celtics acquired Kyrie Irving from Cleveland in an August 2017 blockbuster, sending Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Žižić and a future first-round choice. After questions about Thomas's hip injury, the teams amended the package to include another second-round selection. Boston wanted a younger elite offensive guard who could create late-game shots and fit with its developing wings. Cleveland chose additional players and draft assets after Irving requested a different team, hoping to retain competitive depth while preparing for roster changes.
Irving Delivered Scoring but Only a Two-Year Stay
Irving was an All-Star-level offensive talent for Boston, creating difficult shots and helping the Celtics remain competitive. His tenure also came with a serious limitation: knee problems kept him out of the team's 2018 playoff run, and he departed for Brooklyn after the 2018-19 season. Boston therefore received two regular seasons rather than a long-term franchise guard. Those Celtics contributions were real and often impressive, but they must be measured against the cost of several players and a valuable first-round right.
Cleveland Obtained Sexton After Shorter Veteran Returns
Thomas's injury prevented him from reproducing his peak Boston scoring in Cleveland, while Crowder and Žižić were more limited fits. The most enduring Cavaliers asset became the 2018 No. 8 draft selection, used on Collin Sexton. Sexton developed into a productive young scorer during his Cleveland seasons and gave the club value beyond the initial veteran experiments. The 2020 second-round selection had its own draft-rights path and should not be treated as proof the Cavaliers developed Skylar Mays's later NBA career.
The Narrow Edge Recognizes Two Real Returns
Irving offered Boston the highest immediate level of offensive creation in the package, even though his exit shortened the payoff. Cleveland collected a productive young guard from the draft choice after several incoming veterans failed to establish longer careers there. That makes the trade far less one-sided than Irving's superstar profile might imply. The inherited modest Celtics advantage weighs Irving's All-Star seasons against the risk of using a top-eight pick and multiple players to obtain only a short window with the guard.
Final Verdict
Slight Celtics Edge. Boston receives B+ for two seasons of Kyrie Irving's elite offensive skill, tempered by his 2018 postseason absence and eventual departure. Cleveland gets B for Collin Sexton's productive young-guard tenure and other acquired assets, even though Thomas and Crowder had disappointing stays. Both franchises received value; the Celtics gained the stronger immediate star while the Cavaliers retained more future flexibility.