Cavs trade with Celtics reportedly about keeping LeBron James in Cleveland

The Cavaliers' trade with the Celtics didn't specifically involve unloading Kyrie Irving or acquiring Isaiah Thomas. The trade had everything to do with reassuring LeBron James that Cleveland had a plan moving forward past 2018.

According to The Athletic, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is fixated on keeping James in Cleveland. He is set to become a free agent after next season. The goal in making the Irving trade was not about getting Irving out of town to avoid poor team chemistry. It was not about acquiring Thomas, either. It was more to convince James the team was not hitting a wall but instead progressing.

While it was a plus to get Thomas, there are some reports that say the 2017 MVP candidate will not be ready until after the All-Star break. That is why the addition of players such as Jae Crowder who can guard, Ante Zizic who has a ton of potential, and the two draft picks — potentially one in the top five in 2018 and a second rounder in 2020 —are so important.

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So in theory, after the 2018 season is over the Cavaliers would have James, Thomas, Crowder, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith and a top-five pick coming in a stacked draft.

That is what GM Koby Altman wanted. The Cavs wanted to give James the impression that they were set up for the future. The draft picks do that at the least, and a healthy Thomas would make the deal look even better.