This post was originally published on this site
How did the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers put themselves in position to make the biggest trade of the NBA season? It’s because of the many trades both teams made over many seasons—including one with each other that’s more important in retrospect than it was at the time. This was a move that happened gradually and then suddenly.
The transformational deal that sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn’s 2018 draft pick to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving wouldn’t have been possible if not for another…