Boston Celtics confident Kyrie Irving's 'best years ahead of him'

Celtics acquire Irving in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and rights to Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick.

FILE - In this June 7, 2017, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) is guarded by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland. Irving gets his new address and Isaiah Thomas gets to play with LeBron. They both can say they won in this Celtics-Cavs blockbuster deal. But the sum of the parts says Cleveland got the better of Boston in this swap of All-Star point guards. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, left, gets his new address after moving to Boston. Ron Schwane / AP Photo

Agence France Presse

Aug 23, 2017

The Boston Celtics signed Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday in a blockbuster trade that saw Isaiah Thomas head in the opposition direction, the Celtics confirmed.

The Celtics said they had acquired Irving in exchange for Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, centre Ante Zizic and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick.

A taste of what's to come ☘️ https://t.co/BzP3OgoQ28
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 23, 2017

"Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA. He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years," Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said.

"He's been an NBA champion, an Olympic gold medallist, and a four-time All-Star. For all he's accomplished, we think his best years are ahead of him."

Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck meanwhile paid tribute to the contribution of the departing Thomas and Crowder, key performers for Boston last season as they finished first in the Eastern Conference.

"Isaiah and Jae have been a huge part of our success," he said. "Isaiah's play-off performance under very difficult circumstances will live on in history, and we wish them all the best."

Jake Badger: Kyrie Irving's Cavs career

Kyrie Irving, a former Duke basketball player, is congratulated after being take with the No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

2011 - Selected number 1 in the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, after playing 1 year in college with Duke. Julio Cortez / AP Photo

Irving's request for a move away from Cleveland and LeBron James stunned the NBA when it was confirmed in July.

The Cavaliers have made it to the NBA Finals in each of the last three seasons, beating Golden State once and losing on two other occasions.

A big THANK YOU from the entire organization & we wish you well in the next chapter of your career. pic.twitter.com/7PDqLJgMQ9
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) August 23, 2017

The Celtics meanwhile topped the Eastern Conference last season but were beaten by Cleveland in five games in the play-offs.

Playmaker Thomas missed the last three games of the series after suffering a hip injury and is reportedly struggling to be fit for the start of the new season in October.

Irving, 25, who averaged 25.2 points on 47.3 per cent shooting and 5.8 assists last season, has three years and US$60 million (Dh220.3m) remaining on his contract.

Thomas, third in the NBA last season with an average of 28.9 points, will be a free agent after the 2017/18 campaign.