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Dan Gilbert pleased with Irving trade

Milwaukee Bucks v Boston Celtics - Game Four

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics back in 2017, and many viewed Boston as the major winners of the deal. However, speaking to The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert labelled the trade as a success:

It becomes a melting snowball. We had to trade him when we did. What team would want Kyrie with only one year on his contract knowing he could leave after the season? You won’t get much back. The agent was telling us, if we don’t trade him, there is some surgery he is on the borderline of having on his knee. It was possible he could be out for most of the year. It turned out to be true.

I don’t know, but I think Kyrie will leave Boston. We could have ended up with nothing. Looking back after all the moves Koby made, we killed it in that trade.

Irving has averaged 24.1 points, 6.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game during his two seasons in Boston, although he is expected to leave this summer.