CLEVELAND -- The blockbuster trade, delayed and in jeopardy of dying, is done: Kyrie Irving is headed to the Celtics, Isaiah Thomas is coming to the Cavaliers and the NBA can take a well-earned, late-summer break.
For a minute.
Concerned with medical findings after looking at Thomas' injured right hip, the Cavs have negotiated another draft pick from Boston to compete the mega-deal that stalled, the teams announced in a joint statement early Thursday.
The teams modified the original deal and Cleveland will also get a second-round pick in 2020 from the Celtics, a pick it acquired from Miami.
"The trade is now complete," the teams said in their statement.
After days of uncertainty, both sides can move forward toward a 2017 season that will start with the Cavs hosting the Celtics on Oct. 17.
The teams had a deadline of 10 a.m. Thursday to agree on the trade, which was prompted by Irving demanded to be dealt in July. New Cavs general manager Koby Altman pulled it off by sending the team's second-best player to the Celtics for Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and an unconditional first-round pick next year.
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The Cavs had balked at pushing the Aug. 22 trade through last week after Thomas underwent a physical. He tore a labrum last season in the playoffs against Cleveland, and it's possible he might not be ready for the start of the season (see full story).
Timberwolves: Roth hired as head coach of G-League team
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves have named Scott Roth as the coach of the inaugural Iowa Wolves G-League team.
The Timberwolves announced the hiring on Wednesday. Roth will oversee coaching of the team after the Timberwolves purchased the minor league team in Des Moines.
Roth was a player on the original Timberwolves team in 1989-90 and has been an assistant coach for seven different NBA teams. He spent last season as a scout for the Timberwolves.
Roth will be charged with installing a system in Iowa that mimics the one coach Tom Thibodeau runs with the Timberwolves. That way any young player who spends time in Iowa will be better prepared when he is called up to play for the NBA team.
It will be Roth's second stint in the G-League. He coached Bakersfield in 2008.
