What you need to know about Kyrie Irving

The Celtics paid a steep price for Kyrie Irving on Tuesday night in a rare August blockbuster trade in the NBA. While there will be plenty of time to dissect if Irving will be worth the cost, it's important to take a closer look at Irving now and see just exactly what the Celtics are adding to the fold for next season.

The Basics

6-foot-3
Weight: 193 lbs
Age: 25
Experience: 6 seasons
All-Star appearances: 4
Contract: Signed for next two years. Player option for 2019-20.
2016-17 Stats: 25.2 ppg, 5.8 apg, 47.3% FG, 40.1% 3-pt FG

What he can do for Celtics

Shot creation: Outside of Stephen Curry, Irving is one the best backcourt shot creators in the league, particularly when it comes to the postseason. He has averaged 25 points per game for the last two postseasons and has done so with incredible efficiency (41.5% 3-point shooting in playoffs on 5.7 attempts per game). There is no doubt that a lot of those looks become easier when you are playing with the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Love, but Irving has proven time and time again he can create in isolation during crucial spots. In today's NBA, that's what playoff games come down to more often than not and the Celtics just got one of the best in the business.

Efficiency: The point guard is a great finisher from pretty much any spot on the court. He's shot over 45 percent in four of his six seasons, and he's hit 39 percent of his 3-point attempts in four seasons as well. Whether ball is in his hands or he's spotting up to shot, Irving is a lethal scorer who has helped Cleveland be a fairly unstoppable offense for the past few seasons. He'll take on more of a leading role in Boston, but he'll still be supporting by two top notch offensive players for their positions in Al Horford and Gordon Hayward.

Taking care of the ball: Like Thomas, Irving is an elite ballhandler. His turnover rate has decreased in each of his first six seasons, despite the fact his usage has increased over that time span as well. He's got a terrific handle, which helps to create opportunities for himself and his teammates all over the floor.

Potential drawbacks

Health: Irving has struggled with staying on his court at times dating back to his time at Duke (saw the floor for just 11 games during his only season). He played under 60 games in three of his six NBA seasons, which included various injuries to his knee, finger, toe, wrist, and shoulder. A fractured left kneecap ended his 2015 NBA Finals early as the Cavs eventually fell to the Warriors in six games. One of the most important abilities in the NBA is availability and that has been a weak spot for Irving throughout his career thus far.

Defense: Irving is an upgrade over Thomas on the defensive end, largely because of his 6-foot-3 frame. However, he won't be strengthening the backcourt much in that area, particularly during the regular season. The guard has a tendency to get stuck on screens and his effort at times fell in line with a lackluster Cavs defense overall during the 2016-17 regular season. That could change in Boston under Brad Stevens though. He's shown flashes of brilliance when he's engaged in the postseason (see: 2016 NBA Finals), but Irving isn't a star because of his play on this end of the floor.

Wasn't a winner until LeBron showed up: Irving wanted to get out of the shadow of LeBron James in Cleveland, but that still doesn't change the fact that he couldn't win without him during his first three NBA seasons. The Cavs maxed out at 33 wins over those campaigns with Irving as a top young dog. A lot has changed now, obviously. Irving is better. He's going to have much better players around him in Boston now compared to the pre-LeBron years and a far better coach in Brad Stevens than Byron Scott or Mike Brown. Still, Irving hasn't proven anything yet without LeBron and until he does, that label will follow him around.