Cavs reportedly reduce demands for additional compensation in Kyrie Irving trade

The Cavaliers appear to be reducing their requests for additional compensation from the Celtics in the Kyrie Irving deal, according to a new report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. Initial reports earlier this week had the Cavaliers checking on the status of young lottery picks like Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown in a potential revisit of the deal, but Wojnarowski indicates that those demands have been reduced to a late first-round pick or second-round considerations as the two teams re-engaged in talks on Tuesday.



Isaiah Thomas made his first public post-trade comments to Wojnarowski in the piece, and defended himself against the question marks that have been raised by the Cavs as they consider their options following his physical.

"There's never been an indication that I wouldn't be back, and there's never been an indication that this is something messing up my career," Thomas told ESPN. "Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I'm going to be back, and I'm going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that."

Former Cavs general manager David Griffin also made an appearance on Sirius XM NBA Radio on Tuesday night and indicated the belief that this deal would get done.

"I think that trade is so good that if Isaiah is not ready immediately, it's not going to be a sign that it was a bad deal for Cleveland," Griffin said. "I think they still follow through because the Crowder piece is so good in terms of value to production, and the value of that Brooklyn pick is exceptional as well. Koby has made a great trade here no matter how this plays out, but I do think there must be worry on the part of Cleveland, or this wouldn't be held up like this."

BSJ Analysis: Another day, another signal that the Cavs are inching closer to acceptable middle ground in regards to realistic additional compensation on the Irving deal. As I wrote over the weekend, my belief is that this deal gets done if it comes down to simply adding a second-round pick to the trade for Boston to satisfy Cleveland's worries about Thomas. However, it is evident we have not reached that point yet as Cleveland continues to posture in the media.

With crunch time coming tomorrow night (the deadline for original deal approval is Thursday morning), the pressure will begin to ramp up for both sides. The Celtics will have to figure out just how hard a line they want to draw in the sand and if they're willing to call the Cavs' bluff if they demand more than a second-round pick. The longer this drags out, the larger possibility that there is really damage being done here with Thomas (if the deal goes through). With one team publicly voicing such a big question mark about his health, he's bound to come under far closer scrutiny when he reaches the free agent market next summer.

In the meantime, both sides likely believe they hold some strong leverage over the others. The Cavs know it would be extremely tough for the Celtics to mend fences with Thomas and Crowder. The Celtics know the Cavs probably aren't going to find a better deal for Irving elsewhere. The guess here is that this deal gets done with a second-round pick added to the mix. But the possibility both sides don't come off their demands can't be ruled out.