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Cleveland Cavaliers week in review: The case for a Thomas trade, the Cavaliers’ lost identity, and the threat of the Boston Celtics

By Jason Timpf

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 1: Head Coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with the players during a time at during the game against the Indiana Pacers on November 1, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 1: Head Coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with the players during a time at during the game against the Indiana Pacers on November 1, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 18: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers react to a foul against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena on January 18, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 18: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers react to a foul against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena on January 18, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Another up and down week for the Cleveland Cavaliers has ended with a much-needed victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Boston Celtics have been preordained as champs of the East and the trade deadline is rapidly approaching. Here is your week in review:

The case for trading Isaiah Thomas

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaiah Thomas find themselves in the unfortunate position of having conflicting goals. Not in the superficial, press-conference-safe kind of way, but behind the scenes.

Obviously, everyone involved wants to win a championship this season, but there are long-term effects at stake for both sides.

If you’ve watched the Cavs at all since his return, you’ve probably noticed Isaiah’s questionable shot selection. But you have to remember that despite his incredible run over the past few years, Isaiah has never made over $8 million in a single season.

Isaiah Thomas is playing for his next — and possibly his last — long-term deal.

You would think the best-case scenario for Cleveland’s front office is that Isaiah returns to something close to his Boston form, and ends up fitting well alongside the others. But even if Isaiah manages to pull this off — and it doesn’t look good so far — the Cavaliers would have to make a tough decision regarding his free agency.

Isaiah will be a nearly 30-year-old, 5-foot-9 point guard this summer. It is a high-risk deal for any team to take on, let alone a rookie general manager like Koby Altman.

And to be clear, for all of the reasons mentioned above, if Altman doesn’t offer Isaiah the max, Isaiah will go where he can get the max, as he should.

I will not judge Isaiah Thomas if he chases the money this summer. This is his last shot at generational wealth. He can set up his family for decades to come. He has an obligation to his loved ones to leave everything on the table in pursuit of that deal.

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Isaiah doesn’t owe Cleveland anything. But the flip side of that is Cleveland doesn’t owe Isaiah anything either.

Koby Altman has one thing on his mind: the future of Cavalier basketball. Every day he makes gambles in the war room based on whether or not LeBron will remain in Cleveland after this season.

The difference is that gambling on LeBron is a safer gamble than gambling on Isaiah Thomas.

So, Altman finds himself with two options. He can keep Isaiah — and run the risk of either overpaying him, losing him in free agency, or him never returning to form to begin with, or he can trade him.

The irony of this situation is that trading Isaiah turns a conflicting situation into a mutually beneficial one. Isaiah is a valuable asset. He’s an expiring contract and, for the next 30 games or so, he’s the best $6 million point guard money can buy.

From Isaiah’s perspective, his best chance at earning a max deal is to be on a team where he is the first option.

The Cavaliers should trade Thomas. It’s the only option that makes sense. If you can get Kemba Walker or George Hill, you might be better off this season anyway.