I mean, is this any worse than Ainge basically saying that they traded IT because of his injury? Isn't that just as bad if you want to talk about "reputation"? It's a business. The players all know it. That Ainge and Gilbert view these guys as commodities and little else isn't exactly blowing anybody's minds.
So the Cavs agreed to the trade originally after Boston disclosed all of the medical records knowing full well that IT's hip wasn't in good shape. Meaning they knew what they were getting into, and then after their own physical apparently things seemed 'worse' and you started hearing rumors of IT never playing at a high level again to IT missing a season. It was all a ploy to force the Celtics' hand into higher end assets. The Cavs ending up with a second rounder after pushing this for a week, to me, just proves the Cavs didn't really see much different in their physical than what the Celtics originally let them know about. They attempted to use IT's physical, which they probably always knew was going to fail based on the records the Celtics gave them, to their advantage post trade agreement.
It just comes across as sketchy and poor treatment to me.
At first I gave the Cavs the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe IT's injury really was that bad. Ending up with only a second rounder makes me reverse any benefit of the doubt I gave them.
So I admit I may have exaggerated how it impacts IT's future, but I don't think it is a great way to treat your new player. That's all.
