Jae Crowder respects Boston Celtics for trade to Cavaliers

Former Boston Celtics swing forward Jae Crowder saw the writing on the wall prior to his trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When all is said and done, Jae Crowder gets to play for a championship contender and with LeBron James.  On Thursday, the former Boston Celtics swingman was officially introduced to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a press conference.

As part of the blockbuster trade that also included teammates Isaiah Thomas and Ante Zizic sent to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving, Crowder opened up about his mother’s death and the trade itself.

While the timing of the trade was understandable to the new Cavaliers forward, it also came at a difficult time for Crowder and his family.  His mother, Helen, passed away just minutes after the blockbuster trade rocked the NBA world.

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

“There was a lot going on that day, obviously,” Crowder told the Cleveland media.  “The good thing about the whole ordeal was I was able to whisper it to my mom before she passed.  I was with her.  I just told her, ‘We’re going to Cleveland.’  Five minutes later, she passed.  That day was tough, but it was a good day for myself, for my basketball career, to move on to an organization like this, like the Cleveland Cavaliers, to put myself in a position to play for it all.  I couldn’t ask myself for nothing else.  I was thankful for Boston, for everything they’ve done for me, and for trading me to a team like this.  I was thankful for the opportunity.  But that day was pretty wild.”

It was a day Crowder will always see as a transitional moment in his life.  The 27-year-old forward established his NBA career in Boston.  He, along with Isaiah Thomas, led the Celtics back to respectability quicker than most imagined.  Now, he will join the one team Boston is trying to get past.

The writing was on the wall

With the additions of Gordon Hayward and rookie Jayson Tatum, Crowder pretty much knew his days in Boston were numbered.

Rumored in a deal with the Utah Jazz as a sign-and-trade for Hayward, Crowder was concerned about his role on the team.  He worried about his playing time and asked the organization for more clarity about his future with the team.

“I was a little concerned,” Crowder said.  “We had a lot of wing players stacked up.  It was a little concerning.  I made it clear to the organization that I was concerned about it and just wanted more direction.  I think they gave it to me with the trade.  They showed me what they wanted to do.  I respected it.”

There is no doubt Jae Crowder will be motivated to stick it to his old team now that he is playing alongside King James.  That is the type of competitive player he is.

But, it is also good to see that he appreciates his time with the Boston Celtics and understands both sides had to go their separate ways for continued growth.