The NBA and TNT have hit the jackpot with blockbuster Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade

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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have pulled off a blockbuster trade involving All-Star point guards Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas, a potential top pick in the NBA Draft, and two other players.

While the debate will rage over which of the Eastern Conference title contenders got the better end of the deal, two of the winners are already known — the NBA and TNT.

The NBA released its 2017-18 scheduled a week ago and the first game of the season will feature, you guessed it, the Celtics playing the Cavaliers.

The 2017-18 season will tip off on October 17 with a double-header on TNT. The first game of that double-header will be the Cavs at home against the Celtics.

The game was already a marquee rematch of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. Now it has the added drama of Irving going against LeBron James and fan-favorite Thomas going against his old team. 

In other words, the ratings will be through the roof.

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See Also:

• LeBron James goes on tweet storm after Celtics fans start burning the jerseys of new teammate Isaiah Thomas

• The biggest winners and losers of the blockbuster trade that's sending Kyrie Irving to the Celtics and Isaiah Thomas to the Cavs

• The Cavaliers and Celtics are 'seriously discussing' a blockbuster trade involving their All-Star point guards