The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal to acquire Quincy Pondexter and a second round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans.

Pondexter has been injured during the past two seasons.

The Pelicans are creating a roster spot and dropping below the hard cap in unloading Pondexter.

With Solomon Hill likely out for the season, the Pelicans need to find healthy wings. The Pelicans have interest in signing Dante Cunningham.

According to multiple sources that spoke with The Ringer, Dan Gilbert was in charge of the decision-making on the Cleveland Cavaliers' trade of Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, Brooklyn's 2018 first round pick and Miami's 2020 second round pick.

The Cavaliers hired Koby Altman as general manager after Chauncey Billups decided not to take the job as president of basketball operations.

“A state of organizational chaos is Gilbert’s M.O.,” one executive told The Ringer. “Gilbert thinks he’s the protagonist in the story of the Cavaliers, when, in reality, he’s the antagonist.”

The Cavaliers sought extra assets from the Celtics following Thomas' physical. For the Cavaliers, however, the most coveted assets in the deal were Crowder and Brooklyn's pick.

According to a source, the Celtics priced Thomas' injury into the initial offer of the Nets' pick and Crowder.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have reached a final agreement on their Kyrie Irving trade.

The Celtics will send a 2020 second round pick from the Miami Heat in addition to the previously agreed upon deal of Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn's 2018 first round pick for Irving.

Cleveland sought an extra asset from the Celtics following their examination of Thomas, who is recovering from an injured hip.

The Boston Celtics considered trading for Jimmy Butler, but sources say they had some concerns over how he would mesh with Gordon Hayward both on the court and as personalities. 

Boston could have comfortably beat the Minnesota Timberwolves' offer of Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and a pick swap.

The Celtics also had interest in Paul George, but there was a fear he would leave for the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in 2018.

Boston also has Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as high lottery picks on the wing.

In an offseason where Paul George and Jimmy Butler were traded by the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls for disappointing returns, the Boston Celtics decided to blow those trade packages out of the water by sending Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn's 2018 first round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.

According to one general manager, Irving would have to become a top-10 player in the NBA to equal the value of what Boston send to the Cavaliers.

Cleveland also sought either Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum in the trade.

While Irving is a consistent All-Star and one of the best playmakers in the NBA, he is not widely considered to be a top-10 player.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could be inclined to complete their trade with the Boston Celtics for a late first-round pick or second-round considerations.

The Cavaliers and Celtics began discussions on an amended trade on Tuesday.

Cleveland was previously seeking one of the Celtics' top young players such as Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, or significant draft picks after examining Isaiah Thomas.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have not been in touch since reports surfaced more trade compensation would be needed to complete their trade of Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick.

Cleveland began to seek additional compensation after examining Thomas, who is recovering from a hip injury.

The sides have until Thursday to void the deal, agree upon an amended trade or extend the deadline.

The Celtics don't have a contingency plan in place on how to handle the stalemate.

Boston feels like they were transparent with Koby Altman when a trade agreement was reached about the timeline of when Thomas can return.

The Celtics refused to trade either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown during initial talks with the Cavaliers and they're unlikely to include them now.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are attempting to have the Boston Celtics add either Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum to the Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn's 2018 first round pick.

After the Cavaliers examined Thomas, they began seeking an amended trade price for Irving. Thomas suffered a hip injury in May and may not be ready for the start of the season.

“Now, Cleveland is going to try to inquire about a couple of the Celtics’ young players, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, who they tried to get in the original trade, that is very unlikely,” Adrian Wojnarowski said. “But Boston still has a war chest of future first-round picks of their own, and some picks they control from other teams, and Cleveland is going to try to get one more of those to finalize this deal.” 

Wojnarowski added the Celtics will resist improving their offer for Irving.

“Boston is resisting, and are going to initially at least, resist this idea,” Wojnarowski said. “Boston believes that it was completely transparent with Cleveland about where Thomas was physically, his rehab. Cleveland’s version of this is that they didn’t realize how long Thomas could potentially be out this season. He’s in the final year of his contract, and obviously, that matches up with what will likely be the final year of LeBron’s current deal, and so there’s going to be a showdown here between these two teams that may last a couple more days.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers are seeking further compensation from the Boston Celtics following the physical of Isaiah Thomas. The Cavaliers could elect to veto the trade if the Celtics don't agree to send additional assets.

The Celtics and Cavaliers agreed to a trade this week of Kyrie Irving for Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn's 2018 first round pick.

The deadline to report and submit to a physical for the players involved in the trade is 10 a.m. on Wednesday, and the deadline to pass the physical is 10 a.m. on Thursday. 

Thomas was forced out of the Eastern Conference Finals in May due to a hip injury that he hasn't had surgically repaired this offseason. Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent in 2018. The Celtics operated under the assumption that they were clear with the Cavaliers on the physical status of Thomas. Danny Ainge admitted that the injury status of Thomas played some role in the decision to trade him.

Irving requested a trade from the Cavaliers in July and it took them approximately a month to agree upon the trade with Boston.

This week's blockbuster trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics involving Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick has moved into an uncertain situation following the physical of Thomas.

Thomas was examined in Cleveland on Friday as he rehabs his season-ending hip injury. Thomas has yet to begin running this offseason.

"It's a very sensitive situation," said one source.

Danny Ainge admitted that Thomas' injury played "some" part in the Celtics making the trade.

Irving is scheduled to take his physical with the Celtics on Saturday.

As of Saturday morning, the Cavaliers have yet to re-engage the Celtics on an amended trade.