CLEVELAND -- New Cavaliers forward Jae Crowder's mother died of cancer Tuesday evening, the same night he was traded here from Boston.

Helen Thompson, 51, lived outside of Atlanta. Crowder asked for prayers for his family via Twitter on August 13 -- an obvious sign his mother's disease had worsened.

A source close to Crowder confirmed his mother's death to cleveland.com.

PRAY FOR ME & MY FAMILY.!! [?] [?] [?] [?] -- JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) August 14, 2017

Our prayers go out to Jae Crowder and his family. Yesterday he lost his mother, Helen, to a long battle with cancer. Stay Strong Jae! [?] [?] pic.twitter.com/tMvH87sCFs -- Leading Sports Media (@LeadingSports_) August 23, 2017

Crowder, Isaiah Thomas, and Ante Zizic were traded to the Cavs Tuesday evening for Kyrie Irving. Crowder is 27 and has played five pro seasons, the last three with the Celtics. He obviously hasn't had much time or mental space to process being traded to Cleveland, where he'll play with LeBron James and Kevin Love.

The Cavs are hoping to hold an introductory press conference with Thomas and Crowder some time in the next week or two.