Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas is set to hit free agency after next season but he’s willing to put aside his contractual situation in order for the team to upgrade in other areas.
Thomas, 28, has evolved into one of the NBA’s biggest bargains: he signed a four-year, $27MM deal in 2014 before he was the third leading scorer in the league, this year averaging 28.9 PPG for Boston. The Washington native’s current deal expires after the 2017/18 campaign but the team comes before him, Thomas said to Chris Forsberg of ESPN.
“We need the best possible player that’s gonna help us win, and I’m with that,” Thomas said. “Anything Danny [Ainge] and this organization need me to do to help bring even more talent to this city, I’m all for that. I want to win a championship, and being so close to getting to the Finals, that makes you want it that much more.”
Thomas missed the final three games of the Celtics’ five-game Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Cavaliers due to a hip injury. Before the injury, however, Thomas led the team past the Bulls in six games and the Wizards in seven games. In the regular season, the Celtics were able to sneak past the Cavaliers to finish with the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
A lot of Thomas’ run has been unprecedented; Ainge reportedly considered trading Thomas for a draft pick last year and now he’s generally viewed as the team’s best player. Entering this offseason, the Celtics own the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, and are expected to select Washington’s Markelle Fultz.
There will be a lot of speculation in regards to Thomas’ future in Beantown but his preference is to stay put and help the Celtics hang their 18th championship banner.
“I love this team and I don’t think anybody in this organization would think this team is better without me,” he said. “I don’t even think my teammates would say that.”
Well they aren’t upgrading the front court this draft. So where are they upgrading? PG, SG, SF, and whatever you want to call Horford F/C. All set. Time to trade Rozier or Jackson for a Center. Noel & Nurkic went cheap. Forget PG13 go get Myles Turner.
I still would rather they go after Andre Drummond ya he makes 22 but he gives you what we desperately need right now and he’s not a player that demands the ball
Hes expensive and a liability at the end of games. I mean you draft small guys very well and you have a surplus if you believe you can find guards in the future then why not trade for a season or two seasons of a semi proven big? I think F/C is harder to hit on in the draft than a guard. So many busts at the top of the draft are F/C. If you have guard desperate teams with a surplus of bigs it just makes too much senses. which is why it didnt happen. like sometimes a gm may be too smart for his own good.
I think they could get him without giving up the 1 and the C’s have a bad history of draft picks of late who can you real say they drafted in the past 10 or so yrs that are all stars (not counting the one who were trade and became ones ) so they may need to take a different route
Other than Paul and Rondo
Ainge has only been there since 2003 and Rondo was actually traded for. And Pierce was drafted in 1998.
Decent players he’s drafted (not all stayed with the C’s) are Tony Allen, Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, Gerald Green, Jeff Green, Avery Bradley, E’Twaun Moore, Jared Sullinger, Lucas Nogueira, Marcus Smart, Marcus Thornton. We’ll see on Rozier, Jackson, and Brown. They also drafted a LOT of draft & stash guys lately b/c of the draft pick surplus so no clue what they become.
But really he’s made great trades.
Trading for Antoine Walker, Rajon Rando, Ray Allen, Garnett, Olynyk, Crowder, and IT4. And then all of the picks he’s moved along the way have made it so he could draft most of the players they have now, and to make these trades.
Like a guy he could land on draft day for little would be a Vucevic who does provide defense.
Walker was drafted by the C’s and like said he’s drafted no all stars traded for a few but never drafted he’s never hit a home run when it come to the draft sorry but it’s true
Bradley was a really good pick for late in the first round too.
We need a skilled big man. Porzingas fits that mold.