CelticsStrong
Around the League => Around the NBA => Topic started by: tarheelsxxiii on March 19, 2018, 12:49:40 AM
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https://sports.yahoo.com/isaiah-thomas-isnt-ruling-return-024234539.html (https://sports.yahoo.com/isaiah-thomas-isnt-ruling-return-024234539.html)
Isaiah Thomas back in green? Maybe there's a chance after all.
The former Celtics guard, now with the Lakers, started a Q&A session on Twitter and was asked whether he'd consider returning to Boston this offseason. This was his answer...
Isaiah Thomas
@isaiahthomas
Anything can happen
7:14 PM - 18 Mar 2018
That's not a no.
Thomas has had a rough go of it since leaving the Celtics. His brief tenure in Cleveland didn't go according to plan, and things haven't gotten a whole lot better out in L.A. The 29-year-old is averaging 15.3 points per game just a year after averaging 28.9 with Boston.
Seems like he's handling the media well, even with some competitive jawing with Randall this week. What else do you all think of the response? Obviously it's not going to happen, but is IT just paying lip service? Or showing that he's getting over it?
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It’s both lip service and trying to show he over it.
How his career has gone since being traded has humbled him. One year ago he was an MVP-candidate on an elite team. We all know what transpired since, between his personal life, his health, and now his career.
I, unlike some in here, don’t think he deserves it because of his height or some off-the-cuff “Brinks” remark. I feel for the guy. Those who watched him night in and night out know he gave us everything. Seeing how he was treated in Cleveland and then being relegated to the bench in LA I’m sure has made him appreciate Boston once again.
That said, I doubt there is any chance he returns here. He won’t be able to swallow his pride to backup Kyrie. For the MLE (most we could offer), there are plenty of teams that would take him, and for better roles. Don’t think he fits into our plans anymore with Rozier and Smart’s impending free agency.
Best of luck to the little guy, as long as he leaves the Lakers!
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I'm pretty sure we will see flying pigs coming over the horizon before we see IT back in a Celtics uniform, unless it's on the last day of his career if he somehow wants to retire as a Celtic. That ship has sailed.
Even if he was able to get past the fact that he was traded after all he did for the team after his sister died, he's not going to come in as second fiddle to anyone. For anyone who has dreams of him filling in a super sixth man role, it will be a cold day in hell before that happens as he will never accept that after his previous role here, unless it's at the end of his career. And do we want him at the end of his career when he has lost his speed and penetration?
And it was clear that Danny wasn't going to pay him $30m even when he was scoring 30ppg last season and he wants to get paid. His best place to get paid is elsewhere. He may not get the max but he will get good money somewhere if he can show he has recovered from his hip injury.
Kind of sad, I feel for the guy. He gave us everything and had his best year career-wise, and his reward was to get traded and to have his worst year. Not only were his numbers down after recovering from injury, he didn't do his locker room reputation any good with what happened in Cleveland. But he's a strong person and I'm sure he will come back better than ever (somewhere).
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Considering IT is the same guy that just said this less than a week ago, I just don't see how it would ever work. Do people really think he will accept coming off the bench for Boston? Especially when he'd be playing behind the guy who he was traded for to replace him?
“I'm not no sixth man,” he declared in an interview with USA TODAY Sports this week. “And I won't be a sixth man (in the future). I just want everybody to know that, like clear as can be. I'm a two-time All-Star and a starter who has done things that a lot of people in this league haven't done (when) given that opportunity.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/03/15/resilient-lakers-isaiah-thomas-not-no-sixth-man/427514002/
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I mean...he did internally rekt the Cavs. Now waiting for him to internally rekt the Lakers. Two of the franchises that I despise (LeBron and the Lakers).
Then I can be convinced that he's a mole serving for the Celtics. And that is what Danny Ainge spoke about with him in private that one game against the Cavs.
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IT would be a championship level 6th Man
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IT would be a championship level 6th Man
I always thought the same.
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All history aside, there are basic roster reasons why it's highly unlikely we'd see IT playing for the Celtics anytime soon.
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Typical IT. Sure he's not ruling out a Celtics return. Its the Celtics ruling out an IT return.....
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Can someone please put up that pic of Jim Carrey's dorky character saying "So you are telling me there is a chance?"
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(http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/840/283/350.png)
Haha there is a chance, but in all likelihood I'd say he resigns with Lakers when LA strikes out with all big free agents. I'd theorise that Pacers and Clippers are his only other options and we could be a short term fix if he strikes out with them. 6th man behind Irving for a championship contender is much more acceptable than a kid like Ball and given Irving's track record I am sure Thomas could start on many occasions.
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Ugh I’d love that. He’d destroy second units and easily get 18-20 PPG. But he deserves more than the MLE if he can get his hip right. Not saying he should get maxed out...but he will easily get more ona team like the Nets or Pacers. But if he wanted to win....
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He should go play for the Spurs for whatever money they give him, and sign as many endorsement deals as possible. Any endorsement at all, regardless of how dumb the product is. If he can hold off from buying the mansion replete with help staff, his contract and endorsement money should be able to last him for life.
I'm not worried about IT. He should be worried about us.
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IT would be a championship level 6th Man
I always thought the same.
You know that, I know that, DA and Stevens knows that but Isiah won't accept that. He feels he is a starter earning a max. Even if no one offers him the max he should get 10-15 per year. The C's cannot afford that. Even if he'd accept the mid level because no one is offering him a contract he would not fit. The C's need to resign Baynes and need big men. Kyrie would have to sign off on IT. It has about a 0.0% chance of happening. I wish IT the best and after the year he has had I'd be shocked if he did not sign a 1 year deal to show he is healthy to earn his final pay day. No matter what happens I doubt he is ever in green again unless he signs with Milwakee.
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I would love to have Isaiah back as a 6th man. However, I doubt that he will accept such a role and another team will also (most likely) offer him more money than the MLE.
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Hahahahahaha! I cannot see any scenario where Danny thinks bringing IT and his ego back to the Celtics. Unfortunately for him, in this case, anything is not possible.
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Hahahahahaha! I cannot see any scenario where Danny thinks bringing IT and his ego back to the Celtics. Unfortunately for him, in this case, anything is not possible.
Actually, I think Ainge liked Isaiah a lot during his tenure with the Celtics. However, he might have changed his view on IT after his stints with the Cavs and Lakers.
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Hahahahahaha! I cannot see any scenario where Danny thinks bringing IT and his ego back to the Celtics. Unfortunately for him, in this case, anything is not possible.
Actually, I think Ainge liked Isaiah a lot during his tenure with the Celtics. However, he might have changed his view on IT after his stints with the Cavs and Lakers.
Not saying he didn't. But this is a different team. They play a different sort of ball than last year's team. Its clearly Kyrie and Horford's team, and to a lesser extent Hayward's. There isn't room for Isaiah and his massive me first attitude.
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Hahahahahaha! I cannot see any scenario where Danny thinks bringing IT and his ego back to the Celtics. Unfortunately for him, in this case, anything is not possible.
Well, Ainge did bring back Antoine after he called him a snake, so...
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Hahahahahaha! I cannot see any scenario where Danny thinks bringing IT and his ego back to the Celtics. Unfortunately for him, in this case, anything is not possible.
Well, Ainge did bring back Antoine after he called him a snake, so...
Yeah, I don't think Ainge is the type to let any previous acrimony between a player and himself get in the way of bringing said player back if it was in the best interest of the team. Ainge rarely ever seems to let emotion rule his decision making.
But as I alluded to in a previous post, I just don't see a role for Thomas on this team he would accept. He isn't going to supplant Kyrie as the starter, yet seems to be of the belief a sixth-man role is beneath him.
But who knows,maybe after a few more years of being humbled, he'll eventually come to the realization that being a sixth-man is a role he is best suited for at this point.
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I wouldn't mind at all!
However, he'd HAVE to accept a more limited role here (6th man) and would likely have to take a paycut to come back (though I'm not even sure if offering him the MLE is the wise move considering we may need it to keep Baynes or another big on this roster, which is honestly a pressing need).
Or maybe Danny deals Rozier for a young, cost-controlled big this offseason while extending Smart (no, not for A. Davis lol).
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Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder would be brought back before IT and there is no chance either of them will be back on the C's team. One of Smart and TRozier will be resigned. No cap space for anyone other then rookies, vet minimum contracts.
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IT probably ends up signing a deal like JJ Reddick signed this year where he signs for one year on a huge dollar amount and he starts for that team. I wouldn't put it past Philly to do it. He ain't coming back here
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3 year deal at 10 million a year w/ a no trade clause.
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IT probably ends up signing a deal like JJ Reddick signed this year where he signs for one year on a huge dollar amount and he starts for that team. I wouldn't put it past Philly to do it. He ain't coming back here
That's a decent possibility. I could picture some team that either strikes out on their primary FA targets, or just doesn't even stand a chance at getting a top target in the first place, taking a shot on IT in the hopes he can regain his former glory.
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6th man or it's a no go. He would make a fine weapon...off the bench.
If he insists that he is a starter...I'll pass.
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IT probably ends up signing a deal like JJ Reddick signed this year where he signs for one year on a huge dollar amount and he starts for that team. I wouldn't put it past Philly to do it. He ain't coming back here
I agree. Philly would be a great spot for him as a backup to Ben Simmons. He'd be a very good complement as a guy that can shoot and score at will.
If I'm IT, I'm banking on myself with a short term deal worth over $10m per year.
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I wonder if he was causing issues here sometimes, I never heard of much in regards to that but one wonders if Ainge would want him back.
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I wonder if he was causing issues here sometimes, I never heard of much in regards to that but one wonders if Ainge would want him back.
I don't think he caused any trouble while playing here. Remember, Ainge made a huge effort to give him a video tribute during the 'Paul Pierce jersey retirement game'. I don't think he would have done that for a troublemaker.
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Would love to see it but IT needs to get the biggest payday he can and I don't think that's in Boston.
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Im not ruling IT out ,
If he would sign with anyone for a mutal deal....
IT would be the Celtics.
He knows where home is. ;)
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It’s both lip service and trying to show he over it.
How his career has gone since being traded has humbled him. One year ago he was an MVP-candidate on an elite team. We all know what transpired since, between his personal life, his health, and now his career.
I, unlike some in here, don’t think he deserves it because of his height or some off-the-cuff “Brinks” remark. I feel for the guy. Those who watched him night in and night out know he gave us everything. Seeing how he was treated in Cleveland and then being relegated to the bench in LA I’m sure has made him appreciate Boston once again.
That said, I doubt there is any chance he returns here. He won’t be able to swallow his pride to backup Kyrie. For the MLE (most we could offer), there are plenty of teams that would take him, and for better roles. Don’t think he fits into our plans anymore with Rozier and Smart’s impending free agency.
Best of luck to the little guy, as long as he leaves the Lakers!
Agreed on all counts. This response to a twitter question falls in line with efforts to present himself in a favorable light before the offseason. But he also speaks his mind, and so I doubt he would've made the comment if he still harbored a lot of resentment.
He's contributing to wins in LA and seems to be regaining his footing. I hope the best for him.