we Owe it to being back IT

[csfansince60s]

Been following the Cs for 60 years (first game in fall of ‘59 vs Warriors)

IT is in my top 5 Cs of all time...maybe even top 3 with Russ and Bird.

The guy sacrificed his body/career for this team.

We OWE him.

Heart of a champion.

After he left, Hayward injury/Kyrie poison did us in.

Reverse the curse.

Sign IT.

Wowzer. That is a HUGE call (that deserves to be respected, by the way).

I'm just trying to think if he would accept a (large) bench role. Something like 1 plus 1 (player option) at like 8 per should do it. If Kemba or Jrue or even Terry take over the starting role, I could actually get on board with this, but I don't like the idea of putting him straight in the starting role.

I still think we are contenders regardless what happens with Kyrie and Al, and having IT as your starting point guard does not win you a championship.

TP for much sensibility and pragmatism with a touch of loyalty and sentimentality thrown in.

[ederson]

We owe Thomas exactly nothing. He was paid well for his time here and I am sure IT cashed in on some endorsements and side deals because Boston gave him the opportunity to become a star.

Love Thomas. He was a great Celtic. But his time here is passed and it's best to move on. Heck, we just drafted an IT clone in Edwards. Then we added another tiny PG with Waters. We don't need three six foot or less shoot first PGs on the 17 man roster with all three fighting to be the 3rd PG and a 5th guard in a five man guard rotation.

It's sad what has happened to IT because of his injury. I wish he could have cashed in but the timing of the injury was as bad as it could be for him. But Boston shouldn't feel like we owe Thomas anything. That relationship swung both ways and Thomas made a lot of money because Boston gave him his first chance to be the man on a team.

IT killed it here. In an alternate universe, I am sure there is a world where IT was never hurt and stayed healthy and was traded for Kyrie and IT went to the ECFs and lost to eventual champion Boston Celtics because Hayward never broke his leg and that team went on to dominate the league in 2018.

I agree but I'd still offer him a contract. Not because the team owes it to him but he is guy who deserves another chance even if he looks done. We ve seen this happening with many other players not even remotely likeable as IT

[LilRip]

Sign him for the minimum if we need PG depth. He can be a 3rd stringer and a shot of energy.

Now if he’s dissatisfied with his role, we should definitely release him.

[moiso]

It sounds weird because he was out of the rotation for playoff push and the playoffs because he wasn't productive enough to get playing time, but I like him more now than I did before the benching.  He didn't complain at all and he and his coach have said very positive things about each other.  It seems like he has accepted his current NBA status and is once again working from an underdog position with no entitlement.  He's said all the right things about Boston and the Celtics.  I think it would have gone very badly for the last couple of years, but at this point I don't think he's a big chemistry risk.  I might offer him a small contract with no guarantee of any role.  I don't think we owe Isaiah anything, but maybe he's earned his way to a start from scratch role on this team.

[Roy H.]

I’d invite him to training camp.

[Pvictor11]

To paraphrase Kyrie: "We owe nobody Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.".
In all seriousness, I would like him as a backup PG, if he accepts that role, but I don't think we should sign him because we owe him, but because we feel he can help the team win

[Scottiej23]

Give him an invite to camp, take a bit of a look at him. Don't see any downside to taking a bit more of a look.

[jbpats]

Eh I think it would be more of a distraction then anything else.

We bring him back he’ll expect us to make him elite again, if we don’t it could just turn into another dysfunctional situation.

I think the main focus for next season should be limit potential distractions and simply focus on making us a team again.

[slamtheking]

We owe Thomas exactly nothing. He was paid well for his time here and I am sure IT cashed in on some endorsements and side deals because Boston gave him the opportunity to become a star.

Love Thomas. He was a great Celtic. But his time here is passed and it's best to move on. Heck, we just drafted an IT clone in Edwards. Then we added another tiny PG with Waters. We don't need three six foot or less shoot first PGs on the 17 man roster with all three fighting to be the 3rd PG and a 5th guard in a five man guard rotation.

It's sad what has happened to IT because of his injury. I wish he could have cashed in but the timing of the injury was as bad as it could be for him. But Boston shouldn't feel like we owe Thomas anything. That relationship swung both ways and Thomas made a lot of money because Boston gave him his first chance to be the man on a team.

IT killed it here. In an alternate universe, I am sure there is a world where IT was never hurt and stayed healthy and was traded for Kyrie and IT went to the ECFs and lost to eventual champion Boston Celtics because Hayward never broke his leg and that team went on to dominate the league in 2018.

this.  exactly this.

time to move on from IT.  he's done.  we owe him nothing.  wish him the best in his future endeavors but it would/should not be in Boston

[manl_lui]

unless IT accepts a bench role, i really don't see him coming back here. I think he still has some left in the tank but at this moment we should be rolling with the Jays and I am unsure if he wants to come back to see his role go to 3rd option or even lower

[celticinorlando]

Not really. We have a younger version in Edwards.

[iadera]

Been following the Cs for 60 years (first game in fall of ‘59 vs Warriors)

IT is in my top 5 Cs of all time...maybe even top 3 with Russ and Bird.

The guy sacrificed his body/career for this team.

We OWE him.

Heart of a champion.

After he left, Hayward injury/Kyrie poison did us in.

Reverse the curse.

Sign IT.

But, look at it from the other perspective. Ainge/Stevens traded for him and gave him a life-chance to be a leader of the team, when he was 3rd PG on Kings roster. I love him and would like him back, but we owe him NOTHING. Just love.

[hwangjini_1]

We owe Thomas exactly nothing. He was paid well for his time here and I am sure IT cashed in on some endorsements and side deals because Boston gave him the opportunity to become a star.

Love Thomas. He was a great Celtic. But his time here is passed and it's best to move on. Heck, we just drafted an IT clone in Edwards. Then we added another tiny PG with Waters. We don't need three six foot or less shoot first PGs on the 17 man roster with all three fighting to be the 3rd PG and a 5th guard in a five man guard rotation.

It's sad what has happened to IT because of his injury. I wish he could have cashed in but the timing of the injury was as bad as it could be for him. But Boston shouldn't feel like we owe Thomas anything. That relationship swung both ways and Thomas made a lot of money because Boston gave him his first chance to be the man on a team.

IT killed it here. In an alternate universe, I am sure there is a world where IT was never hurt and stayed healthy and was traded for Kyrie and IT went to the ECFs and lost to eventual champion Boston Celtics because Hayward never broke his leg and that team went on to dominate the league in 2018.

i agree with you nick.

much as i loved IT when he was here, i do not think he would add much, if anything. with denver last year he averaged 8.1 ppg, shot 63% FT (!), was 28% from 3pt range, and FG% was 34.3%. assists? 1.9. TO? 1.5.

if you want to teach edwards and water, then hire him as a coach.

[hwangjini_1]

We owe Thomas exactly nothing. He was paid well for his time here and I am sure IT cashed in on some endorsements and side deals because Boston gave him the opportunity to become a star.

Love Thomas. He was a great Celtic. But his time here is passed and it's best to move on. Heck, we just drafted an IT clone in Edwards. Then we added another tiny PG with Waters. We don't need three six foot or less shoot first PGs on the 17 man roster with all three fighting to be the 3rd PG and a 5th guard in a five man guard rotation.

It's sad what has happened to IT because of his injury. I wish he could have cashed in but the timing of the injury was as bad as it could be for him. But Boston shouldn't feel like we owe Thomas anything. That relationship swung both ways and Thomas made a lot of money because Boston gave him his first chance to be the man on a team.

IT killed it here. In an alternate universe, I am sure there is a world where IT was never hurt and stayed healthy and was traded for Kyrie and IT went to the ECFs and lost to eventual champion Boston Celtics because Hayward never broke his leg and that team went on to dominate the league in 2018.

I agree but I'd still offer him a contract. Not because the team owes it to him but he is guy who deserves another chance even if he looks done. We ve seen this happening with many other players not even remotely likeable as IT

may i ask for who these players are/were? and, what portion of them successfully came back? thank you.

[tonydelk]

I love IT but I just don't see how he is a fit after drafting two smallish PG's.  I hope IT returns to form because he's one of the most fun players to watch but I just don't see a fit with the C's.  If the C's sign a starting PG then Smart will soak up most backup minutes leaving 10 MPG for IT.