IT opens up about playing in Boston

[Celtics2021]

I continue to want IT back in Boston and am disappointed they went with both Martin and Fitts.  I’ve made the argument many times, but I hope this stops the common rebuttal I’m given of “Do we even know IT wants to be here?”

Don’t you think it’s quite awkward though that he’s talking about wanting to have the chance to come back to Boston while currently being a player for the Hornets? It feels like his emotions got over him. I was expecting something like “I’m with Charlotte now, let’s talk about this team” or something.

All I can say is that it just tells you how much he wanted and still wants to be on this team, with no expectation of minutes or role.  I don't know why you wouldn't want that guy as someone on your roster, instead of cycling through players we won't remember twelve months from now.

I agree with you and would love to have him back. But just like he said, for some reason this reunion hasn’t happened. Maybe Brad knows something that we don’t?

He knows that IT can’t play any defense, just like Kemba couldn’t. The C’s identity is being an elite defensive team and he just doesn’t fit with that.

We just signed Nik Turnstile Stauskas to a 2-year deal, so that argument doesn't make a ton of sense.

Nik is a 3pt specialist and he’s 6’6”. He’s not a 33 year old 5’9” guard who is just an average shooter.

And?  He doesn't play defense, which was your point I thought.

[wdleehi]

I think the coach summed it up when he said the Celtics haven't needed a PG.   

[RJ87]

I enjoyed his time here but I'm not interested in bringing him back.  He's not good enough to actually contribute at this point in his career, and the player-mascot thing has always felt uncomfortable to me. 

If he would have been fine waving a towel and occasionally getting cheers as a novelty act at the end of uncompetitive games, then good on him.  Guess I don't see the point.

TP, I 100% agree. It would be an unnecessary distraction, imo. Let the team get the media attention for their play instead of signing a former player who doesn't impact the team and won't play. Danny and now Brad have had multiple opportunities to bring him back and have both declined. It's clear that the organization isn't interested. Everyone should move on.

[Goldstar88]

I continue to want IT back in Boston and am disappointed they went with both Martin and Fitts.  I’ve made the argument many times, but I hope this stops the common rebuttal I’m given of “Do we even know IT wants to be here?”

Don’t you think it’s quite awkward though that he’s talking about wanting to have the chance to come back to Boston while currently being a player for the Hornets? It feels like his emotions got over him. I was expecting something like “I’m with Charlotte now, let’s talk about this team” or something.

All I can say is that it just tells you how much he wanted and still wants to be on this team, with no expectation of minutes or role.  I don't know why you wouldn't want that guy as someone on your roster, instead of cycling through players we won't remember twelve months from now.

I agree with you and would love to have him back. But just like he said, for some reason this reunion hasn’t happened. Maybe Brad knows something that we don’t?

He knows that IT can’t play any defense, just like Kemba couldn’t. The C’s identity is being an elite defensive team and he just doesn’t fit with that.

We just signed Nik Turnstile Stauskas to a 2-year deal, so that argument doesn't make a ton of sense.

Nik is a 3pt specialist and he’s 6’6”. He’s not a 33 year old 5’9” guard who is just an average shooter.

And?  He doesn't play defense, which was your point I thought.

He might not be a good defender, but there is no way he’s as bad as IT. Just based on his size and athletic ability. And.... he’s an excellent shooter, which IT is not.

[SHAQATTACK]

IT maybe time for IT to seek another job in the NBA hang up the sneakers .  I think Brad really truly cares for him as a friend ,  there has to be some way to have him around the team .  He has the correct attitude people love to see around the gym.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Well IT and Leon Powe both played through injuries in the playoffs for us and ruined their careers...might be a good Karma signing.

[celts55]

Look. The Celtics have 5 or more pretty much unplayable guys sitting on the bench anyway.
Yes, he’s not a good defender, but in a pinch he can score. Sometimes you need scoring off the bench. They already have a bunch of good D can’t shoot guys.
If he is sincerely good with sitting on the bench if not needed, I think they are crazy not to sign him. Appears Tatum, Smart and Brown love him. Maybe they’ll remember that the Celtics took care of a player who might have ended his career for them.

[18isGREATERthan72]

Well IT and Leon Powe both played through injuries in the playoffs for us and ruined their careers...might be a good Karma signing.

This is just about the only reason for doing this in my opinion.  To shepherd some goodwill, and possibly mend some fences that Danny Ainge (rightfully or not) busted up during his tenure.

I'm not saying I have an issue with what Danny did as GM, but it's obvious some players do, and even though Brad is the GM now, this is the only reason I could think of to do this, is to repair some of that image of the organization in the eyes of potential free agents / trade targets.

[Celtics2021]

I continue to want IT back in Boston and am disappointed they went with both Martin and Fitts.  I’ve made the argument many times, but I hope this stops the common rebuttal I’m given of “Do we even know IT wants to be here?”

Don’t you think it’s quite awkward though that he’s talking about wanting to have the chance to come back to Boston while currently being a player for the Hornets? It feels like his emotions got over him. I was expecting something like “I’m with Charlotte now, let’s talk about this team” or something.

All I can say is that it just tells you how much he wanted and still wants to be on this team, with no expectation of minutes or role.  I don't know why you wouldn't want that guy as someone on your roster, instead of cycling through players we won't remember twelve months from now.

I agree with you and would love to have him back. But just like he said, for some reason this reunion hasn’t happened. Maybe Brad knows something that we don’t?

He knows that IT can’t play any defense, just like Kemba couldn’t. The C’s identity is being an elite defensive team and he just doesn’t fit with that.

We just signed Nik Turnstile Stauskas to a 2-year deal, so that argument doesn't make a ton of sense.

Nik is a 3pt specialist and he’s 6’6”. He’s not a 33 year old 5’9” guard who is just an average shooter.

And?  He doesn't play defense, which was your point I thought.

He might not be a good defender, but there is no way he’s as bad as IT. Just based on his size and athletic ability. And.... he’s an excellent shooter, which IT is not.

I’m going to guess you haven’t watched much Nik Stauskas in your life.  He’s an all-time favorite of mine from college, but I’d take IT any day.

[Goldstar88]

I continue to want IT back in Boston and am disappointed they went with both Martin and Fitts.  I’ve made the argument many times, but I hope this stops the common rebuttal I’m given of “Do we even know IT wants to be here?”

Don’t you think it’s quite awkward though that he’s talking about wanting to have the chance to come back to Boston while currently being a player for the Hornets? It feels like his emotions got over him. I was expecting something like “I’m with Charlotte now, let’s talk about this team” or something.

All I can say is that it just tells you how much he wanted and still wants to be on this team, with no expectation of minutes or role.  I don't know why you wouldn't want that guy as someone on your roster, instead of cycling through players we won't remember twelve months from now.

I agree with you and would love to have him back. But just like he said, for some reason this reunion hasn’t happened. Maybe Brad knows something that we don’t?

He knows that IT can’t play any defense, just like Kemba couldn’t. The C’s identity is being an elite defensive team and he just doesn’t fit with that.

We just signed Nik Turnstile Stauskas to a 2-year deal, so that argument doesn't make a ton of sense.

Nik is a 3pt specialist and he’s 6’6”. He’s not a 33 year old 5’9” guard who is just an average shooter.

And?  He doesn't play defense, which was your point I thought.

He might not be a good defender, but there is no way he’s as bad as IT. Just based on his size and athletic ability. And.... he’s an excellent shooter, which IT is not.

I’m going to guess you haven’t watched much Nik Stauskas in your life.  He’s an all-time favorite of mine from college, but I’d take IT any day.

Well, guess Brad Stevens would disagree with you.

[radiohead]

https://youtu.be/jwpEOVPHf8U

Here it is from the coach himself. Point Guard really isn’t a position of need, saying PP/White could handle the back up minutes. He also mentioned how JT and JB sometimes have the offense run through them. I think Ime handled that pretty well.

[mr. dee]

I continue to want IT back in Boston and am disappointed they went with both Martin and Fitts.  I’ve made the argument many times, but I hope this stops the common rebuttal I’m given of “Do we even know IT wants to be here?”

Don’t you think it’s quite awkward though that he’s talking about wanting to have the chance to come back to Boston while currently being a player for the Hornets? It feels like his emotions got over him. I was expecting something like “I’m with Charlotte now, let’s talk about this team” or something.

All I can say is that it just tells you how much he wanted and still wants to be on this team, with no expectation of minutes or role.  I don't know why you wouldn't want that guy as someone on your roster, instead of cycling through players we won't remember twelve months from now.

I agree with you and would love to have him back. But just like he said, for some reason this reunion hasn’t happened. Maybe Brad knows something that we don’t?

He knows that IT can’t play any defense, just like Kemba couldn’t. The C’s identity is being an elite defensive team and he just doesn’t fit with that.

We just signed Nik Turnstile Stauskas to a 2-year deal, so that argument doesn't make a ton of sense.

Nik is a 3pt specialist and he’s 6’6”. He’s not a 33 year old 5’9” guard who is just an average shooter.

And?  He doesn't play defense, which was your point I thought.

He might not be a good defender, but there is no way he’s as bad as IT. Just based on his size and athletic ability. And.... he’s an excellent shooter, which IT is not.

I’m going to guess you haven’t watched much Nik Stauskas in your life.  He’s an all-time favorite of mine from college, but I’d take IT any day.

Staukas is still young enough to learn defensive rotations. And his size will be less of a problem than IT was. With a good system, we can hide his defensive lapses better than IT who lost his speed.

[Goldstar88]

Brad Stevens, his former coach, is now president of basketball operations. And he has had numerous opportunities to sign Isaiah Thomas, even to a 10-day deal. But, privately, the organization believes Thomas wouldn’t play much and is below average defensively, and Stevens is hesitant to burn a roster spot, especially facing potential backlash if Thomas doesn’t have a 10-day contract renewed. – via Boston Globe

[DefenseWinsChamps]

If you dropped prime Isaiah Thomas on this roster, he'd immediately be the worst defender on the roster. Just for that, I don't think he'd be given the opportunity on offense like CBS needed when the roster was less complete. He might have been the worst defensive guard in the NBA when he was good. How good do you think he is now that he is a step slower?

But now he is a below average shooter and scorer also.

The sad reality is that he's just not an NBA player anymore. A lot of teams have given him looks - teams that needed scoring help, but none of them kept him.

I was one of the biggest fans of IT in his time here. I was on the bandwagon early pointing out that his on-court impact was similar to the top guards in the NBA. I even argued that he should get some consideration for MVP that one season.

[pokeKingCurtis]

I continue to want IT back in Boston and am disappointed they went with both Martin and Fitts.  I’ve made the argument many times, but I hope this stops the common rebuttal I’m given of “Do we even know IT wants to be here?”

Don’t you think it’s quite awkward though that he’s talking about wanting to have the chance to come back to Boston while currently being a player for the Hornets? It feels like his emotions got over him. I was expecting something like “I’m with Charlotte now, let’s talk about this team” or something.

All I can say is that it just tells you how much he wanted and still wants to be on this team, with no expectation of minutes or role.  I don't know why you wouldn't want that guy as someone on your roster, instead of cycling through players we won't remember twelve months from now.

I agree with you and would love to have him back. But just like he said, for some reason this reunion hasn’t happened. Maybe Brad knows something that we don’t?

He knows that IT can’t play any defense, just like Kemba couldn’t. The C’s identity is being an elite defensive team and he just doesn’t fit with that.

We just signed Nik Turnstile Stauskas to a 2-year deal, so that argument doesn't make a ton of sense.

Nik is a 3pt specialist and he’s 6’6”. He’s not a 33 year old 5’9” guard who is just an average shooter.

And?  He doesn't play defense, which was your point I thought.

He might not be a good defender, but there is no way he’s as bad as IT. Just based on his size and athletic ability. And.... he’s an excellent shooter, which IT is not.

I’m going to guess you haven’t watched much Nik Stauskas in your life.  He’s an all-time favorite of mine from college, but I’d take IT any day.

Staukas is still young enough to learn defensive rotations. And his size will be less of a problem than IT was. With a good system, we can hide his defensive lapses better than IT who lost his speed.

Stauskas probably won't play much anytime soon, given Udoka's tight leash. Maybe next year.

But if he does, that probably means he's [dang] good. Like White got playing time immediately, and Theis soon after joining again. Nesmith still glued to the bench because he still plays without a brain.