Celtics First to Call Thomas

[RJ87]

People are jumping to the Rondo conclusions but if I'm Avery Bradley, I'm not feeling too positive about a Boston return.

[celticinorlando]

Collecting more garbage.

[Celtics PRIDE Never Die]

I don't think this is true. Sounds like something the Kings would release to get Rondo thinking about agreeing to an extension with SAC.

Ainge and Stephens are hugely analytical guys and are obsessed with stats.
Thomas doesn't really stand out at one thing.
Yeah he's averaged 20 points and 6 assists but it took him 35 minutes a game and 15 shots.
Just nothing super special about him unless Danny is considering making him leader of the tank parade next season at the PG position. He's liable on defense and Danny may think he's a good target to boost up his value even more as a trade asset over a season or two.

Anyway I hope he doesn't touch him unless he's an Avery replacement at 5 or 6 million a year  if Avery really does command $7 million+

Isaiah Thomas's stats are awesome.  Only CP3, Westbrook and Curry had better PER's than him among NBA PG's.  20.5 PER, deadly efficient TS% at .574 on high volume scoring.

That's great, but PER won't make him taller and less of a liability on defense. He shot 45% from the field and 35% from three. He's not that special.

You said Ainge and Stevens are obsessed with stats and acted like they wouldn't want him because of his stats.  I gave you his stats, and they are pretty awesome.  If you want to say you don't want him because he's short and a poor defender, that's fine.  But you were definitely off base regarding his stats, and his stats are a reason analytical guys like Ainge and Stevens WOULD want him, not WOULDN'T want him.

[Chris22]

Hopefully Rondo and Bradley are gone, and Danny adds a good center.

[Chief Macho]

People are jumping to the Rondo conclusions but if I'm Avery Bradley, I'm not feeling too positive about a Boston return.

Agreed.   I haven't seen one deal with Sacramento that I think Ainge would do.   Ainge will not take 20 cents on the dollar.  He'll never do it.

[vinnie]

Yikes. Pass. Hard pass.

This 1,000 times. What the hell is going on here? I do not want this guy running the Celtics. He is a flashy player that does some good things on the court, but completely undersized and often a liability on defense. I am really not getting anything Ainge is doing right now.

[colincb]

I have had to use the term "smokescreen" about 100 times this week. I am starting to get p---ed. I remember when Boston may have had the chance to do Rondo and Wallace for Isiah Thomas, Mclemore, Thornton,etc, and their pick. Many people on here screamed, like they were being tortured in a Hostel, because they KNEW Rondo was worth much more than that! Well, now it looks like a great trade and too bad we passed.

Its 4 am and this seems like a bad dream. I'm upset about everything. I can't even put in to words.

Smart is a pg not a 2 guard .

What do you mean by this? Was this your deal deal or a rumored deal?

[D.o.s.]

I don't think this is true. Sounds like something the Kings would release to get Rondo thinking about agreeing to an extension with SAC.

Ainge and Stephens are hugely analytical guys and are obsessed with stats.
Thomas doesn't really stand out at one thing.
Yeah he's averaged 20 points and 6 assists but it took him 35 minutes a game and 15 shots.
Just nothing super special about him unless Danny is considering making him leader of the tank parade next season at the PG position. He's liable on defense and Danny may think he's a good target to boost up his value even more as a trade asset over a season or two.

Anyway I hope he doesn't touch him unless he's an Avery replacement at 5 or 6 million a year  if Avery really does command $7 million+

Isaiah Thomas's stats are awesome.  Only CP3, Westbrook and Curry had better PER's than him among NBA PG's.  20.5 PER, deadly efficient TS% at .574 on high volume scoring.

That's great, but PER won't make him taller and less of a liability on defense. He shot 45% from the field and 35% from three. He's not that special.

You said Ainge and Stevens are obsessed with stats and acted like they wouldn't want him because of his stats.  I gave you his stats, and they are pretty awesome.  If you want to say you don't want him because he's short and a poor defender, that's fine.  But you were definitely off base regarding his stats, and his stats are a reason analytical guys like Ainge and Stevens WOULD want him, not WOULDN'T want him.

No analytical guys use PER unless they're paid to do so.

[vinnie]

I could see a backcourt of Smart and Stauskas with Thomas being a Jason Terry type of scoring guard off the bench.  We know Rondo was offered for Thomas and McLemore previously, but Rondo wouldn't agree to an extension.  Now there have been rumors of the Kings trading Thompson, Williams, and Terry for Josh Smith which would entice Rondo to re-sign.  This all makes sense.

Sacramento is a nice city. I hope Rondo enjoys it.

Whoa. Was wondering where you were on this thread. Kind of late getting in aren't you?

[vinnie]

Hopefully Rondo and Bradley are gone, and Danny adds a good center.

I just want to be clear. You want Rondo traded and he stinks, right?

[Waew]

Thomas sounds like a replacement for Bradley. Smart replaces rondo. Tank for 2015.

[nacceltic]

I don't know if anything will happen between the Kings & C's, but it's obvious there's way too much smoke for there not to be some kind of fire...Kings need a PG and they want to upgrade from Thomas, that much was obvious last year.

The draft day thing, I believe, is completely separate from the Rondo situation...My scenario: Sacramento was focusing in on Exum and/or Smart, so they called the Celtics when Exum started to slide...The Celtics were likely left with two guys on their board after Gordon and Embiid were gone - Randle & Smart...Once Exum was picked by Utah, DA knew that Sacramento would pick Smart @ #6 and the Lakers would select Randle @ #7. So, DA turned the deal down b/c he wanted to come out of this draft with one of Smart or Randle.

Now, here's the key question - did DA or Sacramento approach the other about Smart? Did Ainge pick Smart, yes because he liked him, but also because he knew that the Kings had him high on their board along with Exum? Or, did each team know that Sacramento needed a PG and once that didn't happen at the draft, it was only logical they'd be asking about Rondo again?

We can all agree that a team does not need three point guards...Rondo is a point. Smart is mostly a point who can play some '2', but if you want to really develop him, you develop him at the one. And, obviously, Thomas is a point.

Let's not forget that this wasn't the Celtics calling Thomas' reps, this was Ainge calling Thomas directly, which holds weight.  There's only one reason Ainge calls Thomas, either Smart or Rondo are on the block.

[PaulAllen]

Pistons reportedly offered Thomas 3 years 24 mil... pass pass pass

[saltlover]

There's only one reason Ainge calls Thomas, either Smart or Rondo are on the block.

I disagree on this.  Thomas is a scoring guard, and could share the floor with either Rondo or Smart.  It could be that Rondo or Smart are on the block, or it could be the C's are willing to let Bradley walk.  Thomas replaces Bayless' role, while Smart replaces Bradley's role.

[D.o.s.]

Rondo
McLemore/McCallum
Gay,
Somebody,
Cousins

 would be a fun starting 5 to watch.