Celtics First to Call Thomas

[LooseCannon]

^agreed.

sidenote:

It's rumored that he's gotten interest from Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, and the Lakers, with the Pistons said to be offering around $24m for three years.

Can we pour one out for Brandon Knight's NBA career?

He was a top 5 pick, if I recall correctly. Maybe 7. Before Walker, after Irving (obviously), Before Drummond, after Thompson.

He was an 8th pick.  Drummond was picked a year later.  Knight was rumored to be available for a first after starting 69 games and scoring 17.9 ppg in Milwaukee, but maybe the Jason Kidd deal changes his availability.

[aingeforthree]

Maybe Ainge is set on Smart & Young at the 2, & is giving 6 M to Thomas while letting Bradley get overpaid somewhere else. It doesn't hurt to land depth at guard. Bazemore would be a nice addition at the 2.

[D.o.s.]

^agreed.

sidenote:

It's rumored that he's gotten interest from Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, and the Lakers, with the Pistons said to be offering around $24m for three years.

Can we pour one out for Brandon Knight's NBA career?

He was a top 5 pick, if I recall correctly. Maybe 7. Before Walker, after Irving (obviously), Before Drummond, after Thompson.

He was an 8th pick.  Drummond was picked a year later.  Knight was rumored to be available for a first after starting 69 games and scoring 17.9 ppg in Milwaukee, but maybe the Jason Kidd deal changes his availability.

And that is my reminder that I need to get more sleep. Starting nowish.


'11 was a fun draft class though.

[colincb]

Maybe Ainge is set on Smart & Young at the 2, & is giving 6 M to Thomas while letting Bradley get overpaid somewhere else. It doesn't hurt to land depth at guard. Bazemore would be a nice addition at the 2.

Another alternative explanation.

[crimson_stallion]

At first this seems a bit irrational,  but the more I think about it the more it makes sense.

Lets say the reports are true,  and Rondo did say that he wants a $100m contract next year or he'll walk.  Suddenly Boston is put in a position where making a move,  if they can find a pair that suits them,  makes a lot of sense.

Boston has been talking door a while now about needing a scorer.   Thomas averaged 20 PPG last season on a team that also featured Rudy Gay and Demarcus Cousins.  He's certainly a scorer.

So let's say Boston makes a trade of Rondo for Thomas.   Danny gets his scorer and also gets younger,  I imagine he saves a ton of cap space in the process as well.

The problem is that Thomas is a liability on defense.   Conveniently Danny now has two backcourt players (Bradley and Smart) who's speciality is defense.  This means they have the ability to ensure that anytime Isiah is on the court,  there's always a defensive guard out there with him.  They also sound young, who's a bigger,  offensively oriented guard.   This 4 man rotation goes then a ton of flexibility.   Their starting lineup may be Thomas/Bradley.  If they need shooting they can go Thomas/Young.  If they need defense they can go Smart/Bradley.  If they need size they can go Smart/Young.  Ton of flexibility there, and all for guys have upside and are relatively affordable.

Now due to financial reasons,  I can't imagine a straight deal of Thomas for Rondo would be possible.   Boston would need to get additional assets back to match salaries.   Rusty Gay + Thomas for Rondo and Green might work.   Maybe it will just be Thomas and McLemore and filler for Rondo.  Epithet way,  we'd be getting something back.

I think I can see where Danny might be going with this.

[freshinthehouse]

I'm calling a Rondo for Thomas/Stauskas trade.

[saltlover]

Maybe Ainge is set on Smart & Young at the 2, & is giving 6 M to Thomas while letting Bradley get overpaid somewhere else. It doesn't hurt to land depth at guard. Bazemore would be a nice addition at the 2.

Was about to suggest this myself.  Heck, it could even be a Bradley-Thomas sign-and-trade swap.

[clover]

Unless the Celtics get Demarcus Cousins, I'm not interested in what the Kings have for Rondo.

And if Sacro offers the best deal, would you rather have Rondo walk for nothing?

[Future Celtics Owner]

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 .

[crimson_stallion]

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 .

I think Smart is a guard,  plain and simple.

[Endless Paradise]

At first this seems a bit irrational,  but the more I think about it the more it makes sense.

Lets say the reports are true,  and Rondo did say that he wants a $100m contract next year or he'll walk.  Suddenly Boston is put in a position where making a move,  if they can find a pair that suits them,  makes a lot of sense.

Boston has been talking door a while now about needing a scorer.   Thomas averaged 20 PPG last season on a team that also featured Rudy Gay and Demarcus Cousins.  He's certainly a scorer.

So let's say Boston makes a trade of Rondo for Thomas.   Danny gets his scorer and also gets younger,  I imagine he saves a ton of cap space in the process as well.

The problem is that Thomas is a liability on defense.   Conveniently Danny now has two backcourt players (Bradley and Smart) who's speciality is defense.  This means they have the ability to ensure that anytime Isiah is on the court,  there's always a defensive guard out there with him.  They also sound young, who's a bigger,  offensively oriented guard.   This 4 man rotation goes then a ton of flexibility.   Their starting lineup may be Thomas/Bradley.  If they need shooting they can go Thomas/Young.  If they need defense they can go Smart/Bradley.  If they need size they can go Smart/Young.  Ton of flexibility there, and all for guys have upside and are relatively affordable.

Now due to financial reasons,  I can't imagine a straight deal of Thomas for Rondo would be possible.   Boston would need to get additional assets back to match salaries.   Rusty Gay + Thomas for Rondo and Green might work.   Maybe it will just be Thomas and McLemore and filler for Rondo.  Epithet way,  we'd be getting something back.

I think I can see where Danny might be going with this.

The Kings are likely interested in Rondo because of the prospect of pairing him with Gay.  I don't think they're in least bit interested in the trading the two.  And neither should the Celtics be, really.  Gay's clearly at his best when he's not the first option and I think he'd become that by default in Boston without Rondo.

[CFAN38]

Cs also contacted Kent Bazemore. I suspect he is a fall back option if ABs price goes to high.


As for Thomas, I don't love the idea of adding an extremely undersized PG at this stage in the game. If the Cs had an established rotation and where selling him on being a 30mpg super sub then I could see it. My guess is a signing of Thomas would have to signify a Rondo move. Also they may view him as an interesting match with smart. Both can play the point or the 2 on offense and Smart will have no problems defending 2s.

[rickyfan3.0...]

Isiah - Stauskus for Rondo.

IN

[chambers]

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+

[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.