Concerns regarding Thomas

[davemonsterband]

Yeah because 7 foot defensive centers just are falling out of the sky in this league. There is such a lack of bigs in this league that people on CB are drooling over Sanders, who had a good season, got payed and now doesn't know if he wants to play ball anymore. And there are also people hoping the Sixers waive McGee, the President of Shaq'N a Fool.

We are low on talent because we are in year two of the rebuild. We just got rid of the last of the championship team a couple months ago, and Green shortly after. Now it's setting a tone for the franchise, and having young, hungry, unproven players helps establish that with a young coach, you don't have vets set in their old ways thinking they know better and showing up the coach you hired to be the future.

It's a 3 to 5 year build, buckle up!

TP for being the level headed one.
 
It's easy to see Ainge is putting Brad Stevens in a position to grow while the draft picks stew. Let's see what he does from here. I think putting Brad Stevens in a position to make the playoffs is extremely important. Let's not forget about his analytics approach here, especially with the PER. Moneyball doesn't make sense to the common man.

Whatever Thomas is, he's worth more than a should be borderline 2nd round pick and he has an arguable bargain, front loaded contract.

Smart is shooting .368 from the field. That's not good enough unless you are trying to tank. One would assume he was drafted to play behind someone. Take the pressure off the kid. Career numbers and percentages don't lie.

The Celtics are known throughout the league as one of the hardest working night in night out teams in the league. Thomas is extremely tenacious from what I've seen, anyway. I like the match there.

All of our bigs have mid range games. He's a wizard on the pick and roll. It's one of the biggest weaknesses. This isn't the time to be talking about what's needed. If Danny could have won on value elsewhere as well he would have addressed other areas. He won on this area. It was an A+ day.

Just like the last time around people are judging individual moves vice the whole chessboard.

Most importantly, my NBA2K15 roster simulated up until today with all the roster moves being in put in place from the beginning of the season has the C's sitting at 29-22 with Thomas averaging 24.9 ppg. That's life changing stuff.

Floyd Money Mayweather is his boy, too. Time to win the hype game.

The deal is a no brainer.

[Greyman]

I am sure DA had a few things going on at the trade deadline, and this trade came to fruition. When you look at the player we picked up and what we lost, we are ahead. If we made another two trades like this at seasons end we will be well up.

We can make a run at the playoffs and we still have plenty to deal with. It also takes away some of the uncertainty with Smart and will probably take some pressure of him.

Thomas may not be the big we need and may take some tweaking to be the fit Stevens wants. He will help attract that big and contribute. I am happy with this trade.

[BornReady]

Also now we have a 3 Small guard rotation like Suns had

marcus smart is 6' 4". is that really small?

Small if we had to move him to SG

[BornReady]

Defence isn't as bad as I thought.   Not great,  but doesn't appear to be a liability.

http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/202738/tracking/defense/
http://www.82games.com/1415/14PHO1.HTM

Wow, opponents are shooting 40% against him? That's solid for sure.

To be fair he was stuck on the bench in Phoenix so he would have gone up against bench PG

[BornReady]

Tbh I think guys are getting worked up over this trade
We gave a late first rounder that would be 25-30 for a good player

He's defensive deficiencies are not that bad, he average around 1 steal a game and scores efficiently

He lacks potential but has over achieved for some one his size

Also he averaged just over 20 points on 45% FG% in Sacramento team that had cousins and gay being more offensive minded and looking for their own shot

[piercetruth34]

Cousins and Thomas had a feud a few years back.   I think they were friends but they got on each other quite a bit.  Cousins also called out Thomas when he left the kings and called him a ballhog. So hopes that they will reunite are pretty slim. 

If we want to be an up tempo attacking team Thomas fits us.  I just am not sure I want him as our starting pg.  He is good for creating his own offense in an up tempo style of play and is going to score. Teams need to pay attention to him which should open things up for other players.  He's an upgrade over Thornton. Our guards weren't bad.  Smart is just inexperienced.

Danny has always liked guards like this.  His Phoenix roots are showing.  He experimented with Telfair and Nate Robinson was probably the closest he got something that worked there.  Thomas is the best one.  I have no issue with the deal.  We want to outscore the opposition but we need to start playing defense eventually is all.

I still think Smart is our starter ultimately and the future. Smart Is  not a consistant scorer himself right now.  I think having Turner and Thomas to go with him will be an upgrade and a positive.  Thornton could create somewhat but wasn't really that.  Thomas is a better option.

This team has struggled creating it's own offense at times and Thomas will help that.  Thornton was playing quite a bit and at the end of games too and Thomas is a better option there.  We are still a rim protector and primary scorer away is how I see it.  Our nucleus has gotten better.

If anyting Thomas can do everything Thornton and Pressey were but better.

[piercetruth34]

If I'm ainge, barring a tank which holding Sully out makes me question that, I'd still keep Smart right about where he is. Playing 30 mpg at point and sg.  Turners minutes may drop some  and he may not play the point as much.   Thomas should take Thornton and Pressey's minutes and some of Turners. So about 25 mpg imo...  Smart and Bradley should remain about the same.  They may take a hit slightly.  Smart is still inconsistent with his offense somewhat and should play off Thomas a bit.  I think initially Thomas may be upwards of 30 minutes but that should drop to around 25 or so.

Smart-25-30 mpg
Bradley-25-30 mpg
Thomas-25-30 mpg
Turner-10-15 mpg

Pressey and these other guys we acquired will get spot minutes.

[mctyson]

1. He was unhappy in Phoenix because he was hoping to get a chance to Start.  The media was made aware
2. He fired his agent early December.  He stated it had nothing to do with the Suns situation. It was for professional and personal reasons (whatever this means)
3. Last seasons incident with Bayless   (something relating to their past as teammates before the NBA)

Thomas seems like a moody individual.  Hopefully he is not going to complain, whine and cause issues in the locker room.   

I don't know what Danny's exact vision is with bringing in Thomas.  If he wants him to be the ultimate 6th man for the next 3 years or wants to pair him up with AB or Smart to start eventually. 

For me , I just want the guy to not complain, fight with guys in the locker room and just play his game whenever his number is called.

All legitimate concerns, and problems many NBA players share (*cough*...Rondo...*cough*).

But we didn't give up a lot so its a buy low-high upside-low risk deal.  He has a moveable contract and if he doesn't work out he will be gone.  Thornton was not staying here and that Cleveland pick is one of the worst 1st rounders we have (plus we got it for nothing).

Gives us something we don't have and need - I fully approve.

[mctyson]

IT

Is basically a fancier version on Pressey that can actually shoot the ball .

Question ....does this not like axe Pressey .......Pressey loses his role as water bug energy guy .

IT brings energy and motion to the offense no doubt .

nope.  Pressey will get min during "break and pull when you are down by 20 pts" situations. He is also like an ultimate practice pg that will try to suffocate you , help you become a better player.    Pressey will be that 15th player for the next few seasons

Also do not rule out IT + Pressey combos if the pace really needs to go up.

[Sketch5]

I'm concerned because a lot of people are calling him Isiah Thomas. He's not that good, people. Let's not set him up to fail.

Well his name is Isaiah Thomas, I think people are just miss spelling it, not comparing him to Isiah Thomas.

He's not the savor of this team, but he's a legit scorer that can create his own shot, something we really needed.

He's also a good chip in a move if also needed over the summer if the next two month are a disaster, or next year at some point.

[SHAQATTACK]

Cousins and Thomas had a feud a few years back.   I think they were friends but they got on each other quite a bit.  Cousins also called out Thomas when he left the kings and called him a ballhog. So hopes that they will reunite are pretty slim. 

If we want to be an up tempo attacking team Thomas fits us.  I just am not sure I want him as our starting pg.  He is good for creating his own offense in an up tempo style of play and is going to score. Teams need to pay attention to him which should open things up for other players.  He's an upgrade over Thornton. Our guards weren't bad.  Smart is just inexperienced.

Danny has always liked guards like this.  His Phoenix roots are showing.  He experimented with Telfair and Nate Robinson was probably the closest he got something that worked there.  Thomas is the best one.  I have no issue with the deal.  We want to outscore the opposition but we need to start playing defense eventually is all.

I still think Smart is our starter ultimately and the future. Smart Is  not a consistant scorer himself right now.  I think having Turner and Thomas to go with him will be an upgrade and a positive.  Thornton could create somewhat but wasn't really that.  Thomas is a better option.

This team has struggled creating it's own offense at times and Thomas will help that.  Thornton was playing quite a bit and at the end of games too and Thomas is a better option there.  We are still a rim protector and primary scorer away is how I see it.  Our nucleus has gotten better.

If anyting Thomas can do everything Thornton and Pressey were but better.

He is a ball hog ....Cousins was right

So who will ever get a shot with Bradley and Thomas on the team.

[Kuberski33]

As Ainge said recently, the roster needs more talent.  This move adds to the talent base quite a bit. I do question why Phoenix would unload him, but guys who can score 20 ppg consistently - like decent 7 footers btw - don't grow on trees.  Also think Zeller finally has a pick and roll partner to replace Rondo.  And we may finally have someone who wants the ball in his hands and can get to the rim at crunch time - as opposed to what we have now where these guys treat the ball like it's a ticking bomb. 

Not seeing much downside here at all.

[Celtics4ever]

he looks for his own shot a bit too much (even at the expense of better players),

That won't be as big as a problem here, no the defense is another story.

[Snakehead]

I think for the cost it was a very easy decision.  We didn't give up anything for a guy who can produce on a cheap contract.

Now I don't love the fit.  I didn't think Smart was really a PG coming in but I think I would like to see him play more to figure it out.

He will handle the ball still anyways.  Thomas makes a lot of sense on our team.  He will help a lot with an ability to consistently score.  I'm interested to see how Avery responds.

Also now we have a 3 Small guard rotation like Suns had

marcus smart is 6' 4". is that really small?

Small if we had to move him to SG

You think Dwayne Wade is a small SG?  They're the same height.

[kozlodoev]

My only real concern with Thomas is that Stevens won't give him the keys to the car. He needs to start and he needs to have the ball in his hands.

I expect him to mesh very well with Bradley. Thomas has shown ability to thread passing lanes to the perimeter when the defense collapses, which should help Bradley make those one-step 18-footers, essentially the only shot that he can make with some semblance of regularity.

Not sure how I feel about Thomas and Smart sharing the guard duties, but given that Thomas did well in Phoenix when Dragic had the ball I don't see it as a point of concern. This combination is probably also better defensively.

Start Thomas and give him the ball.