IT should have a good feeling about his time as a Celtic!

[CelticsBR]

I'm not a very frequent poster, but I often follow the discussions in this forum. I feel there is an important point which has not been properly debated about the way the front office dealt IT and about his feelings about it. It was often said that he would be a problem and even not play again for the Celtics even if the Kyrie Irving's trade had failed because he could be upset and in conflict with the front office.

We don’t really have enough information about the whatabouts of locker room dynamics to judge how IT feels about all that he has been through since he arrived in Boston. Even if we had, we could not really understand him. There is a lot more stuff in people’s head than straight-forward rationality.

After these remarks, however, I’d like to point out that looking the bigger picture, I hope IT look back and feel grateful about the Celtics and about Danny Ainge.

How relevant was IT to the league 3 years ago? Not much! Danny saw his potential as a very good player and tried to sign him during free agency. He decided to play for the Suns in a decision that may not sound very smart years later, but that made sense at the time. Celtics were entering a season of rebulding efforts and had Rondo as their only proven, experienced player.

Months later Danny insisted in his potential and traded for him. Looking at what happenned now, we may evaluate it as one of the most unequal trades in recent NBA history, but I can’t remeber reports of many teams pursuing IT.
With the Cs, IT was given an opportunity to flourish and at the beggining of his first full season with the team, Steven built his whole offense around IT’s talents. On one hand, the Cs were just exploiting the potential of IT and doing what was better for the team but, on the other, maybe there is space for IT to recognize that giving him the ball and accepting his fragilities on the defensive side was not an easy choice.

He has been traded after getting hurt in a very hard post-season in which he had to play after his sister’s death and without his desired pay check. Could he be upset or frustrated? Yeah, of course. Maybe there are hard feelings about Danny and Wyc, but would he be on the position of getting a (REALLY) big contract if it was not for his time with the Cs? He came from nowhere and was given the driving seat. He showed that he was up to the task, but not everybody had the managerial talent to make a team work around him like Stevens did. Not everybody would follow Danny’s decisions to pick right pieces to surround little-in-basketball-terms IT or even accept the team to make it to the playoffs as the 8th seed 3 seasons ago.

I really hope IT get his big paycheck and reach the ECF this year, but most of all I hope he sees the time as a Celtic as something that skyrocket his career! There may be reasons for him to be grateful rather than upset. Maybe feeling both ways is possible

[Surferdad]

Nice post, TP.

IT has consistently expressed gratitude to the C's for helping his career.  I see no reason why being traded should change that.

[Fafnir]

IT has consistently expressed gratitude to the C's for helping his career.  I see no reason why being traded should change that.

Uh what?

He was traded for the PG he just was matched against in the ECF, that's rough for a player. Add to it the fact that he's been underpaid for his production his whole career and now the place that he aggressively and enthusastically adopted moved him before his FA is just another sign that the league will not be giving the contract he feels his play deserves.

If your boss transferred or fired you after helping get your career rolling to bring in a hot shot from accross the street would you be mad? Even if your overall career was enhanced by your tenure?

[Moranis]

IT chose the Suns not the Kings over the Celtics.  He was on the Kings at the time and left them for the Suns.

[Fafnir]

Thomas signed a FA deal with the Suns who the year prior just missed the playoffs and was hoping to join a potential playoff squad on the rise. The Celtics traded for him with the Suns, not the Kings.

I hope he overcomes the shock and looks back fondly on his time with Boston, and I guarentee he still appreciates the fans. But I do not think he should have any sort of good feelings about Danny or the organization. Its uncharitable to ask that of him after he was traded for a younger PG the year before his contract was up.

Add to that the way the trade held in limbo with CLE trying to leverage his injury for more.....yikes.

[CelticsElite]

He doesn't care he just wants a brinks truck

[86MaxwellSmart]

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for I.T. and last years' Celtics squad...But they were over achievers who got Demolished in the ECF.

Looking forward to this next Great Celtics team.

[Humble G]

IT has consistently expressed gratitude to the C's for helping his career.  I see no reason why being traded should change that.

Uh what?

He was traded for the PG he just was matched against in the ECF, that's rough for a player. Add to it the fact that he's been underpaid for his production his whole career and now the place that he aggressively and enthusastically adopted moved him before his FA is just another sign that the league will not be giving the contract he feels his play deserves.

If your boss transferred or fired you after helping get your career rolling to bring in a hot shot from accross the street would you be mad? Even if your overall career was enhanced by your tenure?

Actually no. I got my first long term sub job at a High school teaching math. These students hadn't been learning anything all year and been through numerous subs before me. I worked my butt off building lessons, a grading system, homework, etc..... working 6am to 8pm most nights. I got the class turned around and back to learning in 4 weeks....when the school decided to hire a different sub to replace me. I even had to train the new guy and acclimate him to the system and environment that I CREATED! The school transferred me to the middle school and 6 years later I have been teaching full time for that same middle school(no longer a sub).

So I finally got a teaching job, worked my butt off, trained the replacement, and got transferred to middle school......but I now love it and am very thankful for the school I teach at so....... yea not mad.

IT may feel upset or even sad but ultimately he had a career year, top 5 in MVP votes, and got recognition from anyone and everyone in the NBA. I teach at a city school in OH and had many IT fans last year. He is a great story of what hard work can overcome and any/all people could learn from IT. He should feel PROUD of his time as a Celtic as he played with his whole heart and left it all on the court. AND people noticed!

[CelticsBR]

Thomas signed a FA deal with the Suns who the year prior just missed the playoffs and was hoping to join a potential playoff squad on the rise. The Celtics traded for him with the Suns, not the Kings.

I hope he overcomes the shock and looks back fondly on his time with Boston, and I guarentee he still appreciates the fans. But I do not think he should have any sort of good feelings about Danny or the organization. Its uncharitable to ask that of him after he was traded for a younger PG the year before his contract was up.

Add to that the way the trade held in limbo with CLE trying to leverage his injury for more.....yikes.

TP, I got facts wrong.

But how can he be mad at that? Except for the Golden State or the Spurs - that would not trade for him anyway -, were there clearly better environments for him to showcase his abilities? Had he been traded for a bottom 10 team, I'd be mad. But going to Cleveland to play alongside a team of very very good players and Lebron seems like the most acceptable way to leave the Celtics!

[Rosco917]

IT did a great deal for the Celtic organization, and the Celtics did the same for him.

IT was finally given a real chance to prove his worth after being chosen last in his draft, and he took total advantage of it. And good for him. He'll get a nice fat contract for his efforts somewhere other than Cleveland I'm sure.

Don't be surprised if somewhere down the line IT doesn't return to the C's in a reduced roll. Playing limited minutes, IT would kill it coming off the bench.

[Roy H.]

IT was already a great player before getting here. He just played on two incompetent franchises, who are still in the lower lottery years later.

If IT is mad, he's got a right to be. He just got traded after giving everything to the franchise, for a guy who isn't even a clear upgrade.

[ChillyWilly]

If IT is mad, he's got a right to be. He just got traded after giving everything to the franchise, for a guy who isn't even a clear upgrade.

I'm sorry for your loss Roy.

[cman88]

IT was already a great player before getting here. He just played on two incompetent franchises, who are still in the lower lottery years later.

If IT is mad, he's got a right to be. He just got traded after giving everything to the franchise, for a guy who isn't even a clear upgrade.

Kyrie is definitely a better player. we will see what he does in a brad stevens offense designed for him.

I do think IT4 has a right to be mad. But its not like danny sent him to the abyss...he will have a chance to win a ring this year

[Roy H.]

If IT is mad, he's got a right to be. He just got traded after giving everything to the franchise, for a guy who isn't even a clear upgrade.

I'm sorry for your loss Roy.

I missed the joke.

IT sacrificed his health and endured tremendous personal pain as he tried to help this franchise advance.

[Surferdad]

IT has consistently expressed gratitude to the C's for helping his career.  I see no reason why being traded should change that.

Uh what?

He was traded for the PG he just was matched against in the ECF, that's rough for a player. Add to it the fact that he's been underpaid for his production his whole career and now the place that he aggressively and enthusastically adopted moved him before his FA is just another sign that the league will not be giving the contract he feels his play deserves.

If your boss transferred or fired you after helping get your career rolling to bring in a hot shot from accross the street would you be mad? Even if your overall career was enhanced by your tenure?

Actually no. I got my first long term sub job at a High school teaching math. These students hadn't been learning anything all year and been through numerous subs before me. I worked my butt off building lessons, a grading system, homework, etc..... working 6am to 8pm most nights. I got the class turned around and back to learning in 4 weeks....when the school decided to hire a different sub to replace me. I even had to train the new guy and acclimate him to the system and environment that I CREATED! The school transferred me to the middle school and 6 years later I have been teaching full time for that same middle school(no longer a sub).

So I finally got a teaching job, worked my butt off, trained the replacement, and got transferred to middle school......but I now love it and am very thankful for the school I teach at so....... yea not mad.

IT may feel upset or even sad but ultimately he had a career year, top 5 in MVP votes, and got recognition from anyone and everyone in the NBA. I teach at a city school in OH and had many IT fans last year. He is a great story of what hard work can overcome and any/all people could learn from IT. He should feel PROUD of his time as a Celtic as he played with his whole heart and left it all on the court. AND people noticed!

Great story, Humble G.  Props to you for taking control of your career and especially for doing the right thing for those students.

Fafnir, your analogy is not a good one:
First of all, there is a HUGE difference between being fired and being transferred.  IT was not fired. 

Secondly, being "transferred" in the NBA (i.e., being traded) is a known job risk for NBA players.  They know it can happen to anyone (Shaq, KG, Pierce, many others).  Most mature players understand this and try to look at the move in a positive way, just like Humble G did with his job.  It does little good to be upset for very long. 

Third, you seem to minimize the strongly positive effect the Celtics had on IT's career.  He has publicly stated his gratitude, even well before any rumors of Kyrie wanting out of Cleveland. 

If I were IT, I would be accepting this as quickly as possible and recognize that I am going to a real contender, plus the opportunity to play with LeBron who is going to make everything a little easier for him since LBJ commands so much attention on the court.  I think we can agree that LeBron is a better player than Al Horford.