The NBA is ultimately a business, but after the Boston Celtics traded Isaiah Thomas to the Cleveland Cavaliers, many players expressed sympathy for the point guard. After being traded to the Celtics during the 2014-15 NBA season, Thomas led them to three consecutive playoff appearances.
In last year's playoffs, Thomas lost his younger sister in a car accident a day before the first round against the Chicago Bulls. Despite the circumstances, he eventually led them to the Eastern Conference Finals but missed the remainder of the series due to a hip injury.
On The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Isiah Thomas spoke with the two-time All-Star and revealed his current state of mind as transcribed by Chris Walder of The Score:
“I spoke to Isaiah yesterday. Emotionally, he’s hurt. Emotionally, he’s wounded,” Isaiah told The MMA Hour's Ariel Helwani. “Now from a basketball standard, he and Kyrie Irving, this will be great for them; they both will do well. But you know, it really was like a punch in the gut because it came out of nowhere. Kyrie was expecting the trade, he was prepared for it. But talking to Isaiah the other night, now he’s scrambling to find out where his kids are going to go to school, trying to find a place to live, and it was just so unexpected for him. And the thing the really just kind of pulled at my heartstrings was, you know, he gave his heart and soul to the Celtics; he gave them everything.
During his stint with the Celtics, Thomas did everything from establishing himself as the face of the franchise to recruiting both Al Horford and Gordon Hayward in free agency. Considering the circumstances, many felt the final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft deserved better from the organization.
Following Thomas' physical with the Cavaliers, there is more drama as the two teams will be discussing the trade. Although the trade was made official, the Cavaliers may not clear him and could potentially ask for more player(s)/draft pick(s) or even void the trade.
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