Isaiah Thomas was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday alongside Channing Frye. After a brief but tumultuous stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thomas now finds himself with his third team in less than a year.
It’s one of the most difficult times for Thomas as he also suffered through the passing of his sister last April. He came back from a serious injury in January, but was far from his MVP-form from last season.
With all these in mind, you would think that Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge would show empathy for his former player.
MassLive.com’s Jay King posted Ainge’s response which didn’t sound appropriate for someone who used to admire Thomas, one of his best players in recent years.
Article Continues Below“Ainge asked if he has any empathy for Isaiah Thomas considering how his Cavs tenure went: ‘I don’t really know what Isaiah’s wishes or dreams are right now. So I have no idea. I don’t know what to think.’”
It’s a strange but not unexpected response from Ainge. Despite saying how difficult it was for him to trade Thomas, he was met with a bitter response.
“I might not ever talk to Danny again,” Thomas said in an interview. “That might not happen. I’ll talk to everybody else. But what he did, knowing everything I went through, you don’t do that, bro. That’s not right. I’m not saying eff you. But every team in this situation comes out a year or two later and says, ‘We made a mistake.’ That’s what they’ll say, too.”
Thomas was a beloved player for the Boston Celtics and his departure from the team was unexpected. Ainge traded Thomas, and Jae Crowder, and Ante Zizic to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with a 2018 first-round pick in exchange for Kyrie Irving.