It was a simple answer to a simple question but it created enough buzz in the basketball world that every media outlet had to get the story in—Isaiah Thomas opened the door for a Boston Celtics reunion this offseason.
Thomas was asked by a fan if he would consider coming back to play for the Celtics by signing with them when he becomes a free agent. His response?
“Anything can happen,” Thomas said.
As a free agent this summer, Thomas can sign with any team that he wants though he might not get the max deal that he covets. If he decides that winning is more important to him than a big payday, then he could possibly get a deal to play for the Celtics again.
Thomas averaged 28.9 points for the Celtics last season, leading the team to the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference and a Conference Finals match-up with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Coach Brad Stevens found a way to mask Thomas’ defensive deficiencies and maximized his talents under his system. He thrived in this environment, something that Thomas, no doubt, misses every now and then.
The Kyrie Irving Trade
The 2017 trade was painful for Thomas. He was the new face of the Celtics after the departures of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo, the core of the 2008 championship team. Thomas came out of nowhere to take over the reins of the storied franchise.
Along the way, he stole the hearts of the Boston faithful with his spirited performances including a 53-point performance against the Washington Wizards in the 2017 playoffs on his sister’s birthday. That was the second most points ever scored in the playoffs in franchise history. His sister had died in April and this was his tribute game to her.
He also played through a hip injury during last year’s playoffs, the same injury that sidelined him for most of this season.
These are just some of the games that endeared the 5-foot-9 point guard to the city but he was still traded despite his three years of all-heart service to Gang Green.
Celtics GM Danny Ainge decided to trade Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the 2018 first-round draft pick they acquired from Brooklyn, in exchange for the Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving. Irving is younger, taller, an NBA champion and he wasn’t in his prime yet. Not only that, the prospect of Thomas returning this season back to his MVP form was becoming less certain. The fact that he was going to demand a max salary after this season was also an issue that Ainge wanted to avoid altogether. Irving, on the other hand, is under contract for two more years. It should be a no-brainer decision.
The moment Isaiah Thomas found out he was no longer a Boston Celtic…
(via @PlayersTribune) pic.twitter.com/Ggmw2932of
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 21, 2017
But this was Thomas he was considering to trade, the player who was considered the heart and soul of the team. Celtics fans so deeply loved him that even now, the faithful have only just started to get over losing their esteemed point guard.
Obstacles
To facilitate Thomas’ return, a few kinks need to be worked out.
Salary Cap
The Celtics have their roster pretty much set for the future barring any big trades and they don’t have the salary cap space to accommodate Thomas’ long-term demands.
But after everything that’s happened to him since joining the Cavs and subsequently being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, he may be amenable to a more cap-friendly contract. The most likely scenario is that Thomas could sign a one-year deal to prove that he’s all the way back and that there are no lingering issues from the injury.
This is a huge risk on Thomas’ part as he could suffer a serious injury during the year. What if the move backfires for him? Could he risk giving everything to a team that only has him signed for a season?
Too many point guards
There’s also the issue of a logjam at the point guard position. Irving is already set as the starter while the steady and capable Terry Rozier is making a name for himself among Celtics fans in these last few games.
Will Thomas be able to handle a demotion to being a third-string playmaker? If Thomas were to be signed by the Celts, the likely scenario is that they’ll trade Rozier to shore up one of their glaring holes in the other positions.
The Celtics will have to think long and hard about this one as Rozier is growing right before everyone’s eyes as a valuable backup to Irving. Then again, this is Thomas we are talking about and getting him back into a Celtics uniform will not only be beneficial to the team in particular but also to the image of the franchise in general.
Animosity between Ainge and Thomas
Lastly, there’s also the matter of Ainge not being in good terms with Thomas. The two have not been on speaking terms since the trade.
Danny Ainge says he understands Isaiah Thomas' emotional reaction and why he said he wouldn't talk to him again. pic.twitter.com/Li5XtlRx3i
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) October 11, 2017
When Thomas was traded to the Lakers, Ainge was asked if he had empathy for his former star point guard.
“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,” Ainge said, showing little to no interest at all with Thomas’ predicament.
Thomas and Ainge need to patch things up for this to work out. But if LeBron James can come home to Cleveland despite Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s scathing words after he left for the Miami Heat, then Thomas and Ainge can certainly work things out. Anything’s possible, remember?
Lakers performance
After being traded to the Lakers, Thomas has shown himself to be the reliable sixth man they coveted. He is averaging 15.6 points and 5.2 assists per game in 16 appearances off the bench. The fiery playmaker has played even better this March with a 17.1-point scoring average to go along with 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals per contest.
When the Cavaliers visited the Lakers’ home court, Thomas was extra special. He scored 20 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and delivered 9 assists in one of his best performances of the season. That game started a personal three-game streak in which he scored at least 20 points.
Thomas is getting better but a return to Boston will surely rejuvenate his career even further.
Celtics Legacy
There are players that should retire as Celtics, those that should be untradeable because of how much they have contributed to the franchise. Allen, Pierce and Garnett deserved to retire in Boston in the same way that Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, and Kevin McHale did.
Robert Parish is another player who should have hung up his sneakers in Boston.
Even if some of the players mentioned chose to leave on their own terms, the Celtics brass should have found a way to keep them on the team and let them retire in Beantown.
They can start making things right this time by bringing Thomas back to Boston.
Players who bleed Celtic green don’t come often. Thomas was such a player and someone who wanted the team to succeed for the city that embraced him.
The offseason will be here soon enough. If Thomas wants to return and potentially become an All-Star once again, even as a sixth man, then he has to consider a return to Boston. As for the Celtics front office, they need to do what’s right and bring their prodigal son back home.
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