The Boston Celtics reportedly dangled everyone on their roster – including All-Star isaiah thomas – for a shot at another lottery pick in last year’s NBA Draft. NBA insider Jackie Macmullan of ESPN reports Danny Ainge’s attempt to land another lottery selection in addition to no.3 pick which they used to get Jaylen Brown.
In a podcast session with Bob Ryan on Comcast Sportsnet, MacMullan revealed that Ainge tried to shop every player on the Celtics’ roster, including Thomas who is coming off his first All-Star season, in order to obtain two lottery picks that year.
“He was on the phone with everybody from coast to coast, and he was offering everybody. That includes Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas, and anything else they needed to get where he wanted to go. There were no untouchables on that team last year,” per MacMullan.
The 28-year old Thomas went on to averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists in 33,8 minutes per game for the Celtics. He also shot 46 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the three-point line. However, despite the gaudy numbers, Thomas isn’t going to untouchable from trade talks. As far as MacMullan knows, there is only one player labeled as untouchable on the roster right now, and that’s Al Horford.
How much I.T worth?
Chris Crouse of Hoops Rumors believes Thomas’ remarkable season barely had an impact on his trade value.
Should Ainge explore a trade for Thomas, Crouse thinks the deal would just fetch the Celtics’ a top-14 selection. Thomas will become an unrestricted free-agent after 2017/18 season, putting more pressure on Ainge to shop him or find his heir apparent at the point guard spot via the draft.
Ainge told Kurt Helin of NBC Sports that he would keep his options open, understanding the fact that the value of his no.1 overall pick will only increase as the NBA Draft draws near.
The Celtics general manager reportedly likes to use the pick for Washington’s Markelle Fultz, who is considered by many scouts as the most NBA-ready talent in this year’s draft.
Washington Connection
Thomas, who is also a Washington product, already reached out Fultz and perhaps explored the idea of co-existing on the Celtics’ backcourt.
"He asks questions; I answer them. He's a good friend of mine. If it happens, we'll figure out how to play together. If not, we'll go from there," Thomas told Chris Forsberg of ESPN.
Again, Thomas (out for the remainder of the postseason w/ hip injury) will hit the market at the end of next season. Obviously, Ainge prioritizes the Celtics’ youth movement over their veterans. Fultz is viewed as an insurance policy for Ainge if he fails to retain Thomas’ service next summer. On the other hand, if the Washington Huskies backcourt develops a great chemistry right away, it won’t be surprising if Ainge locks in Thomas for five more years.
