Boston Celtics point guard isaiah thomas said his injured hip is doing fine and he will be ready for Training Camp next month. In an interview with the Boston Herald, Thomas said he opted to rest his injured hip rather than undergo surgery, adding that he recently returned to the gym to regain his playing shape. "The hip is great. It’s going well,” said Thomas.
Thomas’ hip injury came in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics then decided to shut him down for the rest of the series, allowing the Cavaliers to advance to the NBA Finals in five games.
Thomas said he avoided surgery upon the recommendation of specialists and close associates. Instead, he focused on resting and getting his legs stronger. “It’s reacted well, it’s just going to take some time,” he added. As of now, Thomas is focused on regaining his shooting touch and his stamina.
Thomas, a free agent in 2018
Last season, Thomas averaged 28.9 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor, including 37.9 percent from beyond the arc. Thomas needs a repeat of his last season’s performance to prove that he deserves a maximum contract from the Celtics. He will become a free agent after the 2017-18 season, and he expects the Celtics to offer him a max deal.
In an earlier interview with CSN New England, Thomas said he deserves a max deal based on his performance. During the interview, he mentioned that the Celtics must bring “Brink trucks,” about armored vehicles owned by Brink’s Company when they start to negotiate with him. However, Thomas said he will not allow negotiations to affect his play, saying he’s focused on taking care of business on the basketball court.
Thomas made the pronouncement after seeing fellow point guards Kyle Lowry and Jrue Holiday both signed big money deals with the Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Pelicans, respectively. Lowry inked a three-year, $100 million contract while Holiday grabbed a five-year contract worth $126 million.
Thomas playing on a bargain deal
Thomas is playing on a bargain as he will earn $6.2 million next season from the final year of the four-year, $27 million contract that he signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2014. There are rumors that the Celtics could avoid signing Thomas to a long-term deal by dealing him to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of the package for Kyrie Irving.
