Last season, the Boston Celtics looked like a solid happy bunch as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they succumbed to a more superior Cleveland Cavaliers side. Also, the team showed solidarity and supported isaiah thomas when his sister died in a car accident before the playoffs started. In addition, Thomas emerged as fan favorite during his time with the Celtics.
Now that Thomas has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, reports surfaced that some of his former teammates were not fond of him. According to Chris Broussard of Fox Sports, he discovered that some of Thomas’ teammates with the Celtics “really weren’t fond of him” during his talk with some NBA executives.
Broussard said the 5-foot-9 Thomas’ “huge ego” and his “Napoleon” complex did not sit well with some of his teammates in the locker room.
Broussard’s claim was contrary to the statement made by Celtics head coach Brad Stevens before the playoffs, describing Thomas as a “great teammate” and Boston as a “close-knit team.” Stevens added that Thomas is a great husband, father, son and brother. However, it was unclear if the friction between Thomas and some of his teammates was considered when the Celtics traded him, along with Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick, to the Cavaliers for Irving.
Thomas’ hip injury a cause for concern?
According to Jeff Goodman of ESPN, the Celtics had “significant concern” about the effects of the hip injury that ended Thomas' season.
Thomas sustained the hip injury in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. During a talk with reporters, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge admitted that Thomas’ hip considered during the team’s decision-making process before he was traded to the Cavaliers. Ainge added that there’s going to be a little delay for Thomas at the start but he is confident that the point guard will be fine and healthy as the season goes along."
Thomas in the last year of his deal
Aside from his hip injury, another cause for concern for the Cavaliers is Thomas’ contract.
He is in the last year of the four-year, $27 million contract that he signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2014 and is expected to ask for a maximum contract. Before he was traded, Thomas mentioned that the Celtics must bring “Brinks trucks” during their contact negotiations, referring to the armored vehicles used to transport money and other valuables. Thomas had an MVP-like campaign last season, averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 assists but his injury derailed his efforts to carry the Celtics to the NBA Finals.
