Isaiah Thomas Can’t Predict The Celtics’ Offseason Because ‘We Ain’t Got No Michael Jordan’

Isaiah Thomas
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The best season of the Brad Stevens era came just in time for the Boston Celtics.

No summer since 2012 has been more important for the future of Danny Ainge’s organization than this one. By way of a long past trade with the Brooklyn Nets that began a supposedly arduous rebuilding project, the Celtics have a chance to win the draft lottery. They have decisions to make with regard to veteran free agents Evan Turner, Amir Johnson, and Jonas Jerebko, not to mention more complicated ones involving restricted free agents Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller.

And here’s the most important thing: Boston could have enough room below the salary cap to sign two max-level free agents depending on which incumbents are ultimately retained.

The Celtics have quickly reestablished themselves as one of the most promising teams in basketball. Will this summer’s top free agents take notice? It’s safe to say A-listers like Kevin Durant, Al Horford, and Nic Batum will give Boston a passing glance at the very least, while the tier of available players below them surely already have Bean Town earmarked as a potential destination.

Ainge, the franchise’s president and key personnel decision maker, has made no secret in the past of his desire to acquire a legitimate superstar – a reality that casts some doubt on the future of every player currently wearing green. Even Isaiah Thomas, who emerged as the face of the Celtics in 2015-16, realizes the roster’s state of flux this summer means he’s not assured of being in Boston next season.


Thomas, to be sure, probably isn’t going anywhere. He’s an absolutely dynamic offensive player with a bargain contract that runs through 2017-18, and was asked to represent his team at the draft lottery on May 17. It would take a monumental trade offer involving a megastar and more for Thomas to be playing for any team but the Celtics once next season tips off, basically, and the same can be said for Jae Crowder.

No player on the roster is more likely to be a part of Boston’s plans going forward than Thomas or Crowder. Everyone else, including Avery Bradley, could be trade bait or allowed to walk in free agency as a means to acquire the player who could put the Celtics over the top.

Let’s see how it plays out this summer.

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