Last offseason, the first phone call that Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge made was to Isaiah Thomas. Ultimately, it was former Ainge understudy, Ryan McDonough who landed the diminutive point guard.
However, Thomas’ addition proved to be one point guard too many for the Suns, as Goran Dragic demanded out of Phoenix and ultimately got his wish. Yet, the prospect of being stuck with just Eric Bledsoe and Thomas was not one that McDonough was about to settle for. And so, even after dealing Dragic, the window for Ainge to get his man was still open.
The Celtics and Suns have already completed two trades this season. The first sent Brandan Wright to Phoenix in exchange for a future first-round pick that is likely to become two second-round selections. Then, the two sides were part of a three-team trade that sent Austin Rivers to the Clippers, Reggie Bullock to Phoenix and Shavlik Randolph, Chris Douglas-Roberts – who was immediately waived – and a 2017 second-round pick to the Celtics.
That familiarity, and more importantly the friendship that exists between Ainge and McDonough, made it all the more possible that Thomas would end up in Boston. In exchange, Phoenix gets Marcus Thornton, a sharpshooter on an expiring contract, and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 first-round pick. The pick that the Suns are acquiring is protected from 2016-18 and is likely going to become two second-round selections.
Earlier this week, Hardwood Houdini ran a poll that asked fans which player the Celtics should acquire at the trade deadline. Ironically enough, Thomas came in dead last, garnering just five percent of the votes.
Thomas provides the Celtics with an infusion of talent. Boston now has a three-guard rotation that features Thomas, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley. The latter two’s defensive ability compliment Thomas, who is an offensive-minded player.
The move also makes the team a legitimate contender for the eighth seed. Boston currently sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference and is 1 1/2 games out of the playoffs. Although, it is highly likely that the Pistons, who have vaulted into playoff contention and just acquired Reggie Jackson at the trade deadline, will surpass the C’s.
Furthermore, Thomas is on a very affordable contract. His four-year $27 million deal decreases in value every season. His contract could also eventually be used as part of a package for a player of higher status.
For the season, the 5-foot-9 scoring guard is averaging 15.2 points per game and 3.7 assists. He is shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range, which is a higher percentage than anyone on the current roster.
Earlier in the day the Nets traded Kevin Garnett to Minnesota in exchange for Thaddeus Young. This means that Brooklyn traded three first-round picks, plus the right for Boston to swap picks in 2017, and have just one playoff series win to show for it.
Meanwhile, the Celtics continue to make that trade look even more lopsided as they have now converted the trade exception it created in the deal into Thomas and Tyler Zeller.