Boston Celtics: 3 former C’s the team should pursue this offseason

Isaiah Thomas, PG

Perhaps no other former Celtic is more deserving of a return to the franchise than Isaiah Thomas.

We’ve been preaching it for MONTHS now! Some of you, our beloved followers, have voiced your displeasure with this idea. We here at the Houdini are truly perplexed by your disapproval of this hypothetical return.

After a 2016-17 season that saw 1) him average 28.9 points & 5.9 assists on 38 percent shooting from deep 2) finish fifth in the running for league MVP 3) played — and excelled — in the postseason directly after the tragic loss of his sister Chyna and 4) guided the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals, the C’s front office sent him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Kyrie Irving.

Ok, I get; at the end of the day the NBA’s a business.

That’s all well and good. However, now that he’s a free agent, has shown a reported interest in a reunion with Boston and, coupled with the team’s obvious need for a backup point guard who can run an offense — you may like Brad Wanamaker, but he has shown no evidence that he can run a unit — the Celtics would be foolish to not, at the least, consider bringing back IT, a player who has only proven to excel in a Brad Stevens offense.

Most recently playing for the Washington Wizards, Thomas proved he can still play at a more than serviceable level, averaging 12.2 points and 3.7 assists on 41 percent shooting from the floor and a career high 41 percent shooting from 3 in 23 minutes of action.

He would not only serve as a fantastic backup point guard for the C’s and a great scoring option off the bench — something the team obviously needs –, but would also be a greta mentor, alongside Walker, for their young, undersized guard in Tremont Waters.

I know what you’re going to want to say: Isaiah Thomas’ presence would only lessen the minutes Waters could potentially receive during his sophomore season. While this is technically true, do you honestly expect Waters to get significant playing time next season for a team with legitimate championship aspirations after spending ample time in the G-League and appearing in just 10 games for the Celtics in 2019-20?

Crazier things have happened, sure! And, believe me, we believe Tremont Waters has the potential to be a solid player in this league… but that’s a little ways a way.

Unless he significantly improves upon his game by the start of next season, with or without Thomas in tow, no one should expect Waters to be the primary backup point guard for this team in 2020-21.

Because of this, what would possibly be holding back the Boston Celtics from bringing back Isaiah Thomas to fill their second unit one guard position?

The team needs second unit scoring; Thomas is a career 18.1 point per game scorer.

The team needs a facilitator in the second unit; Thomas averaged six assists in Stevens’ offense.

The team could seriously use another veteran leader for this youthful C’ team; Thomas has proven he can be that leader, especially with his previous stint with Boston.

Make this happen, Danny! He shouldn’t cost much and would only help improve a role that currently is lacking on the team’s roster.