The job is almost done for Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens after signing Dennis Schroder for the $5.9 million taxpayer MLE last night.
Entering free agency with a need at the 1 after dumping Kemba Walker’s contract on the Oklahoma City Thunder, Stevens got the best value possible on a 27-year-old point guard two seasons removed from averaging 19 points, four assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game on a 47/38/84 shooting slash.
Avoiding the sort of overpays Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry ended up with, Boston got a fast-paced floor general that could slice the opposing defensive sets and create havoc in the passing lane and on-ball with his impressive length.
Stevens’ job is almost done. Something is missing, though. Al Horford is back, even Enes Kanter is back, but there’s one more reunion Cs fans are dying to see.
The Boston Celtics must now add Isaiah Thomas after signing Dennis Schroder.
Schroder is a massive step towards climbing back to the top of the Eastern Conference, but even still, there’s a lot of youth being relied on in the backcourt. Payton Pritchard and Yam Madar could–and based on their Summer League showings so far, should–be steady enough hands to hand backup minutes to.
Kris Dunn’s shot is not consistent enough to keep him in the rotation at this point. He’s had a decent 3-point shooting season just once in his five-year career and his 2020-21 season in Atlanta was essentially a wash. He played just four games and logged 45 minutes of playing time, making exactly one field goal all year.
Stevens could shore up the backcourt with one key addition that wouldn’t even demand a ton of playing time because his mere presence would be a major boost to team morale anyway.
That would be none other than the five-foot-nine messiah and former Boston Celtics MVP candidate Isaiah Thomas.
Thomas just dropped 81 points in a pro-am game, becoming impossible to ignore in the process. The theme of the offseason in Boston has been returns, and none would be more desired by this fanbase than IT’s.
With Dennis Schroder in tow, Thomas must follow. Then, Stevens’ first offseason as the face of the front office would be complete.
And wildly successful.