Boston Celtics: Former MVP candidate a potential ‘driving force’ for Cs to repeat in east

Now that the Kevin Durant conjecture can finally be laid to rest given his collective decision with the Brooklyn Nets organization to move forward with their partnership, the Boston Celtics have a few pressing issues to address before the start of training camp — which begins in roughly a month’s time.

There are three open roster spots and a few different holes Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has to fill before the start of the season. Finding a backup center to slot ahead of Luke Kornet at the 5 spot on the depth chart is important, as is finding another wing behind Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum since Grant Williams and Danilo Gallinari both profile as true power forwards.

Then again, Ime Udoka could small-ball his way out of those problems, moving up the aforementioned forwards to the pivot and playing guys Derrick White and Marcus Smart at the 3 on occasion.

If this Boston team was to embrace small-ball in any fashion, the return of the five-foot-nine messiah, Isaiah Thomas, feels like the final chess move the front office must play to appease the ghosts of Celtics’ past.

FanNation’s Brett Siegel said that the veteran guard ‘could really help be a driving force for this team to make it back to the NBA Finals’ and added that ‘he could have absolutely had a positive impact coming off the bench for the Celtics in the NBA Finals this past season.’

Isaiah Thomas is the one major Boston Celtics reunion remaining for Brad Stevens to make

The Boston Celtics brought back Al Horford, then Enes Kanter, then Daniel Theis, all within Brad Stevens’ first season overseeing the front office in the President of Basketball Operations role. At this point, Isaiah Thomas is the one major reunion remaining for Stevens and co. to manifest.

Thomas’ meaning to the team goes beyond his current-day contributions. His trade was seen as the one major mistake of the Danny Ainge era that Stevens can amend with one simple vet minimum signing.

Realistically, there’s no pressing need to add IT given the four backcourt bodies that will be pushing for time in 2022-23. But adding him could be the extra burst of excitement needed to keep the Banner 18 buzz going at a fever pitch until next June.