The Boston Celtics have been feel-good since Brad Stevens took over in the 2021 offseason — seeing Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown go to the NBA Finals in the first season of his reign as President of Basketball Operations and seeing countless reunions with former fan favorites.
Al Horford’s return is the most prominent, but there’ve been returns of former players, and even former players as coaches. Stevens subscribes to friendly faces being invited back to familiar places.
When it comes to the future, another return feels almost inevitable. But who might be on the radar of the Celtics PBO? On the other side of that token, whose return is a pipedream at this point?
Another Boston Celtics return for Daniel Theis is always an option
Daniel Theis has been drafted by, traded by twice, and traded for once by the Boston Celtics, and his latest move was outbound to the Indiana Pacers for Malcolm Brogdon. With a club option for the 2024-25 season, it’s possible Theis could be a free agent in less than a year.
If nowhere else, Boston is a home for Theis given the willingness the team has had to feature him in the rotation when he’s in town. No sides seem likely to turn down a minimum deal, especially in the current cap climate.
While Theis has never been the true answer at center, he’s a top-level backup the Cs could find; especially considering the previous fit. Never say never when it comes to the German big and Boston.
Aaron Nesmith has blossomed after leaving the Boston Celtics
Unfortunately, Aaron Nesmith, another member of the 2021-22 Celtics who was part of the package offered to the Pacers for Brodgon, isn’t likely to ever seek a comeback to the city of Boston. In his first season in Indiana, Nesmith had career-highs across the board and even started 60 games. As a reserve with the Cs, Nesmith merely looked like a player whose potential wasn’t being reached.
Getting opportunities was obviously a factor, and taking away Jayson Tatum’s or Jaylen Brown’s touches wouldn’t have been realistic if the former lottery pick stayed in Boston. Nesmith had to be elsewhere, and moving forward, it seems in his best interest to remain elsewhere.
As much as a weapon the new and improved Nesmith would seemingly be for Joe Mazzulla’s second unit, it’s possible that he wouldn’t even be the same guy in the original locker room he was brought into.
Don’t be sad that it’s over, likely for good, though. Smile that it happened and that the career Nesmith looks ticketed for began at the TD Garden.
Grant Williams could develop into a starter elsewhere before returning to the Boston Celtics
Grant Williams seemed to have an authentic personal bond with Jayson Tatum and his son Deuce, and his friendship with Mazzulla didn’t wane despite the forward not receiving the minutes he desired in his first contract year.
While things ended poorly, the Celtics and Williams appeared to have a great relationship for as long as the partnership lasted. A return could be possible in the future after Williams develops into a full-time starting-caliber talent in this league.
Playing alongside Luka Doncic seems guaranteed to help that happen. TBD on the same being said about playing alongside Kyrie Irving; something Williams missed out on after being drafted weeks before the point guard signed with the Brooklyn Nets.
Stevens will revisit Williams if he plays his way into being a bargain. At just $54 million over the course of four years, that’s quite far from impossible as the cap continues to rise.
Isaiah Thomas feels like a Boston Celtics goner for good
Unfortunately, Isaiah Thomas doesn’t seem likely to ever return to the Boston Celtics after former general manager Danny Ainge traded him more than half a decade ago. The King of the Fourth, the five-foot-nine messiah, IT, whatever you call him — don’t forget what he brought to the franchise during his two and a half seasons.
Particularly during the 2017 postseason.
Thomas gave his all to the Celtics and became a superstar despite coming to the team as a sixth man. As the third point guard in a redundant Phoenix Suns floor general rotation with Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic, Thomas wasn’t supposed to become an MVP candidate. He wasn’t supposed to be the headline star in opposition to LeBron James in a conference finals series. He wasn’t supposed to provide fans with the enduring memory of a 50-point game in the aftermath of his sister’s death in the playoffs. Not on February 19, 2015.
But he did. And he may never do it in green again, because it feels like it would’ve happened already.
Marcus Smart has not played his last game as a member of the Boston Celtics — not by a long shot
No. 36 will be worn again by a Celtic someday. And you can take it to the bank that it’s going to be Marcus Smart donning it.
Smart’s inclusion in the Kristaps Porzingis trade was a shocker; especially considering Malcolm Brogdon was supposed to be the point guard included by the front office in the transaction. His absence will be felt by the locker room no matter what spin anyone tries to put come media day. However, that doesn’t even feel like that much of a possibility considering how much respect Smart has garnered in this city.
Smart will be a valuable Ja Morant fill-in for the Memphis Grizzlies until the All-NBA guard makes his return. Then, he’ll be the perfect Yang to Morant’s Yin in the Grizz backcourt. That could be the case for a few seasons.
But come the 2026 offseason, be prepared for the former Defensive Player of the Year to consider coming home. And just know that by the end of his career, Smart will be a Celtic once again.