A Little Behind-the-scenes look at the Thomas Trade Process
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A Little Behind-the-scenes look at the Thomas Trade Process
The Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett offers some insights into how Isaiah Thomas became a Celtic after the Celts and Suns had played ring around the rosie to the point where Danny had given up on the possibility. As I suspected, it was Phoenix who blinked near the deadline. Danny’s greatest excitement seems to stem from the fact that Thomas can give the Celtics the type of dynamic player who can create shots for himself down the stretch. Isaiah is one of the leading fourth quarter scorers in the NBA. Danny’s looking forward to seeing Isaiah and Smart complement one another. I’m looking for the same thing from Thomas and Turner.
Turner may well wind up playing more 3 with Thomas on the team. I could also see Thomas teaming with Smart while Turner and Bradley form a complementary duo. Those pairings could reduce the height vulnerabilities of Bradley and Thomas somewhat.
One major question as a result of Sully’s injury and the two trades is whether Jerebko could be catapulted into a very interesting PF role—that of defensive stopper. In the past, he has been described as a savvy and tough defender, although I don’t know how much his Achilles’ injury may have blunted his lateral quickness. IF Brad chooses to continue starting Bass at center, Kelly presumably won’t be able to take all the PF minutes—especially because matachups, alone, wouldn’t permit it. Enter Jerebko? At least I believe Brad will give Joonas a fair look—certainly in practice and probably in games as well.
Anyway, following is the Bulpett article.
Sam
Deadline involves Danny Ainge after all
Friday, February 20, 2015
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[size=13]Steve Bulpett[/size]
Danny Ainge didn’t see this one coming. Or these two, for that matter.
Turner may well wind up playing more 3 with Thomas on the team. I could also see Thomas teaming with Smart while Turner and Bradley form a complementary duo. Those pairings could reduce the height vulnerabilities of Bradley and Thomas somewhat.
One major question as a result of Sully’s injury and the two trades is whether Jerebko could be catapulted into a very interesting PF role—that of defensive stopper. In the past, he has been described as a savvy and tough defender, although I don’t know how much his Achilles’ injury may have blunted his lateral quickness. IF Brad chooses to continue starting Bass at center, Kelly presumably won’t be able to take all the PF minutes—especially because matachups, alone, wouldn’t permit it. Enter Jerebko? At least I believe Brad will give Joonas a fair look—certainly in practice and probably in games as well.
Anyway, following is the Bulpett article.
Sam
Deadline involves Danny Ainge after all
Friday, February 20, 2015
PrintEmail0 Comments
By:
[size=13]Steve Bulpett[/size]
Danny Ainge didn’t see this one coming. Or these two, for that matter.
The Celtics president of basketball operations was prepared to let yesterday’s NBA trade deadline pass without Bostonian involvement. He was having trouble getting teams to meet his asking price for veterans on expiring contracts. He was having no luck attaching the Celts to a bigger deal for some modest return. And the one move he thought might have a chance was locked in stalemate to the point that he’d given up on it.
Though he had his phone with him at all times, Ainge went to watch his son play in a high school basketball game Wednesday night, less than 24 hours before the 3 p.m. deadline. The phones were worked again yesterday, but nothing was shaking loose until less than an hour remained.
In short order, the Celtics had agreements to acquire coveted point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Suns for Marcus Thornton and Cleveland’s top 10-protected first round pick in 2016 and to send Tayshaun Prince to Detroit for forwards Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome. (Word is the Celts will take a look at Jerebko, but Datome could be waived or bought out.)
The Celtics also created a $7.7 million trade exception as part of this move.
The Celtics also created a $7.7 million trade exception as part of this move.
“It was very much a surprise,” Ainge told the Herald. “I just didn’t think we were going to be able to do anything. Things were quiet for us, and then some opportunities opened up. There was the possibility of the Detroit trade, but I just didn’t think the Phoenix deal was going to happen. I think it was just the other stuff going on there (the Suns’ dealing of Goran Dragic to Miami and their pick-up of Brandon Knight from Milwaukee) that changed that.”
Ainge wouldn’t get into details on the Thomas move, but both sides were shooting it down in the lead-up to the deadline, believing they had made their best offers and that the other club wouldn’t budge.
Though there was no confirmation of the specific issue, it is believed to be over the inclusion of Thornton, who is on the last year of a contract that will pay him $8.575 million. According to one NBA source, “Phoenix moved.”
The 5-foot-9 Thomas is clearly the prize for the Celtics in all of this. The 26-year-old averaged 20.3 points for Sacramento last year and was averaging 15.2 for Phoenix this season in nine fewer minutes per game. He gives the C’s true scoring punch and is strong with the ball on pick-and-rolls and getting to the basket — areas in which the Shamrocks are deficient.
Ainge put in the call to Phoenix general manager Ryan McDonough, his former assistant with the C’s, taking yet another step to express his affection for Thomas, now in his fourth NBA season. After the aforementioned road block, things finally worked out.
“I’ve always wanted Isaiah,” Ainge said. “Isaiah was my first call last summer in free agency. Isaiah was a guy I liked in the draft (in 2011, though the Celts took E’Twaun Moore at No. 55 and the Kings got Thomas with the last overall pick at No. 60). Isaiah was a guy that was part of discussions when he was at Sacramento.”
Danny wasn’t through gushing. “He’s one of the most efficient offensive point guards in the NBA,” he said. “He’s one of if not the leading fourth-quarter scorers in the NBA. One thing our team has lacked is speed and pick-and-roll offensive play. That’s one of our glaring needs. And that’s what Isaiah gives us.”
While it’s also clear that the Celtics need depth in their backcourt, there is the obvious question of how Thomas’ presence will affect rookie Marcus Smart. Thomas came off the bench in Phoenix, and it’s possible he’ll continue in that role. “I think he complements Marcus,” Ainge said. “I think that they can complement each other. It doesn’t really change Marcus. Marcus can learn a lot from him. He can take pressure off Marcus. We’ve already seen that Marcus can guard multiple possessions.”
Thomas fits the C’s rebuilding plan in another way, as well. He carries a very favorable contract relative to his ability. Thomas is locked in for three more years after this season, and his yearly salary decreases incrementally from $7,238,606 for 2014-15 to $6,261,395 in 2017-18.
“Thomas has a great contract,” a league source said. “That probably wasn’t the big thing with Boston wanting him, but it’s a nice thing for them to have. The reason behind a lot of these trades — maybe even most of them — is that the teams that moved guys didn’t want to pay them what the going rate is or is going to be. You saw teams trying to do extensions with some of these guys, and when they couldn’t because the player’s price was too high and they see what’s happening in the marketplace, they moved on from them.”
While Thomas’ contract is a very nice element for the Celtics, the bottom-line effect of the rest of the numbers in the transactions will not have a great impact.
While Thomas’ contract is a very nice element for the Celtics, the bottom-line effect of the rest of the numbers in the transactions will not have a great impact.
The club has spoken of having room to sign two players to maximum free agent contracts this summer, and they could still do it by making another trade or two to clear space. But the larger question there is whether the Celts would be able to attract two players worth handing max deals.
Re: A Little Behind-the-scenes look at the Thomas Trade Process
Huuuummmmmmm. I think I've seen a couple mentions that Thomas is adept at the pick and roll offensively.
Could that mean he and Zeller could get some of the great pick and roll chemistry that Rondo and Zeller had? Sure do hope so!
Could that mean he and Zeller could get some of the great pick and roll chemistry that Rondo and Zeller had? Sure do hope so!
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bobc33- Posts : 13796
Join date : 2009-10-16
Re: A Little Behind-the-scenes look at the Thomas Trade Process
Here's Thomas' shot chart. A surprisingly large percentage of his shots at the rim for a little guy. Either he's a great finisher or he likes to run. I'm good with either...
bob
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bob
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bobheckler- Posts : 62312
Join date : 2009-10-28
Re: A Little Behind-the-scenes look at the Thomas Trade Process
I am curious to why the Suns did this. If they would have kept Dragic it would make sense-ish but now they sent out Thomas and Dragic? And all they got back was a late first round pick? I guess they have Bledsoe and Knight now but for me it would have made sense in my mind to keep a cheap spark plug like Thomas around..
swedeinestonia- Posts : 2153
Join date : 2009-10-17
Age : 44
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