Danny Ainge asks Isaiah Thomas to help Celtics with free agency moves
Isaiah Thomas is set to put his experience being shuffled from team to team to good use for the Boston Celtics.
With free agency looming, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has asked the point guard, who over three seasons bounced from the Sacramento Kings to the Phoenix Suns to Boston, for his input into the Celtics' offseason moves.
"Danny said if there's any free agent out there I'm interested in, to let him know," Thomas told the Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach. "That has me excited. For him to ask for my input means a lot, because it means I'm definitely, right now, a part of the future, and they also value your word and what you think about the game of basketball. It means a lot, and it's a mutual respect we have. Now, hopefully, we can get a few guys."
Thomas sold himself to Ainge as a free agent recruiting resource after having practice while playing for the University of Washington, where he helped convince high school prospects to choose the Huskies.
The point guard has made a big impact on the team in a short time. Despite Boston dropping their first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 26-year-old gave the Celtics a fighting chance every game, averaging 17.5 points and being near perfect from the charity stripe.
The number one request on Thomas's wish list come July is a big man who can protect the rim.
"A defensive-minded player," he said. "It'd be nice to get one of those in the draft. A lot of the big men out there could definitely help us out.
"People saw what we could do even without a so-called superstar. We held our own, for the most part, against Cleveland, and we weren't expected to do anything."
Thomas kept his lips sealed when it came to any specific player names, but it's interesting to note that he has a longstanding friendship with injured Cavs power forward Kevin Love, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this July. Although it was the Celtics' Kelly Olynyk who ended Love's season, he reportedly has no ill will toward the team.