Celtics' Ainge fires back at IT: 'I don't know what we owe him'

Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge waited a few days for the story to dissipate before getting in the last word against Isaiah Thomas.

Though Thomas said he still loves the Celtics and their fans, he said he might never talk to Ainge ever again after this summer's stunning blockbuster swap that saw Thomas sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving.

Ainge shot back during an appearance on WEEI on Tuesday, saying that Thomas got what he deserved just days after claiming he still loves Thomas despite their differences.

"I don't know what we owe him," Ainge said, according to WEEI columnist Ty Anderson. "We gave him an opportunity while he was here."

In the strictest sense, the Celtics did nothing wrong. Any player in the league can be traded and they did swap, as Ainge bluntly stated, "good" for "great" in returning a healthier, younger, and more accomplished guard in Irving. Boston also gave Thomas a chance to grow into a star after being overlooked by his last two franchises.

But it's not as if Thomas didn't more than prove himself to the Celtics. Thomas suited up for a playoff game just one day after his sister died, played on a busted hip to push Boston to the No. 1 seed and the Eastern Conference Finals, became the franchise player and the undisputed leader in the locker room, recruited two premium free agents, and made himself into an MVP candidate all while earning less than $8 million per year.

And when Thomas was injured and one year away from a much deserved raise in free agency, he was blind-sided with a trade.

But instead of just letting Thomas have his moment and taking the PR hit squarely on the chin, Ainge had to have the last word. Thomas got what he deserved.