Isaiah Thomas Wants Celtics To Upgrade Before Extension Talks

Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas is set to hit free agency after next season but he’s willing to put aside his contractual situation in order for the team to upgrade in other areas.

Thomas, 28, has evolved into one of the NBA’s biggest bargains: he signed a four-year, $27MM deal in 2014 before he was the third leading scorer in the league, this year averaging 28.9 PPG for Boston. The Washington native’s current deal expires after the 2017/18 campaign but the team comes before him, Thomas said to Chris Forsberg of ESPN.

“We need the best possible player that’s gonna help us win, and I’m with that,” Thomas said. “Anything Danny [Ainge] and this organization need me to do to help bring even more talent to this city, I’m all for that. I want to win a championship, and being so close to getting to the Finals, that makes you want it that much more.”

Thomas missed the final three games of the Celtics’ five-game Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Cavaliers due to a hip injury. Before the injury, however, Thomas led the team past the Bulls in six games and the Wizards in seven games. In the regular season, the Celtics were able to sneak past the Cavaliers to finish with the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

A lot of Thomas’ run has been unprecedented; Ainge reportedly considered trading Thomas for a draft pick last year and now he’s generally viewed as the team’s best player. Entering this offseason, the Celtics own the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, and are expected to select Washington’s Markelle Fultz.

There will be a lot of speculation in regards to Thomas’ future in Beantown but his preference is to stay put and help the Celtics hang their 18th championship banner.

“I love this team and I don’t think anybody in this organization would think this team is better without me,” he said. “I don’t even think my teammates would say that.”

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