Asked on Tuesday whether the Celtics considered signing Isaiah Thomas at any point this season, head coach Ime Udoka said that point guard “was never really a position of need” for his team, as Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston tweets.
The Celtics did trade away a point guard – Dennis Schröder – at last month’s deadline, but acquired Derrick White on the same day. The team came out of the trade deadline with five open spots on its 15-man roster and has since filled them all without adding another point guard.
Now a member of the Hornets on a 10-day contract, Thomas will face his old team on Wednesday night in Charlotte. And, as Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe details, the veteran point guard admitted that he’s disappointed a reunion with the Celtics has never materialized since he was traded by the team in 2017.
“I’ve tried to have conversations about that, but it’s hard to speak on because I’ve opened my arms to try to come back in so many ways,” Thomas said on Tuesday. “And it’s not even playing and trying to pick up where I left off. I’m past that moment. I know there’s been times where I can help in that locker room.
“This is from the outside looking in, but I felt like there’s times where (president of basketball operations) Brad (Stevens) could make a call and give me an opportunity, and it hasn’t happened, so that’s very frustrating because of the relationship we have, the friendship we’ve been able to have over the years.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Nik Stauskas, who signed a two-year, minimum-salary contract with the Celtics last week, said on Tuesday that he had considered the possibility of walking away from basketball after this season if he didn’t get another NBA opportunity, tweets Forsberg. Stauskas’ salary for 2022/23 is non-guaranteed, but if he impresses the C’s down the stretch, it’s possible he’ll stick around for next season.
- Fourth-year center Mitchell Robinson has been one of the few bright spots for the Knicks this season, according to Steve Popper of Newsday, who notes that Robinson has played some of his best basketball recently as he nears unrestricted free agency. “Mitch is playing really well, really well,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said on Monday. “I want him to continue on that path. His effort to the board — his execution is much, much improved in terms of what we can do with him in terms of dribble-handoff and pick-and-roll and that sort of thing. He’s growing day by day.” Robinson, who was limited to just two minutes on Monday due to an illness, is questionable to play in Dallas on Wednesday.
- With the Knicks in need of some reliable backcourt production due to the absences of players like Derrick Rose, Quentin Grimes, and Kemba Walker, Immanuel Quickley has broken out of a season-long shooting slump and strung together a series of impressive offensive performances at just the right time, says Peter Botte of The New York Post. In his last five games (26.5 MPG), Quickley is averaging 18.6 PPG on .528/.520/.960 shooting.
- DeAndre Jordan didn’t make much of an impact in Los Angeles this season, but he could be the ideal backup for Sixers star Joel Embiid, Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer contends.
Here come the sixers…
Thomas is like that chick you broke up with and totally forgot about who hopes it’s you every time her phone rings.
Robinson will be a monster for his new team next year when the Knicks do him a favor and don’t sign him.
Or he’ll regress in a non-contract year and be a slightly immature big man with a big night every once in a while to try and distract from all the mediocre ones.
Yes, if the Knicks keep him that is exactly what will happen!
How many Knicks gms do you watch. A true genius …….
Aww, Al, I’m sorry you’re mad.
Mad at what ….. you’re the one hating. The definition of Mad lol. All you do is make me laugh. Like all the geniuses here.
Al, you aren’t the Knicks Police. You respond to every one of my posts just because I have a different opinion than you. Get over yourself.
Sorry, but Isaiah would be a disaster in the Celtics locker room. Just like he is right now on Celtics blogs, it would be all about him. He would play to reporters, then garner & foster all the attention. Stevens know this. We need all the attention on the TEAM. Go Celtics!
Celts wouldbe better off if IT was more of a ghost than a haunt.
Mitch has had a terrible yr. He just started playing well recently. He started season out of shape. And was main reason. Our top team D last yr. Was one of worst this yr. This writer is like the geniuses on this board. That saw a gm and think they got answers.
Mitchs wheels are not right. Thibs has been pushing him too hard imo. He’s not as fluid as last yr. He has a history of sprained ankles. Trust me I know what that is. Still he has a chance to be a solid D center. Frankly I rather trade him now. And just get value for him. When we pick this yr, Duren will be there. He will have a better career than Mitch imo. And Sims is developing nicely. I’m very good with those two at C. Always said Noel should start next to KAT. He’d help that team immensely as a rebounder and D player. He can help another team with steady mins. We should also move him if we pick up Duren.
Agbaji is a player I like too. But we are good at the 2. So I see Duren as the pick if we stay with our pick. But I would rather move up for Mathurin or Banchero. Banchero has been dropping.