It’s time.
I know it’s been a while, and that's actually part of my reasoning here. I also know that the argument I am about to make has no basis in the actual basketball being played on the floor, so it makes this a unique angle for me.
But it’s finally time.
The Celtics should bring back Isaiah Thomas.
Trust me when I say I don’t make that argument lightly. I’ve spent years saying no to everyone who suggested the possibility. It never made any sense to me before now.
Things have changed.
Thomas is playing in the G League for Salt Lake City, putting up 30-plus points per game and showing that he may never forget how to put the ball in the hoop. He’s also showing the purest form of love for the game of basketball; a willingness to do anything it takes just to be on the floor. His passion has always been his strongest suit, and it continues to shine through today, even at 35.
It’s really not about the hoops at this point, though. I don't look at Thomas and think he’s a steal on the free agent market and they should snatch him up before someone like Miami does. I don’t think adding him to the roster will change anything happening on the court. In fact, I don’t think he’ll play any non-garbage time minutes.
But he finally seems okay with that, and that's a big reason why I’ve changed my mind about this. I think his efforts to get back have always been about playing in the NBA again. I think this time is more about being in the NBA, whether he plays or not.
That's a big difference. His acceptance of that role is at the center of this whole thing. I don’t care that he’s hitting shots in the G League. I don’t care that he looks okay on the floor. He’s not really good enough to be an NBA regular anymore. If he was, he’d be in the NBA.
But he’s good enough to be in the locker room and be a voice the Celtics haven't had for a long time. He’s good enough to bring a “chip on the shoulder” attitude that Boston can really use. And considering Boston’s struggles with late-game situations, bringing in the guy whose entire identity revolved around making those clutch shots might not be such a bad idea.
The only downside, and it’s a big one, would be the sideshow he’d bring with him. It’s not his fault, but the love for Thomas in Boston is intense, and him back in a Boston uniform would bring out all the media outlets that are ignoring the Celtics right now.
Every TV camera in town would flood the Auerbach Center. The crowd on game nights would go bonkers when he gets onto the floor for warmups. The building will fill with “WE WANT I-T” chants throughout the game. There would be signs, and questions, and who knows what else that could serve as a distraction to a pretty focused Celtics group.
No one wants to derail what these guys have built so far. No one wants to knock it off course. And Joe Mazzulla has been so hell-bent on creating the right mindset that he might bristle at even the thought of adding a spectacle like Isaiah Thomas to the roster.
I wouldn’t blame him, either. This team is good enough to win a championship as it is. They don’t need to be knocked off course right now.
However, the sideshow will fade. The first few games would be tough but it would calm down from there. Thomas’ story and journey back to the league is inspirational, and it would close a feedback loop in Celtics history. I think he’d be good for the locker room, pushing the team in ways it hasn’t been.
Knowing what I know about Mazzulla and the Celtics, it’s probably a long shot. But it’s a shot the Celtics should take. Maybe it’s just bringing IT along for a championship ride, and maybe the sentiment of it all is too great to ignore, but if there was ever a time to make this move, it’s now.
Bring back Isaiah Thomas.
