Isaiah Thomas Reportedly Traded to Boston Celtics
The Phoenix Suns have reportedly dealt guard Isaiah Thomas to the Boston Celtics.
Continue for updates.
Thomas Reportedly Traded to Celtics
Thursday, Feb. 19
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported that Thomas has been dealt to the Celtics:
Suns Could Deal Thomas to Keep Goran Dragic Happy
Wednesday, Feb. 18
With two months remaining in the NBA's regular season before Goran Dragic becomes a free agent, the Suns are desperate to keep the guard happy. That may mean trading Thomas, but after Dragic's strong comments against the Suns, both could be moved before the trade deadline. According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, Thomas would be first to go:
"While offers are coming in on Dragic, then, the Suns are actively seeking to move guard Isaiah Thomas first, the source said, operating under the hope that if they can make such a deal, they will have the remaining two months of the season to persuade Dragic to stay with the Suns as a free agent.
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Suns Seeking Thomas Trade
Tuesday, Feb. 17
With the Suns extremely eager to sign Dragic to a contract extension this summer but the star guard unhappy with the team's current backcourt situation, Phoenix could look to move Thomas at the trade deadline.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, "Dragic has become increasingly disenchanted with how the Suns' three-guard experiment with Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas has impacted him this season, and several league sources believe that to keep Dragic long term it's incumbent on the Suns to unload Thomas before the start of July free agency."
Wojnarowski adds, "The Suns have been engaged in talks involving Thomas and guard Gerald Green prior to Thursday's trade deadline, but there are no assurances Phoenix will find a deal for them."
Thomas, 26, is having a very good season for Phoenix, averaging 15.3 points and 3.7 assists in 25.7 minutes per game. However, with Thomas now in the fold in Phoenix, Dragic has seen his points and assists per game decrease. Last season, he averaged 20.3 points and 5.9 assists per contest; this year, he's down to 16.2 and 4.1.
Thomas joined the Suns this summer in a sign-and-trade with the Sacramento Kings. His stay in Phoenix could be a short one, however.
With re-signing Dragic a major priority, the Suns could potentially kill two birds with one stone by dealing Thomas. By dealing away Thomas, they could bring in young assets or another player in the frontcourt while keeping Dragic happy. That certainly makes a Thomas trade seem likely.
On the other hand, giving up the team's third-leading scorer as Phoenix finds itself battling for a playoff berth isn't exactly ideal. The team would probably prefer for Dragic to learn to coexist in the backcourt as presently constructed.
If that can't happen, however, it seems as though the Suns would prefer to keep Dragic and cut ties with Thomas after just 46 games.
