While Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas sits back and watches monster contracts get handed out across the NBA, he’s patiently waiting. New teammate Gordon Hayward just signed a four-year deal worth around $128 million to join Thomas in Boston, and the team’s point guard seemed pretty thrilled about that.
Even still, Thomas has remained patient when it comes to his own contract. As ESPN’s Chris Forsberg reported, he’s made it known that he’s good with waiting until he’s an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018 to get paid if it means the Celtics can improve their roster now. Which, is exactly what they did with the Hayward signing.
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But, let’s not be crazy here either, because Thomas, like the rest of Boston and the entire NBA knows, is going to get his money when 2018 free agency rolls around. The Celtics leader made sure that was known also recently, as he told CSN New England’s A. Sherrod Blakely that he’s “happy” for everyone else, but also that he’s a “max guy.”
Then came his infamous Brinks truck statement.
“My time is coming,” Thomas said. “They know they’ve got to bring the Brink’s truck.”
This isn’t a surprise, but let’s be real here. Thomas is set to play in the final season of his four-year, $27 million deal that was signed back in 2014 with the Celtics, per Spotrac. For a guy who’s fresh off a monster breakout season where he averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game, while also shooting 46.3 percent from the floor, it’s hard to argue that he’s not going to get paid how he wants to either.
Possibly the most important part of what Thomas helped the Celtics do last year was take home the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. With Hayward now on board and Boston looking even stronger than last season, they could seriously push LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Eastern Conference crown.
If that winds up happening, don’t be surprised if the Celtics have that Brinks truck at his front door almost immediately next offseason.
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NBA Free Agency 2018: Celtics Star Isaiah Thomas Wants a Max Contract