Isaiah Thomas says he doesn’t believe that Boston Celtics improved by trading him to the Cleveland Cavaliers last month.
The all-star revealed his feelings in a Players’ Tribune article Wednesday.
“It’s not that I don’t understand it,” Thomas wrote. “Of course I get it: This is a business. [Celtics GM] Danny [Ainge] is a businessman, and he made a business move. I don’t agree with it, just personally, and I don’t think the Boston Celtics got better by making this trade.”
Thomas was officially acquired by the Cavaliers in a deal that sent fellow point guard Kyrie Irving to Boston. Cleveland also acquired Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick and the Miami Heat’s 2020 second-round pick in the trade.
In the article, titled ‘This Is For Boston,’ Thomas outlines how he first learned of the deal and the different reactions of his two sons.
“Man, am I going to miss being a Celtic,” he wrote. “But yeah, I’ll just say it: That s— hurt. It hurt a lot… And I hope people can understand that when I say it hurt, it isn’t directed at anyone. I’m not saying I was hurt by anyone, or wronged by anyone, or betrayed. I’m just saying, man, I’m only human.”
Thomas revealed that he received a good luck text from Boston sporting legend Tom Brady and also discussed the support he got from fans in the city while competing during the recent post-season after learning about the death of his sister, Chyna.
The 28-year-old Thomas also shared his excitement to play with new teammate LeBron James — the “best basketball player on the planet” — and said there will be mixed emotions about facing his former team.
“That was our goal in Boston for so long — get through the Cavs, and win the East. And I know that’s still Boston’s goal. But now, it’s like, I’m the one who has to stop them from reaching it. And that’s tough. Because come playoff time, if and when we have to face the Celtics… I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. But that won’t just be “the team I used to be on.” That’s my old team. The elite offense, the 30-some national TV games, the becoming a place where free agents want to come and play — I feel like I helped build that. I helped create that.
“And come playoffs, all of a sudden, it’ll be like, O.K., now destroy it.”
The first game of the 2017-18 NBA season is Oct. 17. The matchup? Cleveland vs. Boston.
[relatedlinks]
