Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas was part of a trade in February of 2015 that sent Tayshaun Prince to the Detroit Pistons, Marcus Thornton and a 2016 1st round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns, and Thomas, Gigi Datome, and Jonas Jerebko to the Boston Celtics.
Reflecting on it two years later, with Thomas one of the most impressive elite offensive talents in the NBA, it appears to be going well for Boston.
Thomas thinks so, too.
"It's like they gave me a Christmas gift sending me away," Isaiah Thomas says of the Suns trading him to the Celtics.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 4, 2017
If you’ll remember, that Phoenix team had both Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe to compete with. Thomas operated mostly from the bench at 26 minutes a night in a backup role.
Thomas is now firmly part of this year’s MVP race -- although he is unlikely to surpass keystone seasons from James Harden and Russell Westbrook -- and deservedly so. The Celtics guard has posted career numbers in offensive rating, VORP, win shares, and in more traditional statistics like points, field goal percentage, and 3-point shooting.
The Celtics are the No. 2 seed in the East at the moment. Meanwhile, the Suns are one spot of of last place in the West.
