NBA free agency: Isaiah Thomas wants to pitch Celtics to Kevin Durant

Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas will join general manager Danny Ainge to help recruit Kevin Durant to the Celtics during 2016 NBA free agency.

According to Boston Celtics beat reporter for ESPN.com Chris Forsberg, “Isaiah Thomas headed to meet with Danny Ainge right now and lobby to be part of Boston’s Kevin Durant recruiting contingent in the Hamptons”

Though Boston has more great basketball history than any franchise in the NBA, the Celtics are very much a dark horse to end up signing Durant in 2016 NBA free agency. Boston is a playoff caliber team in the easier Eastern Conference, but doesn’t have the roster of star players that Durant would certainly want to play with.

Thomas is the only All-Star caliber player currently on the Celtics. While Ainge has a ton of assets to orchestrate a trade to potentially land another All-Star caliber player in Boston, he has been able to do so since most other general manager covet Thomas in a deal with the Celtics.

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Given that Thomas has had to go to Ainge’s office to essentially beg for being in the room with the Celtics when they give their free agency pitch has to mean that Boston has almost no chance at signing Durant this summer.

How can Ainge even consider pitching Boston to Durant if he doesn’t have his team’s best player in Thomas there at the bargaining table? Thomas is a top 10 point guard in the game and could potentially develop good on-court chemistry with Durant on the Celtics. If Boston has any sliver of hope to land Durant this summer, Thomas has to go with Ainge to the Hamptons or Boston’s recruiting effort would be a complete waste of time for all involved.

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