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Boston Celtics get Isaiah Thomas from Phoenix Suns for Marcus Thornton, first-round pick - ESPN Boston
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Boston Celtics thrust themselves into the frenetic final minutes of the 2015 NBA trade deadline, acquiring point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Phoenix Suns and dealing Tayshaun Prince to the Detroit Pistons, according to sources.
Boston acquired Thomas in exchange for Marcus Thornton and the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 first-round draft pick, sources told ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman.
Boston sent Prince to the Detroit team he spent most of his career with in exchange for Jonas Jerebko and Luigi Datome, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge had said Thursday morning that Boston was "all over the map" while examining possibilities as a buyer, seller or facilitator. For much of the early afternoon, it looked as if Boston might endure its third tradeless deadline in four years, but the Celtics finished with a bang.
Thomas signed a modest four-year, $27 million contract this past summer that decreases in value each season. In the hours leading up to the deadline, Ainge had noted, "We're also looking to acquire players that are already under contract. We really don't want to get rid of multiple draft picks for players with uncertainty in the free-agent market -- a situation like we were in with [Rajon] Rondo. ... We're looking for more certainty."
Now the Celtics add a pint-sized point guard who immediately becomes their best penetrator. Thomas can create off the dribble and provide a scoring punch, mixing into what will be a three-guard rotation with rookie Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley.
Boston acquired Thomas in exchange for Marcus Thornton and the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 first-round draft pick, sources told ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman.
Boston sent Prince to the Detroit team he spent most of his career with in exchange for Jonas Jerebko and Luigi Datome, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge had said Thursday morning that Boston was "all over the map" while examining possibilities as a buyer, seller or facilitator. For much of the early afternoon, it looked as if Boston might endure its third tradeless deadline in four years, but the Celtics finished with a bang.
Thomas signed a modest four-year, $27 million contract this past summer that decreases in value each season. In the hours leading up to the deadline, Ainge had noted, "We're also looking to acquire players that are already under contract. We really don't want to get rid of multiple draft picks for players with uncertainty in the free-agent market -- a situation like we were in with [Rajon] Rondo. ... We're looking for more certainty."
Now the Celtics add a pint-sized point guard who immediately becomes their best penetrator. Thomas can create off the dribble and provide a scoring punch, mixing into what will be a three-guard rotation with rookie Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley.