But some people wonder whether the Celts will be able to keep all their desired pieces together as Thomas, Avery Bradley and others come up for renewal in this new marketplace. “Yeah, we can fit everybody in,” said Ainge. “But, listen, those are questions that I don’t even have answers for yet. That’s part of the difficult puzzle that is all hard. All I’m saying is those are things I have to worry about that even I don’t like to think about. And I know that those are going to be difficult decisions at some point. But we want to keep Isaiah. All I know is that he’s had an amazing year, and who doesn’t want Isaiah Thomas on their team? Like, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
More on Isaiah Thomas Extension
Ainge laughed at public concern that Thomas will be too expensive. “Why do the fans need to worry about how much money he makes?” he said. “I can understand if Isaiah and his wife and his agent are worried about that, but I don’t understand why that’s a conversation that needs to be had in the media.”
"We need the best possible player that's gonna help us win, and I'm with that," Thomas said. "Anything Danny and this organization need me to do to help bring even more talent to this city, I'm all for that. I want to win a championship and being so close to getting to the Finals, that makes you want it that much more. "I'm all help if they need it. I'll be around."
Thomas admitted he'd listen to extension talks but won't be upset if the Celtics ultimately use available dollars to better the team. "[An extension] means more money? Yeah, I would love that," Thomas quipped. "But if it don't happen, I'm the last person to be bothered by that. I know everything happens for a reason so, when my time comes, I know it will come and God will bless me."
Jay King: Isaiah Thomas: "The plan is to play until 40, and they know that. All them doctors know that."
Ainge also said he has not talked to Isaiah Thomas or Avery Bradley about possible contract extensions. Both will be eligible for extensions this summer if the Celtics remain under the cap, but they have made it clear they would like to chase top free agents. "Those are things that can't happen until the summer time anyway. Isaiah knows that we love him. He loves playing in Boston and he knows that we love him as well. And same with Avery Bradley," Ainge said. "I think they're a good combination. Both of those guys know how much we appreciate them as players and all they've done, and what they're becoming. So yeah, there's going to be a time when we'll sit down and have conversations with all of our guys. But in the meantime we're trying to build a championship-caliber team."
Isaiah Thomas’ remarkably low contract doesn’t expire until July 2018, and based on the money that has been spent by NBA teams this month, he has a reasonable expectation. “They better bring out the Brinks truck,” he said while watching the Celtics summer leaguers lose to Chicago last night, 71-62. “They’re paying everybody else, I’ve got to get something. But I’m trying not to worry about it, but it’s out there. And I’m going to just continue to be myself and play. And hopefully that takes care of everything else.”
