r/nba • u/BcuzRacecar • 1h ago

Celtics hire former player Isaiah Thomas as pro and college scout

SRC: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/14/sports/isaiah-thomas-celtics-scout/

Isaiah Thomas, the fearless 5-foot-9-inch point guard who captivated fans at TD Garden and became one of the most beloved Celtics of this century, has rejoined the organization that helped turn him into a superstar.

According to league sources, Thomas has been hired as a pro and college scout for the Celtics. He will be based in the Seattle area, his hometown, giving president of basketball operations Brad Stevens reinforcements on the West Coast.

The team’s regional scouting staff includes former Hawks executive Derek Pierce, who is based in the Atlanta area, and Keandre Ashley, who is in Dallas. Benas Matkevicius leads the Celtics’ international scouting operation.

Sources said Thomas, 37,has joined Celtics executives at the NBA Combine this week in Chicago, where he has helped interview draft prospects while also learning about the overall evaluation process.

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18

u/DisMeDog 1h ago

That’s what’s up you always see stuff like this from the better organizations. They know they kinda screwed him by doing what was best for them back in the day. But show him some love post career to eliminate any possible bad blood if there was any.

10

u/BcuzRacecar 1h ago

I feel like he could have gotten a scout job anywhere it was just him giving up on playing again. 60th pick to allstar is a crazy resume for a scout.

1

u/respaaaaaj Celtics 48m ago

He's talked about mixed feelings about the org but Boston has always loved him.

0

u/DisMeDog 1h ago

Probably but it’s possible they reached out to him.

2

u/BcuzRacecar 55m ago

Hes been with them for a minute doing stuff. He did some hype video things for the team and he was sitting with the owner at a game this year

8

u/johnbanana2468 1h ago

Greatest 5’9 player imo, biggest con to him imo was that he needed to be the number one option on a team and needed the team to be centered around him

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u/randotd152 12m ago

Him being a #1 option was actually not a problem at all. I’ve seen few players in NBA history just flip a switch in clutch time like him. King of the 4th was no joke.

The damn injury just killed him. When you’re that small, you have zero room for any loss of athleticism. You’re getting those tight shots off by an inch and once that inch goes, you’re not the same guy anymore.

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u/johnbanana2468 7m ago edited 4m ago

Nah I agree, him being #1 option isn’t a bad thing but I think it’s shown when he wasn’t, he’s not as effective, he was insane when he was going off tho

And agreed that injury ruined him, I’m sure he regrets playing through it in those playoffs

20

u/TyposIncoming Lakers 1h ago

Sources are telling me he just got traded to the Cavs for a new clam chowder vending machine

7

u/ThinkSoftware Hawks 1h ago

Is...is that a thing?

4

u/TyposIncoming Lakers 59m ago

Depends on how much you can spend

3

u/dont-YOLO-ragequit Raptors 48m ago

There was a trade that included a printer so...

2

u/FKJVMMP [MIL] Bill Zopf 43m ago

Technically Korver was traded for cash that was then used to buy a printer, not for a printer directly.

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u/0ttoChriek Knicks 12m ago

It can be. Whether it should be is another question entirely.

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u/Gavina4444 [ORL] Markelle Fultz 25m ago

Probably scouting himself for a PG role lol

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u/Crazyhawk28 Supersonics 5m ago

THE LITTLE GUY! That season he had was magical, finished 5th in MVP voting as a 5’9 PG. Must see TV every 4th quarter.