Nearly two months have passed since he was shockingly traded by the Boston Celtics, but Isaiah Thomas remains stung by the deal.
After having one of the best offensive seasons in franchise history, Thomas was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a blockbuster move Aug. 22.
The point guard is not happy with Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge for making the move that landed Kyrie Irving in Boston.
“I might not ever talk to Danny again,” said Thomas in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins. “That might not happen.
“I’ll talk to everybody else. But what he did, knowing everything I went through, you don’t do that, bro. That’s not right.
“But every team in this situation comes out a year or two later and says, ‘We made a mistake.’ That’s what they’ll say, too.”
Thomas was sent along with Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and first- and second-round draft picks to the Cavaliers after Irving asked to be traded.
Thomas, acquired by the Celtics in February 2015, averaged 28.9 points last season, one point shy of Larry Bird’s team record.
He took part in the playoffs despite the death of his sister, Chyna, in a car accident one day before Game 1 against the Chicago Bulls, then kept playing after losing teeth.
Ainge was informed about Thomas’ comments by reporters following a round of golf at the annual Celtics Shamrock Foundation tournament in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Wednesday.
“Did he really (say that)?” he said to reporters. “You know, that’s the hard part of the job. I mean, I know there are a lot of feelings that go on when these types of things happen.
“I was a player that was traded twice, so I understand his sentiments, but you guys know how much I love Isaiah. He’s a great kid and I wish him the best.”
• Irving has added more spice to the Boston-Cleveland opener, saying he sees “a vast difference” between the cities.
“Boston, I’m driving in and (thinking), ‘I’m really playing in a real, live sports city?’ ” Irving said Wednesday in comments published by The Charlotte Observer.
“A lot of different cultures, food and people. You get it all, especially in Boston,” Irving said.
LEBRON JAMES, who had been slowed by a sprained left ankle, won’t play again in the preseason and could miss the opener against Boston.
WEDNESDAY’S GAME
CELTICS 108, HORNETS 100: Kyrie Irving had 16 points and 10 assists, Al Horford had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Boston won at Charlote, North Carolina, in its preseason finale.
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