Thomas reached out to Celtics in free agency: 'I'd have gone back'

Point guard Isaiah Thomas admitted that prior to signing with the Denver Nuggets, he reached out to general manager Danny Ainge about the possibility of returning to the Boston Celtics this summer.

"S---, I'd have gone back," Thomas told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. "I don't hold grudges."

According to Wojnarowski, Ainge was open to the idea but had prioritized re-signing restricted free agent Marcus Smart. By the time that was resolved, Thomas had joined the Nuggets.

Thomas had a career year with the Celtics in 2016-17, averaging 28.9 points and leading Boston to the East's top seed. However, he played through a severe hip injury during that spring's playoffs before eventually being shut down in the conference finals. He now admits that decision likely cost him a max contract this summer.

"If I didn't play in the playoffs, I'd be OK," Thomas said. "I'd be getting paid. I'd be who I am - who I was. But you couldn't tell me in that moment in time - with everything I was going through - that, OK, I should just sit out. I don't think Boston went about it the right way, as well."

At the time, Thomas was dealing with the death of his sister in a car accident.

Three months later he was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Kyrie Irving trade, still dealing with the injury and failing to mesh with LeBron James and the Cavs - who ultimately dealt Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers.

His new deal with the Nuggets is a one-year pact for the league minimum of $2.1 million.

"I understand it, but I don't accept it," Thomas said. "In my circumstance, it was bad timing. You've never seen a little guy like me get paid big dollars. Never seen it in the NBA."