Will Tristan Thompson pick up his player option?


For the past five off-seasons the Celtics have pursued, signed, or lost All-Stars in free agency. The fireworks began when All-Star center Al Horford chose to sign with Boston in July 2016. At that point in time, Horford was considered the biggest Celtics free agent signing in the team's history. We weren't talking a name player at the end of his career like Rasheed, Shaq, or Dominique. The Celtics were signing an All-Star still in his 20's.

And Boston almost really hit the jackpot, put Kevin Durant decided on the Warriors over joining Horford in Boston with Isaiah Thomas and his idol Tom Brady. The Celtics still had the cap space to sign another max player and they did that the following summer when they lured an even younger free agent All-Star in Gordon Hayward from the Jazz to reunite with Brad Stevens.

This was probably the peak of the Brad Stevens era. An undermanned Celtics team had reached the conference finals. They had an All-NBA, MVP finalist point guard In Isaiah Thomas. They had the unselfish All-Star big man in Al Horford. They had a very promising rookie in Jaylen Brown, Scary Terry had just burst on the scene, Marcus Smart was improving and oh yeah they won the 2017 lottery.

Ainge ended up trading down to #3 and drafting Jayson Tatum to add to the very talented Boston team. Agents for top draftees were actually hoping Boston didn't draft their clients because the team already had too much talent. Some good things happened and some bad ones since then, but come the summer of 2019, Boston was back to big time comings and goings in free agency.
Kyrie Irving became the first Celtics star to ever walk. It wasn't a money issue, since the Celtics could actually pay him more than anyone else; he just wanted out. Al Horford used his player option to leave as well, which no one had predicted he would do. Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris also walked. Boston didn't appear to make any effort to retain them.

But due to Horford jetting, Boston once again got into the business of signing a max free agent and agreed to terms with Kemba Walker. The following offseason even though it had just happened with Horford, once again the Celtics max player with a player option used it to bolt. Unlike Horford, who undoubtedly would have stayed if he received a comparable offer from Boston, Hayward like Kyrie wanted to move on.

So who has a player option this offseason? Tristan Thompson would be the answer. Tristan was Ainge's main acquisition this offseason. He was signed to serve as an upgrade from Enes Kanter since Thompson was considered a much better defender. Kanter interesting enough chose to opt into his player option this past offseason, which was a bit telling. It meant that Enes and his agent didn't think he could get $5 million as a free agent. Boston traded Enes and his contract to Portland as part of the Desmond Bane draft day blunder... I mean trade.

Thompson's player option is worth $9,720,900 for the 2021-22 season. I'm inclined to believe he will pick it up. It’s just really hard for a player with his skillset to get paid in today's NBA. He's not a shot blocking rim runner. Nor is he a big man that hit the 3. The only way I see Thompson turning down the player option with the Celtics is if Boston makes a deep playoff run and Tristan is heralded as one of the main reasons why.

I believe Ainge is very actively trying to find another home for Thompson prior to the deadline. I also think Ainge is seeing what teams will offer for Daniel Theis who will definitely hit free agency this summer. If you retain Thompson and he picks up his player option than that complicates matters for Ainge in the offseason.

I could see one of Ainge's goals this offseason to see if he can move Kemba Walker and his contract. If Ainge also has to move Tristan's near $10 million he's going to have trouble. We don't know yet how aggressive Boston will be trying to re-sign Theis this offseason. Some Celtics fans don't like him, but I know that other NBA teams would love to have him. He's a pretty athletic big who can hit the 3. He'll be pursued.
So to answer my question, I think Tristan will in fact pick up his player option just like Kanter did, while I feel Boston hopes he doesn't. For this reason, consider Thompson one of the more likely Celtics to be moved this week if they actually get a deal done. I believe Ainge is very actively trying to find another home for Thompson prior to the deadline. I also think Ainge is seeing what teams will offer for Daniel Theis who will definitely hit free agency this summer. If you retain Thompson and he picks up his player option than that complicates matters for Ainge in the offseason. I could see one of Ainge's goals this offseason to see if he can move Kemba Walker and his contract. If Ainge also has to move Tristan's near $10 million he's goinhg to have trouble. We don't know yet how aggressive Boston will be trying to re-sign Theis this offseason. Some Celtics fans don't like him, but I know that other NBA teams would love to have him. He's a pretty athletic big who can hit the 3. He'll be pursued.

So to answer my question, I think Tristan will in fact pick up his player option just like Kanter did, while I feel Boston hopes he doesn't. For this reason, consider Thompson one of the more likely Celtics to be moved this week if they actually get a deal done.

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