Former MVP candidate who has been out of NBA for years says he could improve the Celtics

Thomas is viewed as a Boston Celtics great. During his tenure with the franchise, he earned the nickname "The King of the Fourth" for his heroics during the final quarter of games. During the 2017 season, he finished fifth in MVP voting due to his top-three points-per-game scoring average in the league. 

However, Thomas has never been the same player following a hip injury during that same season and the subsequent surgery. He lost some burst on his first step. He also didn't have the same elevation on his jump shot. Due to his 5-foot-9 frame, that lack of speed and jumping ability hindered how capable he was of impacting games. As such, he has been out of the league since 2022. 

Given how much he gave to the Celtics franchise, Thomas would be a popular choice to fill the final spot. It would give him an opportunity to earn a championship ring with the team where he enjoyed the most success. It also would give fans the opportunity to say a proper goodbye to a genuine favorite within the city.

As an end-of-bench contributor, Thomas likely wouldn't play. Boston's roster is deep enough that he would seldom be needed on the court. Although, he could check into games during garbage time if Joe Mazzulla believed he was fit enough. There is value in having the veteran guard in the locker room, re-igniting his relationships with the team's core players and with the fans. He would bring back the never-say-die attitude from his run with the team. 

Whether Thomas' leadership could improve a team that already has the best record in the NBA is certainly open for debate. Nevertheless, he would elevate the feel-good factor within the franchise and TD Garden. Bringing Thomas back would be a classy move by the Celtics. It does, however, look unlikely that it will be the route they take.