Grieving Thomas says he’ll be there for opener
Plans coast-to-coast flight after attending sister’s funeral
The already short break between rounds of the NBA playoffs won’t provide much of a rest for Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas.
Thomas left from the Celtics’ first-round seriesclinching victory over Chicago on Friday night to fly to Tacoma, Washington, and attend his sister’s funeral. He was expected to fly cross-country and arrive in Boston early Sunday morning, in time to play in the 1 p.m. (EDT) start of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Wizards.
Chyna Thomas, 22, died in a car accident on April 15, the day before the Celtics began their playoff series against the Bulls.
“It’s hard to think about how he feels right now,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Saturday, the only offday between rounds, after the rest of the team went through a film session and walk-through.
Stevens said he and the rest of the team would have accompanied Thomas for support if there had been no game on Sunday. Instead, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and assistant coach Jerome Allen went with Thomas.
“I know it’s going to be hard on him,” guard Avery Bradley said. “But we’re going to make sure we’re here for him and we’re prepared.”
Hawks: Paul Millsap confirmed he “probably will opt out” of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent, leaving Atlanta to plot its future after a painful first-round exit from the playoffs.
Millsap has a $21.4 million option for next season. The four-time All-Star can earn substantially more in a new long-term deal, making the opt-out decision obvious.
The power forward, who averaged 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds, said he wants to stay in Atlanta. “I want to be here,” he said. “... It’s something me, my agent and my family have got to sit down and talk about.”
Bulls: Dwyane Wade wasn’t ready to make any declarations about his future with Chicago.
The 12-time All-Star and three-time champion is waiting for management to set the direction of the franchise. Then he’ll make up his mind: Stay with his hometown team for $23.8 million or look elsewhere.
“I don’t need to ring chase, but I can,” he said. “… Or I can be a part of passing down my knowledge to younger players.”
Wade’s contract option is just one issue hanging over the Bulls. They need to decide if they’re going to build with Jimmy Butler or go all in on a tear-down and trade one of the league’s best two-way players.
They also have a contract option on Rajon Rondo and need to build a roster that suits the more open offense coach Fred Hoiberg prefers.