Boston Celtics: Power ranking team’s top 5 players right now

3. Isaiah Thomas, PG

Surprised? It’s understandable to imagine Isaiah Thomas being a little higher than No. 3. However, if you really think about, it’s not as absurd as it may seem on the surface.

It’s been an interesting last few months for Thomas, the Celtics’ star point guard who is coming off a monstrous 2016-17 season. First, he was knocked out of the playoffs by a hip injury. Then, there was speculation that he would jump ship next offseason when he hits free agency. It’s not guaranteed Boston will want to dish out a max contract for the diminutive scorer.

We all know Thomas is the star of the show. He was among the NBA’s scoring leaders a season ago, and was the heart and soul of this lineup. However, with a few other potential stars on the roster, the Celtics may not be convinced Thomas is necessary to chasing an 18th championship.

Then there’s the rumor going around that Boston has put feelers out on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving. According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics have “expressed interest” in acquiring Irving, who recently requested a trade in hopes of escaping the shadow of LeBron James. If Boston is serious about landing the Cavaliers’ star, Thomas likely won’t be a part of the long-term plan.

Now before you blow a gasket, this could all be for naught. Thomas could come back healthy and better than ever, rendering his hip injury null and void. More than likely, the Celtics aren’t going to make a deal for Irving. However, these are power rankings and I felt the two issues needed to carry weight.

Remember — it’s all just speculation at this point.