Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder signed as free agents to the Boston Celtics

Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder have been touted as free agent additions who would boost the Boston Celtics’ locker room to end their offseason with a bow by Chowder and Cem Yolbulan of Champions.

Yolbulan pointed out that neither player is near their peak and proposed a ceremonial role for both.

“Crowder is obviously not the player he was back then,” Yolbulan prefaced, before adding: “He’s 34 and has lost a few steps. He played just 50 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, playing 23 minutes per game, averaging 6.2 points on 42.2 percent shooting and 34.9 percent from three-point range. He’s not the solid defender he was in his prime.”

“However, he would be a veteran emergency-breakout type for the Celtics, regardless. He would be a good presence in the locker room as a mentor while providing low-level play from the three and defense when needed.”

“It would be a similar hire to Jae Crowder,” Yolbulan said of the 6-foot-10 Messiah. “Isaiah Thomas can’t really contribute to the Celtics on the court anymore, but his veteran presence could be valuable to Boston.”

The Celts won the 2023-24 NBA championship without the help of already-winning veterans at the end of their bench. Youngsters Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, under-30 journeyman Luke Kornet and midseason acquisition Xavier Tillman Sr. have filled the bill on the second unit.

In fact, for years, Boston has tried to get the job done with these kinds of veteran additions — think Blake Griffin in 2022-23 and Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson in 2020-21 — but ultimately reached the top without such an experienced hand on its roster.

In any case, Oshae Brissett should be the type of signing the Cs make to pad their books this offseason. Or a Summer League player who looks capable of making an immediate contribution to their Banner 19 ambitions.

Adding veterans like Thomas and Crowder may well be unnecessary at this point in Boston’s potential dynasty since the team is now comprised of winners who know what it takes to reach the top.