Washington legend reportedly takes scouting role with Boston Celtics

Washington Huskies legend Isaiah Thomas is back in the NBA in a new role.

On Thursday, the Boston Celtics reportedly hired the 37-year-old as a pro and college scout, according to a report from Adam Himmelsbach in The Boston Globe, where he'll still be based out of the Pacific Northwest and able to assist in several different areas.

"He will be based in the Seattle area, his hometown, giving president of basketball operations Brad Stevens reinforcements on the West Coast," Himmelsbach wrote of the Tacoma native.

At the college level, Thomas should have the opportunity to scout players at several programs on the West Coast, including his alma mater and Gonzaga, as well as potentially the three other Pac-12 programs that made the move to the Big Ten: Oregon, UCLA, and USC, and any other prospects who pop up in the region. Between the Portland Trail Blazers and the highly anticipated (and widely expected) return of the Seattle Supersonics, Thomas may inherit several responsibilities.

Bringing Thomas back is a smart move by President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, as the No. 60 overall pick in the 2011 draft is a beloved figure in Boston. After the Celtics traded for him during the 2014-15 season, he turned into a star, averaging 24.7 points, 6 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game over 179 appearances, while making a pair of All-Star teams and the All-NBA Second Team after the 2016-17 campaign.

For Thomas, who has previously expressed his intentions to eventually join the Huskies' coaching staff, this could be a golden opportunity to transition into the next phase of his basketball career.