Isaiah Thomas has played in just one game with the Lakers since he was traded from Cleveland on Thursday, so it’s too early to tell how he’s adjusting to his new Lakers teammates. Still, the results of that one game were promising, Elliot Teaford of the Orange County Register writes.
Thomas came off the bench to contribute 22 points and 6 assists in Saturday’s loss to the Mavericks. After the game, Thomas admitted that he watched the Lakers as a spectator this season and was aware of the talent the roster wields.
“I just wanted to come in with energy,” Thomas said. “I just wanted to bring something to the table. I just wanted to bring that energy, bring that intensity and make plays. The ball happened to go in. All these guys are talented. I watched this team from afar.”
Check out other news pertaining to California’s NBA teams:
- Thomas’ journey from a top-five finish for the NBA MVP last season to Cavaliers castoff has brought uncertainty to his impending free agency, NBA.com’s David Aldridge writes. Opinions about Thomas’ future earning varied among several executives Aldridge questioned. One executive said Thomas’ Lakers debut made him look like a $12-$15MM per year player while others feel he will need to settle for a mid-level exception.
- Marc Stein of the New York Times has an entertaining feature on Clippers point guard Milos Teodosic. The Serbian playmaker was regarded as the best player in the world not signed to an NBA deal until he arrived stateside this past offseason. In his chat with Stein, Teodosic discusses the myth that he eats cheeseburgers for breakfast, as well as his NBA future.
- The Clippers are still in the thick of the playoff race, but their injury-riddled season has forced the team to get creative with lineups. After a busy trade deadline, the team can now focus on establishing a routine lineup for the remainder of the season, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes.
- The Kings are in a good cap space situation, but the team’s vision is gearing toward the summer of 2019, James Ham of NBC Sports writes. That summer, the Kings will be rid of all veteran contract commitments and will be in prime position to strike in the market.
Imagine if Isiah came back to Boston for the MLE. That relationship is long gone so it won’t happen, but wouldn’t that be an incredible result. If Ainge gave him however many years he wanted (more means security but less would mean bird rights and or a rebound season to go for a max deal), and gave him a NTC would he do it?
No there’s a bigger problem going on between the C’s and IT4 that relationship is beyond dead he’s going to end up in Detroit or wherever Avery Bradley ends up
There’s no way he would play behind Kyrie
I feel like Isiah Thomas’ insistence that the Celtics would “have to break out the brinks truck” to re-sign him has had a huge impact on how much he’s really going to make. Ainge traded him because he wouldn’t pay him like an MVP candidate, he got traded to a bad situation and lost more value, and now will have to settle for a fraction of what his value was in Boston.
IT isn’t a great player. The Celtics were never going to pay him like one. Maybe the Knicks would of with Phil Jackson. But the Celtics r a way better run franchise. I’d much rather have Kyrie and Heyward then IT.