While Isaiah Thomas is excited and honored to represent Team USA at the AmeriCup qualifiers in Puerto Rico this weekend, he admitted in a conversation with Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press that he’s also viewing the event as an opportunity to showcase himself for NBA teams.
“My ultimate goal is to play in the NBA as soon as possible,” Thomas said. “This allows me to compete against other professionals, represent my country at the same time — which is an honor and a privilege — and ultimately show NBA teams that I’m back to myself and I’m 100% healthy. That’s why I chose to come here. When Team USA brought it to me, it was a no-brainer.”
As Reynolds notes, the games themselves won’t mean much for Team USA, which has already qualified for the 2022 AmeriCup tournament by going undefeated in earlier qualifying games. But they’ll be significant for Thomas, who hasn’t played in an NBA game since being released by the Clippers last February. Veteran teammate Joe Johnson said Thomas has looked “great” in practices.
“One thing I’ll say: In pick and rolls, I think he’s probably going to be unstoppable,” Johnson said of Thomas. “Bigs, I don’t know what they’ll do. Do you get out and hedge? He’ll go around you and split you. Do you try to catch him? He’ll pull up for the jumper. He has a great arsenal. It’s been fun to watch him play, man. I will tell you that.”
Here are a few more odds and ends from across the basketball world:
- Looking back at the 17 in-season trades completed in 2019/20, Sam Amick of The Athletic contends that only four qualify as memorable and continue to have an impact. Amick revisits those four deals: Jordan Clarkson to the Jazz, Clint Capela to the Hawks, Marcus Morris to the Clippers, and the D’Angelo Russell/Andrew Wiggins swap between the Timberwolves and Warriors.
- In a Q&A with Logan Murdock of The Ringer, veteran guard Jeremy Lin explains why he decided to play in the G League this season and discusses his up-and-down journey over the last decade.
- Although Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green are impressing for the G League Ignite, most draft experts still view Cade Cunningham as the top prospect in the 2021 class. Mike Schmitz of ESPN (Insider link) takes a closer look at Cunningham’s outlook, including whether he can play point guard at the next level, while Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer considers whether the Oklahoma State standout is capable of anchoring an NBA franchise.
I review top 40 players salary this season
Completely based on productivity
22 players are more overpaid than Wiggins
DLo
Towns
Irving
McCollum
Otto Porter
Westbrook
….
22 players who makes over 27.5 million this season are more overpaid than Wiggins
So because of injuries they are overpaid?
Nobody said Wiggins could not pile up stats. I would be interested to know how Sulli so completely measured productivity using basic stats, but nevermind. Best to move along.
Oh, so Thomas “admitted” it! Just one question…was he under duress? If so, it may not hold up in court.
Jeremy Lin I feel like doesn’t get enough respect, same with D Rose, they both are still amazing B-Ball players.
This is approximately the 90th article I have read over the past few years about how healthy and ready to go Thomas is.
We get it dude. You are so ready.
That is a lot of articles which mention Thomas. You should try reading about some other stuff. I hear that Harry Potter fella is quite a popular character…
I live near Boston. I would say I was being conservative when I said 9o. But yes, I will try “reading about Harry Potter”. Oh what a zinger that was.
There is no try. Only do.
It might be a height reference.
Though Daniel Radcliffe may have been a normal-sized kid once, until being a child star stunted him. Funny how that works.
Hahaha. Harry Potter.
Oh, my sides.
The Jordan Clarkson deal worked out grest for Utah
The trading score might be Utah 2, CLE 0. But there’s some second rounders coming!
That would be a parochial way of tallying that score! Leaving out salary cap (not paying Clarkson) & available minutes for Sexton, Garland, Porter last season & the Drummond trade etc, and like you say those 2nd rounders.
I think too many believe a fair deal is when their home team skins another alive in a deal, rather than if the move helped both sides accomplish the long & short term goals of the franchise.