APRIL 3: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
APRIL 2: The Pelicans will give Isaiah Thomas the NBA opportunity he has been waiting for, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. Sources tell Charania that the veteran guard will sign a 10-day contract with New Orleans.
Thomas, 32, was a starter for the first half of last season with the Wizards before being traded at the 2020 deadline to the Clippers, who waived him three days later. Thomas averaged 12.2 points and 3.7 assists in 40 games for Washington, but defensive issues limited his effectiveness.
He was last seen in action in February as part of Team USA in the FIBA AmeriCup qualifying tournament, where scored 28 total points in victories over the Bahamas and Mexico.
The Pelicans have two roster spots open, so they won’t have to make a move before signing Thomas. They faced a Saturday deadline to add a player to get back to the 14-man roster limit.
Thomas has been undergoing COVID-19 testing in New Orleans and is expected to be available for Sunday’s game with the Rockets, sources tell Andrew Lopez of ESPN (Twitter link). The Pelicans were looking into signing him before a recent rash of injuries to Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Josh Hart.
Waive wenyen Gabriel sign Thomas to a 1 year deal
happy for Isaiah. Hope it works out well for him.
Maybe people expected too much from Zion?
It’s possible IT could step into that point forward role and surprise even his biggest doubters.
Not sure how many Pels games you’ve watched but to say Zion is the problem in NOLA is beyond laughable
That’s not what I said, but he was supposed to be the next LeBron.
Sure he’s playing very well this season, but he’s not MVP material.
He has only played 68 games…and he is averaging 25 ppg in them. He is 20 years old. Way too soon to judge.
He’s 20 years old and 4th in the league in PER and 12th in BPM. PER is higher than LeBron’s 20 yr old season.
Seems like he’s probably the best prospect to enter the league in 20 years, statistically speaking.
PER is always higher for bigs who don’t take outside shots.
Sure, but he’s 4th in the entire league as a 20 year old in his first full season.
I really wish that the moderators would restrict Wallywood’s posting abilities to Rockets articles only…Zion is clearly a stud and if he were on the Rockets he’d be fawning over him
Ok. What about BPM where he’s 12th in the League as a 20 year old…? Or Win Shares where he’s 7th in the League?
It almost seems like he’s a top 15 player in the NBA by most any metric before he can legally drink.
He’s 4th in the NBA in PER, 12th in VORP, 7th in Win Shares.
If you want traditional stats, 26.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.5 apg while shooting .624/.348/.708.
He’s 20 and it’s his first full season. He’s already MVP-adjacent. And he compares *very* favorably to Lebron’s age 20 season. Similar ppg and rpg (Lebron with more assists), but with a better FG% and better advanced stats.
I know he’s not a member of the Houston Rockets, but come on, man. He’s been incredible.
PER is set to an average of 15 but for centers it is about 18… Possibly due to centers getting additional rebounds, but aguard could get more rebounds if they don’t drop back right away.
When LJ was 20ish the second&third best teammates were strictly post men so LJ could ramble. It seems like the Pels’ 2nd&3rd get in ZW’s way. But for health, ZW probably should not go all out.
IT will be a distraction, but desperation took its toll.
I hope he can give them a boost. But he better not take minutes from walker.
It’s great to see Isaiah Thomas is given a chance to play again.
big if true
Ya this should really help them defensively. IT signing with multiple poor defensive teams doesnt help him get the real chance he wants. Hope this doesnt kill his future chances
I hate how rapidly (and brutally) Thomas fell off a cliff. What a shame. Rooting for him, as always.
He couldn’t even jog, with no rehab plan, and that was years ago.
That last year he was in Boston where he played the whole year with the hip problem probably broke him
Maybe not broke-broke him. But made him permanently lose a half-step. And that half-step, at 5-9, was what made him able to get in the lane at will, which was really the only thing that covered up his defensive liabilities.
I talk my fair junk about load mgmt, but I guess from a player’s standpoint there’s a point to be made there. IT played thru an injury and it cost him if not a max contract at least something dam close to a max.
Pelicans biggest issues have been defense and closing out. Isiah can Bring in scoring off bench. Gives them depth at PG. Gotta wonder with Lonzo supposedly having a breakout yr. Bledsoe a seasoned vet. Kira Lewis a #1 pick and the future, really. Why they would need to add a PG. But I am glad for Isiah. Hope he shows so other teams also get a look.
Afaik Bledsoe and Ball start and Lewis comes off the bench. It’s just cheap depth. Don’t think he is going to be taking important minutes from anyone.
Yeah but why a PG. just got rid of a shooter, Redick. Maybe they want a long look at Isiah. Are planning to move Lonzo. They should move Lonzo n Bledsoe if you ask me.
They were forced to add someone and they added someone. I don’t think there’s much more about it. After his 10-day contract (or perhaps a couple of them) he will likely be gone.
Agree Otogar…wouldn’t read too deeply into this. Pelicans are a mystery anyway.
Also don’t let the fact you want Lonzo on the Knicks cloud your judgement haha.
Was a time I wanted him. Not anymore. Too much drama
He was awesome during his bad boy days in Detroit, but this is a huge gamble, given his age.
Lol it’s a 10 day contract with a team that isn’t even in the playoff picture. What exactly are the stakes?
I think Rich26993’s comment flew right over your head and your reflexes are to slow to catch it.
Always liked that Isiah. But I hated the Knicks Isiah.
Are we not talking about Pistons IT?
@Lil D
Have some respect towards a Hall of Fame point guard that is Thomas.