6:45pm: The Mavericks have officially signed Thomas to a 10-day contract via the hardship exception, the team announced (via Twitter). He’s expected to be active for Wednesday’s contest at Sacramento.
12:51pm: Free agent point guard Isaiah Thomas intends to sign with the Mavericks and is on track to join the team tonight in Sacramento, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Thomas, 32, returned to the NBA earlier this month for the Lakers, appearing in four games during his 10-day stint in Los Angeles. The veteran started strong, with 32 points in his first two games, but had just five points on 2-of-16 shooting in his next two contests.
Before he joined the Lakers, Thomas briefly played for the Grand Rapids Gold in the G League. In his first and only game with Denver’s affiliate, he put up 42 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in 42 minutes.
The safe bet is that Thomas will sign a 10-day hardship deal, but the Mavs currently have six replacement players on their roster and just five players in the health and safety protocols. If the plan is for Thomas to sign a 10-day contract, Dallas either has more players entering the protocols or will be replacing a couple of its current hardship signees.
[UPDATE: Two Mavs players have entered the protocols]
The Mavs do have one opening on their standard roster, but it’s a two-way slot — Thomas isn’t eligible for a two-way contract.
Low risk/high reward. I like it. Brunson will likely have to be a part of any trade for another impact player.
What? Did you watch IT’s last 2 games with the Lakers?? Or his last season with the Wiz? He’s washed bro, just a name at this point. Doesn’t take anything away from that man’s legacy, though, the hip injury really just drained whatever he had left, unfortunately
Hoped the Cavs would grab him
Thomas makes legendary mover Suitcase Simpson look like a stay at home fella.
He’a gotta get out of NBA and make some $$$$…
Totally agree. He’d get a good deal overseas on name recognition alone. I could see him being wildly popular in China.
Should have kept him over Russ
If Thomas doesn’t find a permanent home after this outbreak settles down . . . then I don’t know what to say. The Mavs have been RAVAGED by covid.
He will be a spark for a short time then quickly wind down. When will people stop believing his self-reports?— IT is delusional. It’s actually his secret super-power on-court. The power of belief, overriding reason, until the hips speak. Like the Columbian singer and the football DB AC will say, the hips don’t lie. Ambition does.
likely he’ll have a short tenure