December 17: Thomas has signed his 10-day deal with the Lakers, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
December 16: Isaiah Thomas is getting an opportunity at the NBA level, according to Marc Stein, who reports (via Twitter) that the veteran guard is signing with the Lakers.
The Lakers have two injured players (Trevor Ariza and Kendrick Nunn) and three more in the health and safety protocols (Dwight Howard, Malik Monk, and Talen Horton-Tucker), so they’re eligible to temporarily add up to two free agents due to the NBA’s hardship provision. Thomas will sign via hardship and will get a 10-day contract, Shams Charania of The Athletic confirms (Twitter link).
Thomas, who had been unable to secure an NBA opportunity through the season’s first two months, signed a G League contract and joined the Grand Rapids Gold, Denver’s affiliate. He made his debut on Wednesday and had a massive game, putting up 42 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in 42 minutes. That performance likely helped convince the Lakers to give him a shot.
Thomas has appeared in just 55 total NBA games since the start of the 2018/19 season for the Nuggets, Wizards, and Pelicans, averaging 11.1 PPG and 3.2 APG on .393/.381/.771 shooting in 21.0 minutes per contest during that time. The 32-year-old was bothered for years by hip problems, but has said he’s fully healthy now and recently represented Team USA in a pair of qualifying games for the 2023 World Cup.
NBA can receive permission to carry extra players if they have four or more players affected by the health and safety protocols and/or by longer-term injuries. The Lakers will have to either let Thomas go or create room on the 15-man roster for him once a couple of their unavailable players are ready to return.
Thomas’ 10-day contract will pay him $151,821 and will carry a $95,930 cap hit. The overall cost of the signing will be a little higher for the Lakers, since it’ll also increase their tax bill.
Isiah to the rescue. JR Smith is waiting by the phone LBJ.
Hahaha….JR Smith again?!
Na JR out there living his best life getting a 4.0gpa and playing golf
Word, JR is on a college golf team hahaha
He might get on the court, but he’ll never see the ball
Why? Is something wrong with his eyes?
It’s a great opportunity. Hope he doesnt waste it like he did last year with Pelicans. Work hard, hustle, be the first one to practice and last one to leave, play defense, stop feelng entitled, and be the best teammate.
Any other clichés disguised as advice for the former All-NBA, 2x All-star, 12 year NBA vet? Should he show some creativity on offense? Make the defense work? We’ve got to be missing something..
Good for him. I mean, who doesn’t like the dude?
LAL already got lucky signing Avery Bradley, who has contributed a lot.
Good luck Isiah! Knock those jumpers down boy!
I don’t even like LJ not blocking this add. Of course some will say it was LJ’S idea like evwrything the Lakers do is his idea.
No, IT is selfish & singular in talent. Eeryone will have to compensate.
Celtics got tired of supporting him. Nobody in Ohio wants this dude back either.
I know everyone cheers for the bloke cause he is good and should be in the league.
But remember how well looked after they are. They earn millions and even for a stupid 10 day deal IT is getting 150k, for many people that’s years and years and years of hard works do he will collect that for 10 days of work in which he might not even get a minute of action
That sure is a lot of money.
But it looks like he might even get the start tomorrow, unless they play LBJ at the point.
Westbrook and Bradley have entered the covid protocol.
How insane is that?!
I’ll never understand these types of comments. NBA players get payed this much because that’s their market value. There are less than 500 NBA players in the world. It’s supply and demand.
So the whole “many people that’s years and years and years of hard works do he will collect that for 10 days of work” really doesn’t matter in real life. NBA players provide a service and that service is highly valued by society. Simple as that.
It was more in reference to why everyone’s so supportive to him. Like yes he deserves to be in the league but some people feel he’s hard done by and feel bad for him. I’m saying you shouldn’t he’s collecting huge cheques for very little.
I wouldn’t say he is collecting cheques for “very little” work. The dudes been busting his tail his whole life for these opportunities
Sure. Why not? Another can’t play any defense guy for the team that needs Defensive help badly.
They’re getting better. Heard they’re 9th in defensive rating (after the DAL game).
This dude is one cough from unemployment.
Happy unemployed with Millions in the bank
Make the best of it. Rooting for him.
If he hits 3’s he sticks.
He didn’t sign a new deal and it cost him over 60 million.No guts no glory cost him generational money.Sad
What if the Lakers receive Sabonis,LaVert,& Turner for a max laker contract.Money fits
No it doesn’t. LeBron, Russ, and AD are off-limits (well Westbrook could be traded for another better all-star) and the rest of their players are pretty much signed to veterans minimum. No way this happens.
Start the man immediately, let him go off for 50
19 pts in 21 mins. Yeah against an NBA team. TWolves suck but even they beat the Lakers by 18.
IT was only a -1 tho