Lakers Considering Adding Isaiah Thomas In Free Agency

Free agent point guard Isaiah Thomas is among the players the Lakers are considering to fill one of their multiple available roster spots, according to Marc Stein of Substack.

Thomas, 32, is 5-fooot-9 and appeared in just three games last season, all with the Pelicans. He spent 2019-20 with the Wizards, his best recent season, averaging 12.2 points and 3.7 assists.

The Lakers adding Thomas is “far from assured,” Stein wrote, adding that whether they sign Thomas or not, they still are in search of “additional backcourt punch.”

Thomas hasn’t been nearly as productive as he was back with the Celtics in 2017, when he led the Eastern Conference in scoring average at 28.9 points. He suffered a major hip injury later in those playoffs, and has been more or less a journeyman since.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have already retooled the roster. Along with the big trade for star guard Russell Westbrook, they have added guards Wayne Ellington, Kendrick Nunn and Malik Monk, guard/forward Kent Bazemore, forwards Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza, and center Dwight Howard.

Thomas actually served a sting as a teammate with Lakers star LeBron James back in the 2017-18 season, when the two were with the Cavaliers, but it didn’t go real well. Thomas was actually moved to the Lakers at the trade deadline that season.

Still, the Lakers don’t view that as a drawback to the possibility of again pairing Thomas with James, Stein noted.

Though, again, nothing is set in stone with Thomas and the Lakers, as general manager Rob Pelinka is still seeking a number of options in filling out the roster.

As it stands, LA has 12 players on guaranteed deals, with rookie guards Joel Ayayi and Austin Reaves manning the two-way spots.

Along with the Lakers, Cavs, Celtics, Pelicans and Wizards, Thomas has spent time with the Kings, Suns and Nuggets. He was the No. 60 overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft.