Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 goals for Isaiah Thomas in 2017-18

4. Hit 3-pointers

Last year, Thomas drilled about three deep balls per game. That was a career high and fifth in the NBA. Like the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers shoot a lot of outside shots. Cleveland also hit an extraordinarily high percentage of those deep balls, at a league-leading 39 percent clip — and that was with Irving’s true shooting percentage not even cracking the top 40 in the league.

Thomas will likely get plenty of looks from deep with Yosemite Sam-like freedom to fire away. But he’ll need to shoot better than his 38 percent from last year to improve the team’s 3-point shooting percentage.

Thankfully, that’s likely and here’s why. Even though Thomas shot 38 percent from three last season overall, he drilled 43 percent of assisted deep balls. And he was even more lethal from the corner, where players like J.R. Smith and Kevin Love thrived last season in part, or maybe in whole, because of LeBron James‘ passing ability.

LeBron regularly penetrated the initial layer of defenders, drawing double-teams and dishing out open teammates in corner pockets.

Yes, Thomas will spend time at the top of the key as a primary ball-handler. But make no mistake, Rose and LeBron will often play point in lineups with Thomas. And when they are, expect plenty of open looks for the sharpshooter.