3. Isaiah Thomas, Los Angeles Lakers
Having finished fifth in MVP voting following his momentous 2016-17 season with the Boston Celtics, its been a significant fall from grace for the diminutive Thomas. Traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer as part of the Kyrie Irving deal, Thomas was sidelined until the start of January due to his recovery from a serious hip injury.
Struggling mightily upon his return to the court, Thomas played just 15 games with the Cavaliers before being dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers. While he started showing flashes of his scintillating best towards the end of last season, it was clear he was still hampered by his hip injury, and as a result finished with just 32 games for the season before undergoing surgery.
As a result, the combination of Thomas’ performance last season and his physical status moving forward has resulted in him remaining unsigned over a week into the free agency period. As a 5’9″ point guard with significant deficiencies on the defensive end of the floor, teams are naturally uneasy and extremely cautious when considering adding Thomas to their roster. Furthermore, Thomas turns 30 in February, meaning he is no spring chicken in the grand scheme of things.
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/969418266866151425
Once considered a mere formality to receive a max contract in the midst of his breathtaking season with the Celtics, it appears at this stage Thomas is going to have to settle for a minimum deal in order to demonstrate that he’s sufficiently recovered from his hip issues, and is therefore again able to contribute at a high level.
While the Heat are seemingly stacked in the backcourt, aside from Goran Dragic, there’s no other recognized point guard on the roster. So while Thomas’ role on the team is difficult to envision at this stage, the chance to sign a player who still has the ability to change the course of a game on his own accord is certainly worth the investment of a minimum deal.