Detroit Pistons 5 potential targets in 2019 NBA free agency
3. Isaiah Thomas
He’s struggled with injuries over the last two years, and he hasn’t looked like the guy that guy MVP votes and All-NBA nods. However, when he’s healthy, Isaiah Thomas is one of the best scorers in the NBA.
His fourth quarter and clutch metrics during his final season with the Boston Celtics were nutty. By renouncing the cap hold of backup point guard Ish Smith, the Pistons would free up $11 million in space that would give them a lot of room to play with in terms of signing a guy like Thomas.
Free agent Isaiah Thomas is hoping a full summer of being a "gym rat" will allow him to return to the form he displayed before hip surgery sidetracked his career. (via @wojespn) https://t.co/aselTY346r
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 26, 2019
Thomas returned to the floor with the Denver Nuggets last season, and he received a ton of fanfare. The problem with him though was that he wasn’t hitting his outside shot, as he was shooting just 27.9 percent from 3-point range, which was well below his 36.0 percent career average. He slowly faded from the Nuggets’ rotation as the season wore down before being benched entirely.
Thomas’ defensive limitations make him kind of question-mark, but the Pistons can limit those by playing him alongside second-year guard Bruce Brown Jr. who’s a bulldog on the defensive end of the floor. Thomas’ value has continued to fall, and the Pistons would be able to offer him a rotation spot if he stays healthy without spending a ton of money. It’s a win-win for both sides.