Fresh off an 81-point performance in the Seattle Pro-Am, Isaiah Thomas might be returning to the NBA soon with reports surfacing that the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in bringing the two-time All-Star back to basketball's top professional league.
According to Marc Stein, the 17-time NBA champions have considered signing Thomas recently to bolster their backcourt for the upcoming season. Thomas signed a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Pelicans last season, averaging 7.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists during his three-game stint there.
Even though he scored in double digits in two out of the three games he played with the Pelicans, Thomas was not offered another contract by New Orleans, with the veteran point guard finding it difficult to lock down a spot in the NBA.
Lakers to add another veteran in Thomas?
Los Angeles might be a perfect destination for him, with all the veterans on the Lakers roster. The Lakers are banking on experience to lead them to the championship this upcoming season, acquiring Russell Westbrook in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Wizards and signing veteran free agents Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore, and Wayne Ellington.
With just over a month remaining until the Lakers open their training camp, the team still is not complete as there are still three roster spots to fill for the Lake Show. The Lakers only have 12 fully-guaranteed contracts in their lineup, and that does not include the two-way deals of Austin Reaves and Joel Ayayi.
Thomas had proven that he still has the scoring chops, exploding for 81 points in a recent Pro-Am game in Seattle, drawing comparisons to his idol Kobe Bryant who recorded the same points back in 2006 against the Toronto Raptors to set the Lakers scoring record.
Thomas has suited up for the Lakers before, appearing in 17 games in 2018. He averaged 15.6 points and five assists per game during his short stint for Los Angeles. He shot 38.3 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from the 3-point area.
Related Article: Isaiah Thomas Joins Kobe Bryant in 81-Point Club After Stunning Display in Seattle Pro-Am
Journeyman Thomas looking to get one last shot in the NBA
Thomas' Hollywood dream came to an abrupt end then, as he had to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right hip, the same hip that caused him major problems in his final season with the Boston Celtics. Thomas had a major shock when the Celtics traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers after leading Boston to that dream playoff run in 2017.
Since then, he had bounced around the league, playing for the Lakers, Nuggets, Wizards, and the Pelicans in the past three years. It will be interesting to see whether Thomas gets another chance with the Lakers and reunite again with LeBron James for another title shot.
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