The Los Angeles Lakers made a big deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and acquired Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye. Do they plan on keeping them for the rest of the season?
Before the NBA Trade Deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers made a big deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the deal, the Lakers sent Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to the Cavaliers for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and the Cavaliers’ first-round pick.
This looks to be a great deal for the future of the Lakers. Since the Lakers were able to trade both Clarkson and Nance, they will now have the cap space to sign two max free agents next offseason. Also, acquiring a first round pick is huge for them, as they will be able to select another young player to add to their impressive young core.
For the Lakers this season, this trade doesn’t kill their chances of making the postseason. While Clarkson and Nance were both playing very well, they are getting two players that can fill in. According to Ramon Shelburne of ESPN, the Lakers do intend on keeping both Thomas and Frye.
The Lakers intend to keep both Frye and IT, per source. https://t.co/oHzU3sdfZw
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 8, 2018
It has not been an easy season for Thomas, as he was blindsided by a trade that sent him to the Cavaliers in the offseason. After a great season with the Celtics the year before, being traded for Kyrie Irving was not something that he expected.
Coming off an offseason surgery, Thomas missed a lot of time to start the season with the Cavaliers. Since he has returned, Thomas hasn’t played at the level we saw with the Celtics. Getting a change of scenery might be a good thing for Thomas, as he never seemed to find any groove with the Cavaliers.
For Frye, he likely won’t play a ton for the Lakers, as they will likely use him occasionally off the bench. However, moving Nance creates more playing time for Kyle Kuzma, which is certainly a good thing.
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It will be interesting to see how the Lakers play with Thomas being added into the mix. For the last month, they have been one of the best teams in the NBA record-wise, and they will try to keep that up with some new faces.