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Los Angeles Lakers: Isaiah Thomas optimistic of his future in Los Angeles

By Kenneth Teape

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 26: Isaiah Thomas #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on February 26, 2018 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 26: Isaiah Thomas #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on February 26, 2018 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers point guard Isaiah Thomas is optimistic about his return home.

The Los Angeles Lakers made a surprising deal at the NBA Trade Deadline three weeks ago. The Lakers traded Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to the Cleveland Cavaliers. From the Cavaliers, the Lakers acquired Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and the Cavaliers 2018 first-round pick.

This was a pretty shocking deal to see completed. Thomas was the main piece acquired by the Cavaliers from the Boston Celtics in the Kyrie Irving trade. Along with Thomas, the Cavaliers also acquired Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic the Brooklyn Nets 2018 first round pick and a 2020 second round pick.

Who would have thought that Zizic would be the longest-tenured Cavalier of that group? Less than six months after the blockbuster deal involving Irving, the Cavaliers traded away Thomas and Crowder right before the deadline. Crowder was involved in a three-team deal involving the Cavaliers, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings.

While Crowder struggled at times during the season. Thomas was the player under the microscope. Thomas finished fifth in the MVP voting for the 2016-17 season and was supposed to help fill the void left by Irving. Unfortunately, that never happened.

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Thomas was injured in the postseason but decided against having surgery. As a result, he was sidelined to begin the season. Thomas played only 15 games with the Cavaliers before they decided to pull the plug.

Thomas and Crowder were not the only players shipped off at the trade deadline. The Cavaliers overhauled their roster, trading away six players and bringing in four new ones.

In an E:60 interview, Thomas said that the Cavaliers were in panic mode and made the trades as a result. The Cavaliers were losing a lot, and a shakeup seemed like a logical route to take. However, it was still a surprise to see Thomas moved.

In addition to discussing that, Thomas also discussed landing with the Lakers. Thomas is hoping some of that same swagger that rubbed off on the Celtics can rub off on the Lakers. He is optimistic about his new landing spot, as he is returning home.

"“I’ve been in this situation before when I got traded to Boston,” Thomas said, “a team right outside the playoffs, a team that was young, really didn’t know how to win. And I just brought a different swagger to that organization. And we took it and ran with it.”“I’m coming to an L.A. team that’s young, that already has a system. And I just want to help. Hopefully I’m here long term, you know, with me being a free agent this summer. But if I’m not, these last 25 games I’m going to play my heart out and show the Lakers why I should be here long term.”"

The situation Thomas is referring to was in 2015. Thomas was the final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He improved every season, eventually landing with the Phoenix Suns in a sign-and-trade in 2014 as a restricted free agent.

Like his tenure with the Cavaliers, Thomas didn’t last long with Phoenix. As part of a three-team deal with the Celtics and Detroit Pistons, Thomas ended up in Boston. He would lead the team in scoring in their postseason series against the Cavaliers and only got better during his Boston tenure.

Thomas would make the All-Star team in the 2015-16 season before truly breaking out during the 2016-17 season. He looked well on his way to earning a max contract as a free agent this upcoming summer, but those plans changed once the Celtics traded him away.

The Lakers are in a similar situation as the Celtics were when they acquired Thomas. The Celtics missed the playoffs in Brad Stevens first season at the helm before sneaking in as the eighth seed in his second season, the same season they acquired Thomas.

Since that, the Celtics have turned into an Eastern Conference power. The Celtics front office had plenty of savvy moves to get to that spot, and one of those moves was landing Thomas.

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The Lakers front office is hoping their move to acquire Thomas turns out as positive as the Celtics’ one did. By landing Thomas and Frye, the Lakers can be big players in free agency this summer. If they are able to land someone such as Paul George or LeBron James, it was a worthwhile move for Los Angeles.

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