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Lakers Rumors: Isaiah Thomas could find cold free agent market

By Kenneth Teape

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve point guard Isaiah Thomas, who may face a tough free agent market this offseason.

Los Angeles Lakers rumors are going to pick up with their offseason getting underway. The Lakers are heading into a very important offseason as they look to take the next step in their rebuild.

Los Angeles will look to add another piece to their young core in the 2018 NBA Draft. The Lakers own the No. 25 pick via the Cleveland Cavaliers and No. 47 pick. Los Angeles has done well drafting later, but they will be looking to really make a splash in free agency.

The goal for Los Angeles since Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka took over was free agency in 2018. They are looking to land two max free agents with Paul George and LeBron James at the top of their wish list.

If the Lakers land George or James, and re-sign someone such as Julius Randle, the team could use up almost all of their cap space. If Los Angeles accomplishes that, they will have to find a way to round out the rest of their roster.

One avenue to do that could be retaining some of their own free agents. Brook Lopez, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Channing Frye and Isaiah Thomas are all unrestricted free agents this summer.

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The Lakers could have varying degrees of interest in each of those players. Depending on how the search for max free agents go will dictate how the Lakers negotiate with their own free agents. Of those players, Thomas could struggle the most to land a contract.

Thomas was in the MVP conversation during the 2016-17 season. He helped lead the Boston Celtics back to prominence, as they are one of the best teams in the NBA. However, a hip injury suffered in the 2017 postseason has derailed Thomas.

He was a part of the blockbuster trade between the Celtics and Cavaliers that landed Kyrie Irving in Boston. Thomas was never able to acclimate himself to Cleveland, missing the first 36 games of the season.

Upon his return, the results were mixed, at best. The Cavaliers; front office decided a change needed to be made and shipped Thomas, along with Frye and the first round pick, to the Lakers in exchange for Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.

Thomas showed more life with the Lakers, but his hip ultimately did him in again. Thomas missed the final 11 games of the season as he underwent surgery on his ailing hip. That hip is going to be what holds him back in free agency.

Last summer Thomas was confident he would land a max contract. He said the Celtics would have to back the Brinks truck up to keep him. Now, Thomas will be lucky to even land a multi-year deal that doesn’t include an option year.

Sean Deveney of Sporting News shared, via an NBA Executive, that Thomas may meet a cold market this offseason.

"“Just given the way he played last year,” another NBA executive said, “I think you can’t go more than one year on him. Maybe you can do two years if you hold the second year at your option. That’s before you even get into whether he is healthy.”"

After his MVP caliber season in 2016-17, Thomas saw his numbers crater this season. Between the Cavaliers and Lakers, Thomas averaged 15.2 points, 4.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game. That is a drop off from 28.9 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds from the previous season.

The 32 games that Thomas played in this season were the fewest of his career. His decision to not have hip surgery when the injury first occurred is one that could haunt his basketball career.

"“It’s a red flag that he did not have surgery on it,” one general manager told Sporting News. “If you have a problem that can be fixed heading into your free-agent year, you get surgery. If there is concern that you can’t fix it with surgery, that means probably there is something more wrong. It is something that, obviously, the doctors will look at closely.”"

Thomas’ hip will be a topic of discussion all offseason. Thomas had hopes of being a max free agent, one of the first players off the board. Now, Thomas may not even be the first Lakers’ unrestricted free agent signed in July.

Next: 4 Reasons The Lakers Should No Re-Sign Isaiah Thomas

Given his performance this season, and his injury, Thomas couldn’t be heading into free agency in worse shape.

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