The Los Angeles Lakers still have three roster spots open following their flurry of free-agent signings last week. These spots will, assumedly, not include the recently signed Mac McClung and from the Lakers’ Summer League team as these two will probably be used for training camp roster filler. The three open spots will also not include Austin Reaves or Joel Ayayi, as these two are signed to two-way contracts that don’t take up roster spots. Jared Dudley and Wesley Matthews Jr. are still free agents, but it appears the Lakers are reportedly “weighing” the signing of yet another former Laker. That former Laker is Isaiah Thomas, as The New York Times’ Marc Stein reports the team’s interest.
The Lakers, among various free-agent candidates they are still considering, have weighed the potential signing of Isaiah Thomas, league sources say.
Full story here: https://t.co/6HDSSTYyTK
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 11, 2021
Isaiah Thomas most recently was talked about on Twitter following an 81-point performance in a pro-am basketball tournament he played in. The below video also surfaced of Thomas very emotional at one of these tournaments, crying about the fact that he feels the NBA has given up on him. If the Lakers signed IT, it would be huge for a player who wasn’t necessarily a part of the 2020-21 NBA season*.
*He signed a deal a 10-day contract with the Pelicans in April 2021. That deal was not renewed.
.@isaiahthomas let it all out after dropping 81 in a Pro Am game 💯 *NSFW*
(h/t @SlowGrind_Media) pic.twitter.com/yQzTJ3MP9x
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 11, 2021
Stein also included in his report that the Lakers are also looking for wing-depth to fill out the rest of their roster (h/t Ralph Mason Jr.).
"The addition of Thomas is far from assured, sources stressed, but the Lakers are looking for additional backcourt punch as well as wing depth as they decide how to supplement the 12 veteran players they have under contract."
(In Steins latest IT/Lakers post)
— Ralph Mason (@Ralph_MasonJr) August 11, 2021
When Thomas was on the 2017-18 Cleveland Cavaliers alongside LeBron James, although, the two apparently did not get along too well. However, it’s definitely evidenced that LeBron fully supports Thomas’ quest to return full-time to the NBA. Stein also included the fact that their previous beef wouldn’t get in the way of the Lakers potentially signing him (h/t Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen & Roll).
Yessir Killa!! Keep going my G! #TMC🏁 https://t.co/iYxIMjNE3D
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 11, 2021
Although it would be a great story for Thomas to return to the Lakers and the NBA in general, I have my doubts on Thomas ever receiving playing time even though the Lakers technically don’t really have a true point guard to back up Russell Westbrook. He’s still one of the bigger defensive liabilities within the NBA in the past few years and increasing age isn’t going to help there.
Isaiah Thomas has averaged 18.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game in his 10-year NBA career. He played for the Lakers during the 2017-18 season.
