Looking forward to it, looking forward to it, the strongest 175 on the surface is finally back! On December 17, Beijing time, according to NBA celebrity Shams, the Lakers used the difficulty exception to sign a 10-day short contract with Isaiah Thomas. Just a day ago, Thomas Jr. made his development league debut 42+6+8. 24 hours after his debut, he officially returned to the NBA!
On December 13, Thomas Jr. signed for the NBA Development League and joined the Nuggets' affiliated team, the Golden Team, and he never gave up returning to the NBA. You should remember that last season, the Pelicans also gave Thomas Jr. a 10-day contract, and he played in 3 games for the Pelicans, averaging 7.7 points and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 33% from the field and only 25% from three points.
In the 2019-20 season, he played in 40 games for the Wizards, averaging 12.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, shooting 40.8% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range. In February 2020, Thomas Jr. was traded to the Clippers, who subsequently bought him out. For more than a year, Thomas Jr. had no ball to play until april when he signed a short contract with the Pelicans.
Thomas Jr. is no stranger to the Lakers, and in the second half of the 2017-18 season, he was sent to Los Angeles by the Cavaliers. Thomas Jr. played 17 regular season games for the Lakers, averaging 27 minutes per game and having 15.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 5 assists. In the summer of 2018, the Lakers did not leave him, and Thomas Jr. joined the Nuggets on a year-end pay contract.
Thomas Jr.'s relationship with the Lakers does not end there, this offseason, he has tried out for the Lakers and Warriors. According to Thomas Jr., the Lakers were once close to signing him, but Rondo was bought out by the Grizzlies, changing the Lakers' plans. This time he finally got his wish!
Bulls star LaVine wrote: "My brother is back where he belongs! Green Army player Horford said: "Thomas Jr. really loves to play, he proved to the outside world that he can still play in the NBA! ”
In two months, Thomas Jr. will turn 33, which is his last chance. Thomas Jr. said in an interview earlier: "My ultimate goal is to return to the NBA, and if not, I have to look at the options and opportunities overseas." "We also want Thomas Jr. to get a foothold in the NBA, he has inspired countless little players!
The Lakers signed Thomas Jr. for two main reasons: 1. His debut in the development league and his offseason trial performance impressed the team; 2. Now the Lakers have many players can not play, and there is an extreme shortage of manpower! Also today, the Lakers officially announced: Westbrook and Bradley triggered a health and safety agreement and did not travel to Minnesota with the team!
Previously, Howard, Munch and Tucker also triggered the health and safety agreement, coupled with Nunn and Ariza, who continue to miss due to injury, the Lakers have 7 players on the whole team who cannot play. The NBA currently has a shortage of players for many teams: the Nets have 7 people who triggered the agreement and cannot play, the Bulls have as many as 9 people, and the Bucks' alphabet brother and other three people have also been recruited.
According to NBA regulations, players who trigger health and safety agreements are generally absent for 10 days. Tomorrow at 11 a.m., the Lakers will play against the Timberwolves, and Thomas Jr. is expected to make his debut of the season. The Lakers are currently sixth in the West with 16 wins and 13 losses, and the Timberwolves are ninth in the West with 13 wins and 15 losses.