Isaiah Thomas did not have the smoothest transition from the Boston Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he seems to be eager to give being a member of the Los Angeles Lakers a shot.
The newest Laker guard came over from Cleveland on Thursday in a huge trade that was just the start of the Cavaliers’ retooling effort that dominated the NBA’s trade deadline. Thomas lasted a mere 15 games in the Cavs’ rotation, and there was plenty of turmoil both on and off the court in that time. All of that’s over now, and with the Lakers, Thomas has a chance to get past a shaky start to his 2017-18 season.
And the best part for Los Angeles is that Thomas is happy to be settled in their organization. ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne reported on Thursday that the Lakers’ initial contact with the oft-traded guard was positive.
Told by multiple sources that Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have been in touch with IT and he's "ecstatic " about being a Laker. Unclear whether the issue of starting was discussed, however.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 8, 2018
Shelbourne’s note about whether Thomas would be willing to come off the bench came as a result of an earlier report that he’d be unwilling to do so, which means there are some remaining questions to be answered here. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka stressed later on Thursday that the excitement was mutual.
Rob Pelinka on Isaiah Thomas: "Isaiah is playing here, we can't wait to get him here. He's so excited.” Thomas spoke to Magic and Pelinka on the phone today and apparently shared how eager he was to get to L.A.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 8, 2018
But for someone who hours earlier said he as “tired” of being traded, it seems like he’s happy the Cavaliers at least moved him to a team like the Lakers, which plans on keeping him around and making him a member of the organization for the rest of the year.
