Isaiah Thomas Is Said To Be ‘Ecstatic’ To Be A Laker


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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.

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.

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.