NBA Free Agency: Signings of our dreams
Won’t someone love Isaiah Thomas?
by Jordan White (@JordanSWhite)
Yesterday, Jodie Meeks, a three-and-d player without the D, signed a three year, $19 million contract with the Detroit Pistons. Earlier today, Avery Bradley re-signed with the Boston Celtics for four years on a deal worth $32 million. Bradley’s deal is a bit more defensible than Meeks’, but the fact still remains: Every year, come free agency, teams will do stupid things with stupid amounts of money.
Still, it’s not the players’ fault teams decide to overpay for their services. I’m sure they appreciate it, not just for the money, but for the underlying message of the contract, that being, we want you.
It’s nice to be wanted, to be sought after — to have someone say, whether it’s over the phone or in person, that they need you. The contract is as much a sign of love, or at the very least admiration, as it is respect. It acknowledges all of the player’s hard work and determination that led them to this point, and a sign of faith that they can be even better. Trust, love, respect — that’s what the contract is.
Now, please, won’t someone love, trust and respect Isaiah Thomas?
No matter how many times Thomas proved himself the superior point guard on the Kings, he still had to scratch and claw for every shred of playing time. It’s as if his every success was a fluke and his failure a regression to the norm. His 5’9 frame is an issue — he gets obliterated in the post and shot over on the perimeter — but Thomas is a player you have to appreciate for what he can do as much as he can’t.
He’s the very definition of a water-bug guard, skittering all over the court in search of opportunity, be it passing or scoring. His raw averages of 20.3 points and 6.3 assists aren’t just good for a player of his size, they’re good, period. He’s got a tenacity unfound in even some of the league’s superstars — unsurprising and necessary when you’re constantly battling giants.
Isaiah Thomas is a good player, and it’s high time a team recognized him for that. If it’s the Kings, that’s terrific. If it’s the Celtics or any other team, that’s great, too. As long as they love, trust, and respect him.