Fansided

20 things to look forward to this NBA offseason

By Bryan Toporek

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) reacts to a call during the championship game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the USC Trojans and the Arizona Wildcats on March 10, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) reacts to a call during the championship game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the USC Trojans and the Arizona Wildcats on March 10, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

5. Who signs Isaiah Thomas, and for how much?

A year ago, Isaiah Thomas expected the Celtics to “bring the Brink’s truck out” for him as a free agent this summer.

Now, he’ll be lucky to receive the mid-level exception.

After averaging a career-best 28.9 points per game and earning a second-team All-NBA nod with Boston in 2016-17, Thomas’ career quickly went downhill. The Celtics shipped him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August, and the hip injury that sidelined him for the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals kept him out until January.

Upon making his Cavaliers debut, he quickly began to clash with fellow teammates and coaches, which helped to destroy any semblance of locker room chemistry. Cleveland excised that bad juju at the trade deadline, sending Thomas, Channing Frye and a first-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jordan Clarkson (welp) and Larry Nance Jr.

Thomas fared slightly better in L.A. than he did in Cleveland—if nothing else, his teammates didn’t seem to actively hate him, so that’s something—but the Lakers already have Lonzo Ball as their long-term starting point guard. Outside of the Phoenix Suns (that ship has likely sailed) and perhaps the Atlanta Hawks (depending on what happens with Dennis Schroder), few teams with cap space this summer are in need of a new point man.

An NBA general manager told Sean Deveney of Sporting News that given the lingering health concerns with Thomas, “I think you can’t go more than one year on him.” His best hope may be having the Lakers strike out on their top free-agent targets so they bring him back on a big-money one-year deal to otherwise preserve cap space until 2019.

Next: 4. Does DeAndre Jordan stay with the Clippers?

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