Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: 20 things to watch this NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 27: Isaiah Thomas shoots the ball during USAB Minicamp at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on July 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 27: Isaiah Thomas shoots the ball during USAB Minicamp at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on July 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. Isaiah Thomas, 6MOY?

Last summer, Isaiah Thomas told A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston (via AJ Neuharth-Keusch of USA Today) that the Celtics had to “bring the Brink’s truck out” to re-sign him in 2018. Fresh off a second-team All-NBA nod and a fifth-place finish in MVP voting, his confidence wasn’t misplaced at the time.

One injury-ravaged season later, Thomas wound up signing a one-year, $2.0 million minimum deal with the Denver Nuggets after his market was far more tepid than expected.

According to ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Nuggets head coach Mike Malone is planning for Thomas “to play a significant scoring and playmaking role off Denver’s bench.” With Will Barton replacing departed forward Wilson Chandler in Denver’s starting lineup, Thomas can slide into Barton’s vacant sixth-man role and serve as a sparkplug for the high-octane Nuggets.

The diminutive point guard’s efficiency plunged last season as he worked his way back from hip surgery—and perhaps returned too soon, as he told Wojnarowski in late July—and his stint with Cleveland was an outright disaster. He fared better with the Lakers after the trade deadline, but when James signed with them on the first day of free agency, it likely closed the door on Thomas’ chances of re-signing in L.A.

Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly told Thomas in no uncertain terms that Jamal Murray is the team’s starting point guard both “now and in the future,” according to Woj, but Thomas supposedly isn’t concerned with starting versus coming off the bench.

“I’m worried about playing well and showing the world who I am again,” he told Woj.

In Denver’s uptempo system, Thomas could feasibly pour in 20-plus points per game off the bench. When casting your preseason Sixth Man of the Year votes, don’t forget about the Pizza Guy.