Can Isaiah Thomas makes the Lakers a Playoff Contender?
Can Isaiah Thomas makes the Lakers a Playoff Contender?
The Lakers sit 11th in the Western Conference, only 7.5 games back from the 8th seed. With the arrival of Isaiah Thomas, the Lakers gain much-needed scoring and a veteran leader who could push these young Lakers into the postseason.
The Lakers sit 11th in the Western Conference, only 7.5 games back from the 8th seed. With the arrival of Isaiah Thomas, the Lakers gain much-needed scoring and a veteran leader who could push these young Lakers into the postseason.
The Lakers are currently one of the hottest teams in the league, winning 15 of their last 22 games. For a young team like the Lakers, win totals are usually shakey -- some months they can't seem to win, and other months they look unstoppable, like now. But this winning run is no fluke. They have beaten playoff contenders along the way, like the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (2x).
In a move to clear a path for the 2018 Free Agency period, the Lakers shipped out two key members in Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance essentially for Isaiah Thomas. With only 28 games left to prove he is still a max contract player, Thomas would surely like to make a statement by pushing the Lakers over the playoff hump. His history shows that he is capable: he led a lottery-bound team to a #1 seed in the East in just three seasons. The irony? He did it with the Lakers' archrivals, the Boston Celtics.
Thomas would like to shake free of his recent struggles -- his hip, defensive issues, drawbacks from his expressive personality, and his experience in Cleveland -- and remind everyone why he was an MVP candidate last season. He marks the first All-Star to play for the Lakers since Kobe Bryant, and that could mark progress for the Purple and Gold in terms of winning a championship in the near future.
Winning Mentality
In his first game in a Laker uniform, Thomas provided what the Lakers really need: Points, leadership, poise. He put up 22 points (including 4 three-pointers), 6 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal while shooting 58% from the field. He did have 6 turnovers, but that's to be expected when a player joined the team only 24-hours before tip-off. Though the Lakers will miss some of the bench depth that Clarkson and Nance provided, Thomas is a guy who wants the ball in his hands, and he will deliver. Last season, Thomas was called "Mr. Fourth Quarter" as he averaged 10.6 points in the final quarter, the highest in the NBA. Young teams like the Lakers frequently struggle closing out games; Thomas would like to change that. Although they lost in his Lakers debut, you can already see that the signs are there for improvement. With seven seasons of NBA experience under his belt, Thomas's guidance on the court could springboard the development of the rest of the young Lakers (like Brandon Ingram, who has been the primary late-game shot taker) as he teaches them how to win.
Luke Walton's current experiment of pairing Lonzo and Thomas worked in their lone game together: the Lakers didn't lose a beat once the starters came out. But then again, it was against the Mavericks, who are tanking for the top pick.
Finally An All-Star
Though he could only be a half-season rental, though he could be a bad fit with the Lakers, an All-Star is an All-Star, and the Lakers finally have proven talent in their hands. Many considered Thomas as a buy-low candidate for teams who desperate for a star player. And Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka pounced on that opportunity. The last time the Lakers traded for an All-Star was back in 2012 when they landed Dwight Howard. That didn't pan out the way Lakers fans wanted. But Thomas has the opportunity to be an X-Factor for the Lakers' Playoff run. The team finally has a go-to scorer, a closer, and a quality talent they can work with to keep the direction of the team trending upwards.
Reports suggest that the Lakers want to keep Isaiah Thomas beyond this season, and that could be a viable option for the team. In Isaiah Thomas and Brook Lopez, the team could have solid, veteran pillars to accompany the abundance of young talent they already have. The Lakers like to play fast basketball; Thomas likes to play fast basketball; the fit might work both now and in the future. Though Magic Johnson has already stated that Lonzo Ball is still the team's franchise player, they will need established talent to rely upon if they are to contend for a ring before Ball develops into a superstar.
Flexible Cap Space
By trading for Isaiah Thomas, the Lakers seem to have set themselves up well for their short-term and long-term plans. They shed Jordan Clarkson's $12M and shipped away Larry Nance, who will become a free agent in 2019. Now the Lakers are free to sign two max players while still keeping Julius Randle. They also have the option to retain both Isaiah Thomas and Brook Lopez if they choose to exercise their bird rights -- that will only happen if the Buss family would like to pay the luxury tax next season. Ultimately, the Lakers had to choose between Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. Randle's play during this stretch could have influenced the decision because he has produced positive results alongside Lopez in the starting lineup. It is unlikely the Lakers will sign Caldwell-Pope to a max contract in the offseason. And finally, they could stretch out Luol Deng's contract. This trade may be seen as a risky move for the Lakers, but if everything pans out and Magic and Rob are able to execute their free agency plan, no doubt Lakers' fans will be pleased. After going through seasons of turmoil, this would be a welcomed change.
The Lakers are currently one of the hottest teams in the league, winning 15 of their last 22 games. For a young team like the Lakers, win totals are usually shakey -- some months they can't seem to win, and other months they look unstoppable, like now. But this winning run is no fluke. They have beaten playoff contenders along the way, like the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (2x).
In a move to clear a path for the 2018 Free Agency period, the Lakers shipped out two key members in Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance essentially for Isaiah Thomas. With only 28 games left to prove he is still a max contract player, Thomas would surely like to make a statement by pushing the Lakers over the playoff hump. His history shows that he is capable: he led a lottery-bound team to a #1 seed in the East in just three seasons. The irony? He did it with the Lakers' archrivals, the Boston Celtics.
Thomas would like to shake free of his recent struggles -- his hip, defensive issues, drawbacks from his expressive personality, and his experience in Cleveland -- and remind everyone why he was an MVP candidate last season. He marks the first All-Star to play for the Lakers since Kobe Bryant, and that could mark progress for the Purple and Gold in terms of winning a championship in the near future.
Winning Mentality
In his first game in a Laker uniform, Thomas provided what the Lakers really need: Points, leadership, poise. He put up 22 points (including 4 three-pointers), 6 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal while shooting 58% from the field. He did have 6 turnovers, but that's to be expected when a player joined the team only 24-hours before tip-off. Though the Lakers will miss some of the bench depth that Clarkson and Nance provided, Thomas is a guy who wants the ball in his hands, and he will deliver. Last season, Thomas was called "Mr. Fourth Quarter" as he averaged 10.6 points in the final quarter, the highest in the NBA. Young teams like the Lakers frequently struggle closing out games; Thomas would like to change that. Although they lost in his Lakers debut, you can already see that the signs are there for improvement. With seven seasons of NBA experience under his belt, Thomas's guidance on the court could springboard the development of the rest of the young Lakers (like Brandon Ingram, who has been the primary late-game shot taker) as he teaches them how to win.
Luke Walton's current experiment of pairing Lonzo and Thomas worked in their lone game together: the Lakers didn't lose a beat once the starters came out. But then again, it was against the Mavericks, who are tanking for the top pick.
Finally An All-Star
Though he could only be a half-season rental, though he could be a bad fit with the Lakers, an All-Star is an All-Star, and the Lakers finally have proven talent in their hands. Many considered Thomas as a buy-low candidate for teams who desperate for a star player. And Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka pounced on that opportunity. The last time the Lakers traded for an All-Star was back in 2012 when they landed Dwight Howard. That didn't pan out the way Lakers fans wanted. But Thomas has the opportunity to be an X-Factor for the Lakers' Playoff run. The team finally has a go-to scorer, a closer, and a quality talent they can work with to keep the direction of the team trending upwards.
Reports suggest that the Lakers want to keep Isaiah Thomas beyond this season, and that could be a viable option for the team. In Isaiah Thomas and Brook Lopez, the team could have solid, veteran pillars to accompany the abundance of young talent they already have. The Lakers like to play fast basketball; Thomas likes to play fast basketball; the fit might work both now and in the future. Though Magic Johnson has already stated that Lonzo Ball is still the team's franchise player, they will need established talent to rely upon if they are to contend for a ring before Ball develops into a superstar.
Flexible Cap Space
By trading for Isaiah Thomas, the Lakers seem to have set themselves up well for their short-term and long-term plans. They shed Jordan Clarkson's $12M and shipped away Larry Nance, who will become a free agent in 2019. Now the Lakers are free to sign two max players while still keeping Julius Randle. They also have the option to retain both Isaiah Thomas and Brook Lopez if they choose to exercise their bird rights -- that will only happen if the Buss family would like to pay the luxury tax next season. Ultimately, the Lakers had to choose between Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. Randle's play during this stretch could have influenced the decision because he has produced positive results alongside Lopez in the starting lineup. It is unlikely the Lakers will sign Caldwell-Pope to a max contract in the offseason. And finally, they could stretch out Luol Deng's contract. This trade may be seen as a risky move for the Lakers, but if everything pans out and Magic and Rob are able to execute their free agency plan, no doubt Lakers' fans will be pleased. After going through seasons of turmoil, this would be a welcomed change.