Lakers News: Guard Won't Get New 10-Day Deal; Multiple Teams Could Express Interest

Isaiah Thomas’ NBA future will depend on whether or not he impressed other teams during his recent short stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 5-foot-9 player will not be getting a second 10-day contract with the purple and gold, meaning he will have to carry on his NBA tenure with another team, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported, citing unnamed sources. International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

This is reportedly the direction the Lakers are headed to despite some credible performances from the Washington native.

Thomas had a good debut in his return to the NBA, dropping 19 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves coming off the bench. He followed up that performance with 13 markers against the Chicago Bulls.

Although there is no question that Thomas addressed the lack of scoring punch from the bench, his inability to effectively defend against guards of opposing teams was a concern. The Lakers’ defense is another aspect that needs addressing and is believed to be the reason behind the team's decision to not give Thomas another contract.

The Lakers are eligible to sign another replacement player after Rajon Rondo entered the league’s health and safety protocol. Sadly, Thomas will not be the guy who will fill the void.

With his short stint with the Lakers coming to an end soon, Thomas’ only hope now is for other teams to try and take him in through a similar route. According to Charania, multiple teams are expected to express interest in Thomas following his performance.

Some plausible landing spots are two teams he once suited up for – the Boston Celtics and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Of the two teams, the Celtics are the ones most will easily associate with the two-time All-Star. He suited up for Boston from 2015 to 2017 and was one of its top players before a hip injury waylaid his run. Thomas has since struggled to fit in with other teams, the Pelicans included.

With New Orleans, Thomas hardly carved a niche for himself, having played only three games during the 2020-21 season. But there have been a lot of developments since then.

The Pelicans need a guard who can help on offense and someone who can get players like Brandon Ingram going. A 10-day contract would be perfect for starters. It is a risk that New Orleans could take as more players are being placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.