Veteran point guard Isaiah Thomas headed into the 2021 offseason with the hope of finding a team that would give him the opportunity to play in the 2021-22 NBA season. One of the teams who were rumored to be interested in getting Thomas’ services was the Los Angeles Lakers. After establishing an impressive performance in the workout sessions, Jon Krawczynsky of The Athletic revealed on Twitter that the Lakers were "strongly considering" signing Thomas to a one-year, veteran-minimum deal.
However, that’s before veteran floor general Rajon Rondo became available on the free agency market.
Lakers Chose Rajon Rondo Over Isaiah Thomas
After the Memphis Grizzlies agreed to buy out Rondo’s contract and let him become an unrestricted free agent, Thomas’ dream of playing for the Lakers vanished into thin air. Upon parting ways with the Grizzlies, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Twitter that Rondo signed a one-year deal with the Lakers.
"Rajon Rondo plans to sign a one-year, $ 2.6M deal with the Lakers upon clearing waivers today, sources tell ESPN," Wojnarowski said. "He agreed to a contract buyout with Memphis on Saturday. Rondo will still make his full $ 7.5M salary this season between buyout and new deal."
Isaiah Thomas Could Reunite With The Celtics
It’s easy to understand why the Lakers chose Rondo over Thomas. Aside from being more durable, Rondo already has experience playing alongside the Lakers superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Despite his failed attempt to join the Lakers, Thomas still has the chance to play in the 2021-22 NBA season.
According to Andrew Hughes of Fansided’s Hardwood Houdini, Rondo’s return to the Lakers "opens doors" for the potential reunion between Thomas and the Boston Celtics this summer. With Danny Ainge gone in Boston, Hughes believes that Thomas may consider working for the man who oversaw his ascension into an MVP-caliber player – Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens.
Why Signing Isaiah Thomas Make Sense For Celtics
Bringing Thomas back to Boston would make a lot of sense for Stevens. The Celtics may have successfully acquired Dennis Schroder to fill the hole left by Kemba Walker in their backcourt, but they still obviously need a veteran presence in their backcourt.
Having a battle-tested floor general would be more beneficial for the Celtics in the playoffs. Schroder is capable of posting impressive statistics during the regular season, but he has a history of underwhelming performance in the postseason. Signing Thomas would the Celtics insurance in case Schroder underperforms or suffers an injury.
Celtics Evaluating Young Guards
Most Celtics fans would definitely love to see Thomas return to Beantown in the 2021-22 NBA season. Unfortunately, as of now, it remains unknown if there is an ongoing negotiation between Thomas and the Celtics regarding a potential deal. Before signing Thomas or other veterans, the Celtics may first want to see if at least one of their three young guards – Payton Pritchard, Kris Dunn, and Carsen Edwards – is capable of taking the role as their primary backup point guard next season.
