NBA Trades Isaiah Thomas to the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired nine-time All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade that sends Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to the Cavs, league sources told ESPN.

The Cavs also will receive the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2018 — which Cleveland will use to select former University of Texas center Mo Bamba — and a future second-round pick league sources said. The move clears enough salary cap space for the Lakers to sign free agent forward Lebron James should he elect to leave the Cavaliers and come to Los Angeles as a free agent this summer.

What this means for the Lakers

The Lakers have been anything but consistent this season and are in desperate need of a shake-up. With their recent acquisition of Isaiah Thomas, they may have just found the spark they needed.

Thomas is a two-time All-Star and was named NBA Most Improved Player in 2015. He’s averaging 28.9 points per game this season, which is good for fourth in the league. His scoring ability will be a welcomed addition to a Lakers team that ranks 27th in the league in points per game

But Thomas isn’t without his faults. He’s been hampered by a hip injury that has forced him to miss significant time this season. And when he has been on the court, he hasn’t been quite the same player that he was last season. There’s no telling how long it will take him to get back to full strength, or if he’ll ever really be the same player again.

Only time will tell if the Thomas trade will be a boon or a bust for the Lakers, but one thing is for sure: they’re taking a gamble.

What this means for the Celtics

The Boston Celtics have traded guard Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for forward Lonzo Ball guard Josh Hart, and a future draft pick The Celtics will also receive a protected first-Round Draft pick in 2019.

This deal comes as a surprise to many, as Thomas was seen as one of the cornerstones of the Celtics’ young core. However, with Kyrie Irving returning from injury and the team’s acquisition of Gordon Hayward this offseason, it appears that the Celtics felt they could afford to part with Thomas.

So what does this mean for the Celtics? Well, for one thing, it clears up some much-needed cap space It also gives them another young player in Ball, who has tremendous potential but has yet to reach his full potential. And finally, it gives them another first-round Draft Pick which is always valuable.

Overall, this seems like a win for the Celtics. They get rid of a player who was no longer in their long-term plans and they acquire two young players and a draft pick in return. Only time will tell if this trade ends up paying off for them in the long run, but it certainly looks like a savvy move by GM Danny Ainge

What this means for the Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance. This move comes as a bit of a surprise, as Thomas has only been with the Cavs for a short time.

So what does this mean for the Cavs? Well, they essentially just got rid of one of their best players. Thomas was averaging 14.7 points and 4.5 assists per game this season, and was starting to gel with his new teammates.

Without Thomas, the Cavs will likely struggle to score points They will also have a hard time winning games as they are now lacking a true star player It will be interesting to see how they fare in the coming weeks and months.

How this affects the Eastern Conference

Isaiah Thomas was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers in a move that could have big implications for the Eastern Conference Thomas is a two-time All-Star and was one of the key pieces of the Cavaliers team that reached the NBA Finals in 2017.

With Thomas now gone, the Cavaliers are likely to take a Step Back in the standings. The Celtics, who Thomas played for before being traded to the Cavaliers, are now the clear favorites to win the conference. The Raptors and 76ers are also likely to be contenders for the conference title

How this affects the Western Conference

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their offseason makeover on Thursday, acquiring two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade that also sent rookie forward Moritz Wagner, veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and two future second-round draft picks to the rebuilding Cavs.

Thomas, 28, is just a year removed from averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game for the Boston Celtics but he struggled mightily last season after being traded to the Cavs midseason as he worked his way back from a hip injury that sidelined him for the final three months of the 2016-17 campaign. In 15 games with Cleveland, Thomas averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists while shooting just 36 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range.

The Lakers are clearly betting that Thomas will return to form next season as he once again teams up with close friend Lebron James who signed with Los Angeles last month. It’s a low-risk move for the Lakers, as Thomas is only signed through next season (at $6.3 million) and will be an unrestricted Free Agent in 2020.

What other moves could be made

Although the Cleveland Cavaliers have already pulled the trigger on a trade that will send Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers there are still a number of potential moves that could be made before the season begins.

The Cavs could look to move Thomas to another team in order to unload his contract, which is set to expire after this season. They could also look to package him with another player or players in order tosweeten the pot for a potential trade partner.

In addition, the Cavs could also elect to keep Thomas and see how he fits in with their new-look roster. Although he is coming off of a down year, Thomas is still just 29 years old and is just two years removed from being an All-Star.

The Lakers, meanwhile, could look to move Thomas again if they feel like they can get more value for him. Alternatively, they could keep him and hope that he can recapture his All-Star form from 2016.

Only time will tell what ultimately happens with Thomas, but there are still plenty of potential moves that could be made before the start of the 2018-19 NBA season

What the Lakers could do next

Now that the Lakers have made the Blockbuster Trade for Anthony Davis shipping off fan favorite Lonzo Ball Brandon Ingram Josh Hart and three first-round picks including the No. 4 overall selection in next year’s draft, in the process, what’s next for them?

The Lakers still have a core of young players including Kyle Kuzma Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Rajon Rondo that they can build around. They also have cap space to add more veterans to help them compete for a title next season.

One option the Lakers could explore is signing Kyrie Irving in Free agency Irving is reportedly interested in joining forces with Davis and the Lakers could have the cap space to sign him.

Another option could be trading for Chris Paul The Houston Rockets are said to be open to trading Paul and the Lakers have been rumored to be interested in acquiring him. Paul would give the Lakers another ball-handler and playmaker to pair with Davis.

The Lakers could also look to add another shooter like Tobias Harris or Khris Middleton in free agency or via trade.

There are a lot of options on the table for the Lakers as they look to build a championship-caliber team around Anthony Davis

What the Celtics could do next

Now that the Boston Celtics have traded Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers what’s next for them?

The Celtics will likely look to add a veteran point guard who can help them compete for a championship immediately. They have been linked to Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose in recent days.

Rondo is the more realistic option of the two, as he is familiar with Head Coach Brad Stevens from their time together in Boston. Rose would be a riskier signing, as he has struggled with injuries throughout his career.

What the Cavs could do next

After trading away Isaiah Thomas, the Cavs are in a bit of a rebuild mode. They could look to trade away some of their other star players like Kevin Love, in order to get some young talent and draft picks in return. Or, they could try to keep their core intact and make a push for the playoffs. Either way, it will be interesting to see what the Cavs do next.

NBA Trades Isaiah Thomas to the Lakers