Why Isn’t Isaiah Thomas in the NBA?
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Why isn’t Isaiah Thomas in the NBA? It’s a question that has been on the minds of many basketball fans for years. Thomas was one of the best players in the league for a time, but he’s been out of the NBA for a while now. There are a few reasons why he’s not in the league anymore, and we’ll explore them in this blog post.
Isaiah Thomas’s History
Isaiah Thomas was born in 1988 in Seattle, Washington. He played college basketball for the Washington Huskies and was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the 2010 NBA draft. He played for the Kings for three seasons before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2014. He played for the Suns for one season before being traded to the Boston Celtics in 2015. He became an All-Star in 2016 and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2017. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, but was traded again to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. He was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2019 and is currently a free agent.
His career before the NBA
Isaiah Thomas was born on February 7, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington. His father, James Thomas, was a basketball star at the University of Washington and played professionally in Europe. His mother, Tina Baldtrip, was a schoolteacher. Thomas had two older sisters and a younger brother. When he was two years old, his parents divorced, and he and his siblings were raised by their mother.
Thomas began playing organized basketball when he was five years old. He played in youth leagues and AAU tournaments throughout his childhood and teenage years. As a high schooler, he was one of the top recruits in the country. He originally committed to play college basketball at the University of Washington, but he changed his mind and instead chose to attend the University of Notre Dame.
After one semester at Notre Dame, Thomas decided to transfer to the University of Southern California (USC). He sat out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, but he quickly established himself as one of the best players in the Pac-10 (now the Pac-12) conference as a sophomore. He declared for the NBA draft after his junior year but ultimately decided to return to USC for his senior season. As a senior, he averaged 20 points per game and led USC to the NCAA tournament.
His time in the NBA
Isaiah Thomas was a star player in the NBA for many years. He was an All-Star in 2016 and 2017, and he helped lead the Boston Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017. However, Thomas’s career came to a sudden end in 2018, when he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After just one season with the Cavaliers, Thomas was traded again, this time to the Los Angeles Lakers. Thomas struggled with injuries during his time with the Lakers, and he was eventually waived by the team in February of 2019. Since then, Thomas has not been able to find another NBA team to sign him.
There are several theories as to why Thomas is no longer in the NBA. Some experts believe that his injuries have taken a toll on his body and have made him less effective on the court. Others believe that Thomas is simply not as good as he used to be and that there are other players who are better suited for an NBA roster spot. Regardless of the reason, it appears that Isaiah Thomas’s time in the NBA has come to an end.
The Rumors
The trade
The Cavaliers sent Thomas, Channing Frye and their own first-round draft pick to the Lakers in exchange for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. The move came as a surprise to many, as Thomas had only been with the Cavs for six months.
The trade was motivated by two things: the Cavs’ desire to get rid of Thomas’ salary, and their need for an infusion of youth and energy. Thomas is due to make $6.3 million next season, while Clarkson and Nance will make a combined $11.5 million.
The Cavs also receive the Lakers’ first-round draft pick, which is currently projected to be the 25th overall pick. The Cavs had been shopping Thomas around since the trade deadline, but were unable to find a suitable trade partner. The Lakers were apparently the only team willing to take on Thomas’ contract.
The injury
Isaiah Thomas’s NBA career came to an abrupt end when he severely injured his hip in a playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This injury occurred in early May, and by the end of the month, it was clear that Isaiah would miss the remainder of the playoffs. He had successful surgery to repair the injury, but it was too late. His season was over, and his future in the NBA was in doubt.
Isaiah Thomas is a small guard, listed at 5’9″, and his lack of size has always been seen as a major weakness. However, he has been one of the most productive players in the league for several years, despite his size. In 2016-17, he averaged 28.9 points per game, which was good for fifth in the NBA. He also proved to be a clutch performer in big moments, and he helped lead the Boston Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals.
However, his hip injury appears to be serious enough to derail his career. He is currently a free agent, and it is unclear if any team is willing to take a chance on him. It is possible that we have seen the last of Isaiah Thomas in the NBA.
The Reality
Isaiah Thomas is one of the best basketball players in the world. He’s 5’9″, and he was the last pick in the 2011 NBA draft. He should be in the NBA. So, why isn’t he? The reason is simple: He’s not tall enough. In today’s NBA, teams are looking for players who are taller and can play multiple positions. Thomas is a great scorer, but he doesn’t have the size to match up with the bigs in the league.
His age
At 29 years old, Thomas is on the wrong side of 30 for an NBA player. Most players in the league are in their early-to-mid 20s, with a few veterans sprinkled in. The average age of an NBA player is 26.8, according to data from the 2017-18 season.
His size
Isaiah Thomas is a 5’9” point guard who was actually undrafted out of the University of Washington. He had a couple of very good seasons with the Sacramento Kings before being traded to the Phoenix Suns, and then he was traded again to the Boston Celtics, where he became an All-Star. Thomas was traded once more, this time to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then he was dealt at the trade deadline to the Los Angeles Lakers. After one season with the Lakers, Thomas signed with the Denver Nuggets.
It’s not easy being a short player in the NBA. It’s even harder when you’re undersized for your position like Isaiah Thomas is. When you’re small, you have to work that much harder on your game to make up for your lack of size. You have to be able to shoot well, handle the ball well, and make good decisions on the court. You also have to be tough and strong enough to withstand the physicality of NBA basketball.
Isaiah Thomas has worked hard on his game throughout his career and has become one of the best scorers in the NBA. However, his lack of size has always been a hindrance for him defensively. He’s also not a great three-point shooter, which is something that most teams look for in a point guard these days.
Due to his size and skill set, Isaiah Thomas has always been a bit of a tweener in the NBA. He’s too small to play shooting guard and not quite skilled enough to play small forward. This has made it difficult for him to find a defined role on any of his teams throughout his career.
Isaiah Thomas is currently an unrestricted free agent in the NBA. He hasn’t been able to find a team willing to sign him since he became a free agent last offseason. It’s possible that his career might be over due to his size and skill set no longer being in demand in today’s NBA
The Conclusion
After a fantastic career at the University of Washington, Isaiah Thomas was not drafted by any NBA team. This was due in large part to his small stature, as he is only 5’9″. Though he has been one of the best players in the NBA D-League, he has not been given a chance to prove himself in the NBA.
His future
Isaiah Thomas’s future in the NBA is in question after a series of injuries have derailed his career. After being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers, Thomas has struggled to regain his All-Star form from earlier in his career.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, it is unclear if any team will be willing to take a chance on Thomas. His injuries have limited his ability to contribute and he has not been able to stay on the court for long stretches.
It is possible that Thomas will have to settle for a role as a backup point guard or even out of the league altogether. His days as a starter in the NBA appear to be over and it remains to be seen if he can catch on with another team.