We'll see about that.
That had to be Lakers coach Luke Walton's thought when he heard Isaiah Thomas' agent tell an ESPN reporter his client wouldn't come off the bench after being traded to Los Angeles along with veteran Channing Frye and the Cavs' protected 2018 first-round draft choice in exchange for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. on Thursday.
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Turns out agents don't run basketball teams. ESPN's Chris Haynes and Ohm Youngmisuk reported the two-time All-Star would indeed begin his career in purple and gold as a reserve when the Lakers face the Mavericks on Saturday tonight.
Reporting w/ @NotoriousOHM. ESPN Sources: Isaiah Thomas to come off the bench when he makes his Lakers debut tonight at Dallas. https://t.co/shzJm1eEpT
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 10, 2018
The 5-9 Thomas was a second-team All-NBA choice after averaging a career-high 28.9 points per game as a member of the Celtics last season. He was shipped off to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving in a deal that sent the Cavaliers Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Nets' 2018 first-round pick.
Thomas played just 15 games with Cleveland, averaging 14.7 points and 4.5 assists. He was severely limited by a hip injury, the same one that forced him out of last year's playoffs.
Walton will be tasked with meshing Thomas into a lineup that also includes rookie Lonzo Ball (10.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 7.1 apg), who hasn't played since mid-January with a sprained MCL, and shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (13.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg).
The Lakers (23-31) are playing their best ball of the season, having won four in a row and 12 of their last 16.