Isaiah Thomas was hauled to the Los Angeles Lakers by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Trade Deadline and on Sunday night the Point Guard made his debut for the new team against the Dallas Mavericks. Afterwards he spoke about his emotions in the context of the trade.
Thomas had only played 15 games for the Cavaliers in which neither he nor the team had been successful. On Thursday, Cleveland pulled the rip cord and sent Thomas to Los Angeles with Channing Frye and a first round pick for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance,”I was shocked,”Thomas said about the trade.
“It was a surprise, but at the same time I was happy to get a new start. I’m happy to be with the Lakers now, a young team playing at high speed, that’s my style,”says Thomas,”I’m here to help in any way I can. It reminds me a little bit of how I was traded to Boston.”
Shortly after Thomas’ Trade, his agent had told ESPN that his client in Los Angeles would “by no means” come from the bank, but this was put into perspective by Thomas on Saturday:”You played extremely well last time. I don’t want to mess this up, and that’s what I told coach. Of course, I would like to be a starter and I think I deserve that, but this is a new chapter. I want to do what he needs from me.”
Thomas was satisfied with his debut – he scored 22 points and 6 assists in the game against the Lakers,”I wanted to get involved. I felt like I was getting my powers back from this team.”