The Cleveland Cavaliers sent Isaiah Thomas, Channing Fry, and their 2018 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.
This trade for the Cavs effectively marks the end of the Thomas experiment, which clearly did not work out at all. Thomas failed to connect with his teammates and had even publicly criticized Cleveland’s coaching staff. Since coming back from a hip injury Thomas played in just 15 games but he struggled to fit in and has not reached his peak physical condition.
Clarkson is a volume scoring guard that can play both guard positions and can defend better than Thomas. In Nance Jr., whose father played in Cleveland, the Cavs are getting a versatile athletic forward that can help them improve their defense
With this trade, Cleveland changes the dynamic of their locker room, which they needed to do because they are far below the performance level they showed in the last three previous seasons.
Things needed to be shaken up to try to improve the team because a few other franchises, which include direct competitors such as the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics, have clearly left them behind. The measures that the Cavs will take will most likely not end with this trade as the Cavaliers are not done and more trade talks are apparently going on with other teams.
As for Thomas, he will have to play better and prove that he can be durable for the Lakers if he wants Los Angeles, or anyone else for that matter, to reward him with a big contract in the offseason when he becomes a free agent.
Once Lonzo Ball comes back from his injury the Lakers will hand him back his role and then it will be interesting how Thomas will fit in with them as he’s clearly not a long-term solution for Los Angeles.
