Lakers will not retain Isaiah Thomas

The Los Angeles Lakers do not intend to re-sign veteran guard Isaiah Thomas once his current 10-day contract expires, The Athletic reported Sunday, December 26.

The Lakers added Thomas on December 17 in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak that left a number of players unavailable. Now that much of the roster has returned, the Lakers will let the 10-day deal expire.

The Lakers also signed veteran guard Darren Collison and forward Stanley Johnson on Friday to hardship exceptions.

Thomas, 32, averaged 9.3 points in his four games in a Lakers’ uniform but had just five combined points in his last two games. He was a combined 2-of-16 shooting in defeats to the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns and was 0 of 9 from 3-point range.

Thomas signed with Los Angeles just days after he had signed with the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League. He had 19 points in his Lakers debut December 17 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but his production has declined ever since.

Thomas has averaged 18.0 points and 4.9 assists over 11 career seasons with the Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics, Suns, Washington Wizards, Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans. This is his second stint with the Lakers after playing with the team for 17 games in the 2017-18 season.

The two-time All-Star is a former second-round draft pick by the Kings in 2011 out of Washington. – Rappler.com