It took 15 years, someone finally found the secret to slowing down LeBron James. The issue was that it fell at the feet of Thomas as a teammate. James had played the worst basketball of his career once Thomas returned to the lineup in early January.
Thomas was the main sticking point of the mega trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics over the summer. Thomas tragically lost his sister during last season's playoffs, and had off-season hip surgery.
Well, that’s all a figment of the past, because Thomas was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers this afternoon. Thomas leaves with Channing Frye for Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson, and the Lakers’ first round pick in this June’s draft. Nance will get to suit up for a franchise where his father’s jersey is hanging in the rafters, and Clarkson means the Cavs’ are now eight inches taller at point guard. There is talk that Thomas’ $6.26 million salary for this season could also be bought out by the Lakers as early as next week. The trade allowed Los Angeles to free up enough salary cap space to take a run at several top-tier players in free agency after this season. This would include James, assuming the bevy of deals made by Cleveland today isn’t enough to make him sign another contract extension.
The Cavaliers were hopeful Thomas would have returned to All Star form in time for the playoffs. Over his first month back, Thomas has statistically been the worst defensive player in the NBA. Thomas called out Kevin Love for leaving a game against Oklahoma CIty early with an illness, and clotheslined Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (the guy who the Cavs traded away to get Love three years ago) a couple of weeks back. After James walked-off the Cavs against Orlando last night in overtime, Thomas was asked about his name being brought up in trade rumors:
“I’m tired of being traded. That’s not a good thing, but I just want to be where I’m wanted, and I like it here. It hasn’t been as planned, I definitely want to be here. We have a real chance to win an NBA Championship, and I want to be a part of it.”
The trade was partly Cleveland wanting to get younger (Thomas is 29, Clarkson and Nance are both 25), but there were multiple reports that LeBron and Thomas were at odds with each other whenever they were on a basketball court, practice or otherwise. I wholeheartedly believe this was LeBron telling Cavs’ ownership that if they were not going to deal the Brooklyn Nets’ lottery pick acquired in the Boston trade, he simply wanted Thomas off his roster.
Thomas’ agent says this was a power-play, because LeBron wants control of the ball. LeBron can control anything on a basketball court he chooses. If Irving requested out of Cleveland because of his refusal to take a backseat to the greatest player of our generation, what made Thomas believe he would be acquiesced?
Thomas wants to start for the Lakers, who are taking the NBA equivalent of a “gap year.”. The issue is that Los Angeles is trying to build around Lonzo Ball, whose obnoxious father LaVar throws plenty Laker personnel under the bus as it is. The Lakers (22-31 entering tonight) sit six games out of the last playoff spot in the West. As much as Thomas’ mouth seemed to run him out of Cleveland, you almost feel sorry for the reality show that’s about to unfold between him and the Ball matriarch.
Kobe and Shaq found a way to coexist to three NBA titles. Thomas knows he shouldn’t engage in a similar rift with either Ball, or Magic Johnson. The question is, will he just not be able to help himself under the brighter lights at Staples Center?
-JC24