Charlotte Hornets: Should Charlotte roll the dice on these free agents?
By Joe Fisher
Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas was a star, if only for a moment, during the 2016-17 season. He led a Boston team that should have been an afterthought to the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to LeBron James and Cleveland.
Thomas finished fifth in MVP voting and earned a spot on the All-NBA team averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 assists.
Since then he has been reduced to a journeyman due in part to a lingering hip injury. He had another mild procedure on his hip recently, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Thomas may never reach the height he did what seems like ages ago, but the idea of pairing him back up with former teammate Terry Rozier is enticing. Like Thomas, Rozier’s star rose during that unlikely run, especially in the playoffs.
Speaking of unlikely, it is unlikely Thomas reaches the level of play he showed off in 2017. His production and minutes have plummeted since leaving Boston. That said, adding a hungry vet on a prove-it deal could pay off for backcourt depth and an occasional spark. Think of Jeremy Lin or Tony Parker’s runs in Charlotte.
It’s a low ceiling but low risk move to get a player that has Thomas’ leadership qualities.