The Washington Wizards reportedly recently agreed to sign veteran point guard Isaiah Thomas to a one-year deal in what we assume is going to be for the veteran's minimum. This move barely makes a splash alongside the earth-shattering signings made by the likes of the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers, but for Washington, this is actually a pretty good move.
While Thomas has had a pretty terrible past couple of seasons marred by injuries (he only suited up for a grand total of 44 games in two years between the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Denver Nuggets), let's not forget that the 5-foot-9 point guard is only two seasons removed from being a season MVP frontrunner with the Boston Celtics.
That unforgettable year, Thomas averaged 28.9 points (on 46.3 percent shooting), 3.2 three-pointers, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 0.9 steals in 33.8 minutes per contest as he led the C's all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Ironically, Boston actually went through the Wizards in the second round of the playoffs that year, and in a memorable Game 2 performance, Thomas would go on to score a career-high 53 points against John Wall and company.
The Wizards themselves are not likely to have easily forgotten about how unstoppable Thomas was in that series, and how the diminutive guard absolutely torched them. This is what likely prompted them to give the former 60th overall pick a lifeline, in what should also turn out as a move that will prove beneficial for Washington. Below are a few reasons why we believe this is going to be the case.
Health is Wealth
First and foremost, Thomas will be entering the new season a hundred percent healthy. Well, at least this is according to the two-time All-Star himself.
“During the season, I got back to 100 percent,” Thomas told Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. “I took my time and didn’t come back until February, and taking my time allowed me to get healthy. I didn’t play that much this year, so I don’t have much wear and tear on my body from this past year. I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, but I just focused on continuing to work and continuing to build my body. Now, I feel good. I feel really good. This summer, I’m focusing on strengthening my legs back up and getting my power and explosiveness back. I’ll be ready once the season starts. That’s all I’m focused on. I’m getting there and it’s going to take some time, but I’m getting there. I feel great.”
Thomas is confident that he has fully recovered from his surgically-repaired hip, and in truth, the Wizards would probably not have signed him if this weren't the case. Thomas' health is going to be the biggest determining factor on how well he will perform for Washington in the coming year, so a fully-fit IT could definitely turn things around for the squad.
The Keys to the Castle
Another thing working for Thomas here is that he will be provided with a ton of opportunities by the Wizards. John Wall is not likely to figure in the team's plans in the coming season, and Washington has already parted ways with last season's starting point guard, Tomas Satoransky, who is now on his way to the Chicago Bulls. Thomas will be competing with newly-acquired free agent Ish Smith for minutes, which actually gives him a legitimate shot of getting the nod for the starting spot.
Moreover, the Wizards are not expected to be competitive in the upcoming season, which means that Washington head coach Scott Brooks can likely afford to provide Thomas with a very long leash. This should allow the high-scoring guard to do his thing alongside a proven offensive powerhouse in Bradley Beal, so if all things go according to planned, the Wizards might just have a very dynamic backcourt next season.
A Rose-Like Resurgence
Last but not least, almost everybody is on Thomas' side here. The guys has been through some tough times, and we're all hoping things work out for him in Washington. With the backing of every single person in the Wizards organization, and equipped with what should be a potentially tremendous resurgence story akin to that of Derrick Rose with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, we might just see a comeback for the ages from Thomas. This is certainly what the Wizards are hoping for here, and if IT comes back as even just half the player he was a couple of seasons ago, then this is going to be an absolute win for the team.
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