The Los Angeles Lakers have signed two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas in the wake of Avery Bradley, Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard — and now Austin Reaves — entering the NBA's health and safety protocols (Russell Westbrook cleared protocols on Friday).

Thomas will be added via the “hardship exception” — which allows teams to sign a player to a 10-day contract if four or more players miss at least three games with illness or injury (retroactively). Once a player returns, somebody will have to be waived. Teams are allowed to sign a player to two 10-day deals before they have to either cut him or sign him for the rest of the season.

Even though reports of IT's addition came out on Thursday, the Lakers waited until Friday to officially announce his signing, likely to delay the start of his contract.

Thomas will be active and wearing No. 31 for the Lakers against the Minnesota Timberwolves (his third jersey number with the Lakers).

 

The 32-year old played 17 games for the Lakers in 2017-18. He worked out for the team over the summer and recently said he believes the Lakers would have signed him had the Memphis Grizzlies not agreed to a buyout with Rajon Rondo. Less than 24 hours after those remarks, Thomas dropped 42 points (on 16-of-30 shooting) in his first and only appearance for the Denver Nuggets' G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold.

IT played three games on a 10-day contract for the New Orleans Pelicans late in the 2020-21 season. He averaged 7.7 points on 33.3% shooting. The season prior, he averaged 12.2 points on 40.8% shooting in 40 games for the Washington Wizards.

Thomas played with LeBron James for the first half of the 2017-18 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers before being dealt to Los Angeles.

Considering the number of wings in protocols, the Lakers giving Thomas a shot makes sense, though whether he'll prove to be a real difference-maker remains to be seen. He certainly can't be expected to help the Lakers perimeter defense. That said, here are three things Isaiah Thomas can bring to the Lakers, for now.

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1) More accolades

OK, cheating here a bit. This is not exactly a basketball thing.

Thomas brings the Lakers' total All-Star selection count to 59 and All-NBA count to 49 — the most for any roster in NBA history, in both categories. At 32, he'll be the … 10th oldest player on the Lakers.

2) Instant offense

Thomas, in theory, is a microwave. However, he hasn't exactly flashed that quickfire scoring knack at the NBA level on a consistent basis since way back in 2016-17, when he was an All-NBA performer for the Boston Celtics.

Tellingly, Thomas has played 87 games since then for five different franchises. Scoring 42 points for Grand Rapids is impressive, but he did it against one of the worst Ds in the G-League. Unless IT can prove to be a difference-making playmaker, there's little reason to think he can move the needle for the Lakers.

Los Angeles could use more consistent three-point shooting, but, despite Thomas' respectable 36.3% career average from distance, consistency has not been his forte. Here are his season percentages since 2016-17 (albeit in limited action): 29.3, 27.9, 41.3, 25.0.

3) Emergency Depth

More than anything else, Thomas provides another proven body for the Lakers at a time when their depth suddenly looks shallow.

Shortly after the IT signing was reported on Thursday, it seemed as though Westbrook was hitting COVID-19 protocols, along with Bradley. That would have opened up a slot for IT as the backup point guard behind Rajon Rondo. With Westbrook back in the fold, though, Thomas may end up as an emergency option, after all.

After his 10-day, the Lakers will have to cut a veteran to keep him around: likely either Bradley, DeAndre Jordan, or Rajon Rondo. Bradley has started the majority of games this season and recently outplayed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Jordan is a valued locker room guy, one of their two true centers, and necessary as long as Howard remains out. Rondo was a key figure in the Lakers' championship run 15 months ago and one of Anthony Davis' favorite teammates. Plus, by Thomas' own admission, the Lakers opted for Rondo over Thomas mere months ago.

IT would have to really light it up to earn a roster spot going forward. Ideally, he shows enough flashes to marginally help the Lakers in the short term then lands a job elsewhere.