Los Angeles Lakers recent trade deadline acquisition Isaiah Thomas will come off the bench when he makes his team debut ‪Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN's Chris Haynes.

Thomas had been very vocal about not being willing to come off the bench, as was his agent the very day he was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside Channing Frye and a first-round pick for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr., hours before the trade deadline expired.

Lakers head coach Luke Walton and Thomas had dinner together in Dallas on Friday, discussing the expectations and roles for him moving forward with this team.

President Magic Johnson was somewhat noncommittal during an interview on Friday, but noted rookie Lonzo Ball was the starter from the outset this season, hinting that might be the plan moving forward, despite the floor general being out for a month with a knee injury.

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The Lakers are riding great momentum, winners of 12 of their last 16 games, racking up three four-game winning streaks in the process and hoping for a season-high fifth win in a row against the bottom-dwelling Mavericks.

L.A. built this young team to be led by the young passing wizard, but the trade for Thomas could have sidetracked that plan, as a starting-caliber talent in the rotation.

The Lakers freed up a major amount of cap space by letting Clarkson and Nance go to Cleveland, allowing them to have plenty of room to sign two major superstars during this offseason, namely LeBron James and Paul George, who are reportedly at the very top of the front office's list.