Cavs send Isaiah Thomas to Lakers Wade back to Miami in overhaul
Isaiah Thomas (
Isaiah Thomas  lasted just 15 games on LeBron James’ team. And now Cleveland has undergone a massive roster overhaul  unloading six players in different deals.
The Cavs sent  Thomas  and Channing Frye to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. on Thursday just before the NBA trade deadline to start things off.
Isaiah Thomas (l.) and LeBron James part ways after just 15 games together. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Despite all the upheaval  it was the  Thomas  trade that headlined the Cavs’ moves. Cleveland landed  Thomas  in a shock trade with the Celtics in August after Kyrie Irving said he was tired of playing in LeBron’s shadow. The Cavs pulled off the trade despite knowing that Thomas’ hip injury would sideline him for a good chunk of the season.
In his brief run with the Cavs   Thomas  averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists in 14 starts. Cleveland went just 7-8 with  Thomas  in the lineup.
“ He ’s worked too hard to get back  and  he ’s a ball dominant player ” Thomas’ agent  Aaron Goodwin  told ESPN. “It’s LeBron’s ball  and this clearly wasn’t working. (Cavs GM) Koby (Altman) and I have had enough conversations where it was clear  with the way the system was going  it wasn’t beneficial for either party. This is a good opportunity for Isaiah.”
The Thomas trade also ends the awkwardness of a return trip to Boston this weekend. The Celtics had initially planned a tribute video to Thomas’ three seasons in Boston on the same night Paul Pierce was going to have his jersey retirement ceremony. After Pierce grumbled about having to share the stage with  Thomas   the 5-9 guard took the high road.
“I’d like to thank the Celtics for their gracious offer to play a video tribute on Feb 11th celebrating my 3yrs in Boston ”  Thomas  tweeted in January. “But since it appears this has caused some controversy w/Paul Pierce’s night I’d ask the Celtics instead to focus all of their attention on #34’s career.”
It’s pretty clear  Thomas —  who as recently as Wednesday night was saying  he  was “tired of being traded” — will not be receiving a tribute video for  his  15 games with the Cavaliers if  he  returns to play in Cleveland at some point this season or next.
Isaiah Thomas  lasted just 15 games on LeBron James’ team. And now Cleveland has undergone a massive roster overhaul  unloading six players in different deals.
The Cavs sent  Thomas  and Channing Frye to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. on Thursday just before the NBA trade deadline to start things off.
[TGT]l.) and LeBron James part ways after just 15 games together. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Despite all the upheaval  it was the  Thomas  trade that headlined the Cavs’ moves. Cleveland landed  Thomas  in a shock trade with the Celtics in August after Kyrie Irving said he was tired of playing in LeBron’s shadow. The Cavs pulled off the trade despite knowing that Thomas’ hip injury would sideline him for a good chunk of the season.
In his brief run with the Cavs   Thomas  averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists in 14 starts. Cleveland went just 7-8 with  Thomas  in the lineup.
“ He ’s worked too hard to get back  and  he ’s a ball dominant player ” Thomas’ agent  Aaron Goodwin  told ESPN. “It’s LeBron’s ball  and this clearly wasn’t working. (Cavs GM) Koby (Altman) and I have had enough conversations where it was clear  with the way the system was going  it wasn’t beneficial for either party. This is a good opportunity for Isaiah.”
The Thomas trade also ends the awkwardness of a return trip to Boston this weekend. The Celtics had initially planned a tribute video to Thomas’ three seasons in Boston on the same night Paul Pierce was going to have his jersey retirement ceremony. After Pierce grumbled about having to share the stage with  Thomas   the 5-9 guard took the high road.
“I’d like to thank the Celtics for their gracious offer to play a video tribute on Feb 11th celebrating my 3yrs in Boston ”  Thomas  tweeted in January. “But since it appears this has caused some controversy w/Paul Pierce’s night I’d ask the Celtics instead to focus all of their attention on #34’s career.”
It’s pretty clear  Thomas —  who as recently as Wednesday night was saying  he  was “tired of being traded” — will not be receiving a tribute video for  his  15 games with the Cavaliers if  he  returns to play in Cleveland at some point this season or next.