After rehabbing from a hip procedure in May, two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas believes he is ready to contribute to an NBA roster.
“It’s like night and day for me,” said Thomas. “There’s no more pain. I’ve got my full range of motion. For three years, I was trying to play the best players in the world on one leg. I needed help from my kids to put my socks on in the morning.”
“Now, I can lift weights. I can squat low. I can work out twice a day. I’m able to cut and move and stop, able to cut and go. I feel like I’m 31 years old again. And now, I have scientific evidence to show that.”
Most recently, Thomas was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers after arriving in a trade from the Washington Wizards. Instead of seeking a new suitor, Thomas elected to go into surgery. As a result, he could be one of the more intriguing free agent options.
The injury for Thomas started back in the 2016-17 campaign with the Boston Celtics. After recording a team-high 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game, he became one of the most elusive point guards in the league. However, the two sides departed after the Celtics traded Thomas to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a package deal that involved Kyrie Irving.
After brief stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Wizards, it was clear that Thomas was returning to basketball too soon. With the time off, he could still be a viable bench option for teams seeking veteran leadership.
Thomas, 31, would not be an extreme outlier when it comes to the average age of an NBA roster. In fact, the Houston Rockets (30.1), Milwaukee Bucks (29.7), Los Angeles Lakers (29.6), Los Angeles Clippers (28.3), and Dallas Mavericks (27.6) were the five oldest teams in the NBA this season.
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