Former
Boston Celtics point guard
Isaiah Thomas is reportedly on his way to the
Los Angeles Lakers, per multiple sources.
The deal reportedly send Channing Frye and a protected Cleveland 2018 first-round pick to L.A., with Larry Nance, Jr. and Jordan Clarkson heading to the Cavaliers. On the Lakers end, the deal now opens space for the team to have two max-contract slots after the season ends while providing valuable floor spacing via Thomas and Frye for the rest of the year, while Cleveland gets young pieces on affordable, multi-season deals without getting worse and possibly better. Thomas, who will be a free agent this summer, will not likely remain with the team past this season.
The Cavaliers will also recuse their luxury tax bill significantly, removing $2.3 million from the projected $43 million dollar total, poised to break the payroll and tax record set by the Brooklyn Nets after they traded for Boston's last championship core. Such all-around beneficial deals are rare in general - new Cavs GM Kobe Altman is proving a capable head to the troubled organization when considering the difficult terrain of the current NBA salary cap situation.
