Isaiah Thomas says the Cavs were in ‘panic mode’ when they traded him
Isaiah Thomas says he was surprised the Cavaliers traded him as early as they did, but the guard seems to have come to terms with their unexpected decision.
“I didn’t think they would pull the trigger that fast,” Thomas told ESPN in an “E:60” interview scheduled to air March 11. “But again, it’s a business. The Cavs were, I mean, they were in panic mode. We were losing — a lot. I think they felt like they needed to make a move, and they basically cleared house.”
Isaiah Thomas was ‘surprised’ the Cavs moved on so quickly.
Full profile coming March 11th on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Yp8HQuBTF9
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Thomas, who was traded from the Celtics to the Cavaliers in late August, was recently dealt to the Lakers as part of Cleveland’s massive roster overhaul. The struggling Eastern Conference powerhouse shipped six players — Jae Crowder, Channing Frye, Derrick Rose, Iman Schumpert, Thomas, and Dwyane Wade — and two draft picks ahead of February’s trade deadline.
Over the course of his 15 games in Cleveland, Thomas averaged 14.7 points per game and shot 36 percent from the field, while the Cavaliers went 7-8. He missed the first two and a half months of the season, as he was recovering from a hip injury suffered during last season’s playoffs.
“It’s hard to get acclimated to a team halfway through the season,” the 29-year-old told ESPN. “I’m in a new system — new team, new coach, new players — and then I’ve been off for seven months. I got to get, individually, I got to get my rhythm back, get my timing back.”
Despite his brief tenure with the Cavaliers, Thomas says he harbors no animosity toward the organization. The two-time NBA All-Star seems hopeful about joining the Lakers, likening the team’s situation to that of when he first arrived in Boston.
“I just brought a different swagger to that organization,” Thomas said of his time in Boston. “We took it and ran with it.”
“I’m coming to an L.A. team that’s young, that already has a system,” he continued. “I just want to help. Hopefully I’m here long term, you know, with me being a free agent this summer. But if I’m not, these last 25 games I’m going to play my heart out and show the Lakers why I should be here long term.”
