Isaiah Thomas, less than a year removed from All-NBA selection and a top-five finish in MVP voting, is now the cost of doing business. The Los Angeles Lakers didn't trade for Thomas at the deadline so much as agree to take him on. Their real motivation in trading with the Cavs was to move Jordan Clarkson's long-term contract for an expiring one—something they had tried to do for months. Getting back a first-round pick even sweetened the deal, making it easier to part with Larry Nance Jr. in the process. Thomas was somehow both the headliner of the deal and its least consequential piece.
Isaiah Thomas Must Face Harsh Reality During His Time in L.A.
