The New Orleans Pelicans made headlines prior to the NBA’s Friday slate of action for signing former NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract.
An NBA scout spoke to NBA Analysis Network to discuss the potential fit that Isaiah Thomas will have with the Pelicans. He feels as though Isaiah Thomas could fill a void that New Orleans has sorely needed to fill.
“There has been a real need for the Pelicans to add more shot creation, particularly off-the-bench,” an Eastern Conference scout who asked to remain anonymous given he is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. “As long as Isaiah Thomas can find a rhythm and sustain some consistency in ways he wasn’t able to in his recent stops, he could be a real asset for New Orleans. On a 10-day contract, it’s more than worth the risk.”
The NBA scout does feel as though there is congestion in the Pelicans’ backcourt rotation that could prevent Thomas from receiving a whole lot of minutes when the team is healthy. However, if Kira Lewis Jr. struggles when given opportunity, going with the veteran guard could be a strong option.
“It remains to be seen how often Thomas will be able to get on the floor for the Pelicans. New Orleans has insisted on playing Eric Bledsoe given how much they’re paying him. They also have Kira Lewis Jr., who should be the one receiving more playing time during a season that appears to be a non-playoff campaign. At the very least, Thomas can provide extra depth when a player like Lonzo Ball is sidelined like he is currently.”
“To my understanding, the Pelicans were required to fill a 14th roster spot and that’s what this signing could end up being. Thomas is a high-upside signing, regardless. If Lewis Jr. goes through some rookie slumps during the stretch-run and they have a real shot at the play-in, then Thomas could be a nice change of direction.”
It has been a tough climb back to prominence for Thomas since he played through a hip injury in the 2017 NBA playoffs for the Boston Celtics. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Kyrie Irving and since played for short-stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Washington Wizards.
Most recently, Thomas was a member of the Wizards. Last season, he appeared in 40 games for Washington and posted averages of 23.1 minutes, 12.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. He posted the best efficiency he had in a single-season during this stretch than he had in any of his prior stints as he went 40.8% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc, and 81.6% on free throws.
