NBA Rumors: Isaiah Thomas Works Out for Bucks; 2-Time All-Star Coming off Suns Stint
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured Columnist IVJuly 17, 2024
The Milwaukee Bucks worked out veteran guard Isaiah Thomas in Las Vegas on Wednesday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
The Bucks also worked out a number of other veteran guards and wings, including Justise Winslow, Hamidou Diallo, Will Barton and Jaylen Nowell.
Thomas, 35, was a two-time All-Star in his prime, most famously averaging 28.9 points per game in the 2016-17 season for the Boston Celtics.
It was largely downhill from there, however, as he was traded that offseason to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the deal that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston. Thomas lasted less than a season with the Cavs and bounced around the NBA from there in stints with the Los Angeles Lakers (twice), Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets.
He didn't play in the 2022-23 campaign before catching on with the Phoenix Suns late last season, appearing in six games and averaging 1.9 points per contest. Since being traded from the Celtics, he hasn't appeared in more than 47 games in a single season.
It's unlikely he would see many minutes on a Bucks team that has options in the backcourt like Damian Lillard, Gary Trent Jr., Delon Wright and Pat Connaughton, among others, at the ready.
Milwaukee's 2023-24 season was an abject disaster after acquiring Lillard in an offseason trade. Head coach Adrian Griffin was fired midseason, his replacement Doc Rivers fared far worse and injuries to Dame and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the playoffs led to a first-round exit.
The Bucks were expected to be the primary threat to the Boston Celtics last season, though that didn't come to fruition. And the Eastern Conference only got stronger this summer, as both the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers improved.
The Bucks have an excellent core in place, however, and shouldn't be overlooked. All that's left to do is round out the rotation with another veteran. Whether Thomas has much left to offer at this stage in his career remains to be seen.