Report: Isaiah Thomas Was This Close To Joining The Lakers

Reports are emerging that the Los Angeles Lakers' push to acquire a veteran backup point guard was centered on comeback candidate Isaiah Thomas, and that they were close to signing him... Until Rajon Rondo became available.

Report: Lakers were on verge of signing Isaiah Thomas before Rajon Rondo’s buyout https://t.co/ir84d19zu5
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) August 29, 2021

The Athletic's Jon Crawczynski says the 31-year-old Thomas was squarely on the Lakers' radar, and that they were "strongly considering" signing him, but the recent events in Memphis, where the Grizzlies bought out Rondo, have changed things. As we reported on Saturday, the Lakers are expected to sign Rondo after he clears waivers on Monday.

Rondo is a two-time champion, including one ring as a key contributor to the 2020 Lakers title run.

Bad break for Thomas, who is attempting an NBA comeback again this year, after playing just 3 games for the New Orleans Pelicans this past season, and whose last full season in the league was in 2016-17 with the Boston Celtics—his career year in which he averaged 28.8 PPG and made his 2nd consecutive All-Star team.

But a serious hip injury derailed his career after that, and he's been trying to get back to his All-Star form ever since.

Earlier this month, the Lakers held a tryout for Thomas, and he followed that up with a spectacular 81-point explosion in a Pro Am game.

Isaiah Thomas was emotional after dropping 81 points in a Pro Am game.

"They gave up on me."

📹: @SlowGrind_Media pic.twitter.com/L8bviZPBQQ
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) August 11, 2021