Mavericks Work Out A Trio of Veterans On The Comeback Trail

 

The Dallas Mavericks are attempting to turn back the clock, holding workouts today for a trio of players who were out of the league by the end of last season. 

Free agent guards Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson and Monta Ellis worked out for the Dallas Mavericks today, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. Thomas appeared to be in great shape, sources say, as he works to make an NBA return.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2021

Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson, and Monta Ellis are all trying to make comebacks of varying degrees. NBA Insider Shams Charania dropped the news of the workouts, and says that Thomas appeared to be in great shape.

The 32-year-old point guard played just three games last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, before injuries once again forced him to the sidelines. Thomas hasn't played more than 40 games (and most often less than 20) since the second of his back-to-back all-star seasons in Boston, in 2016-17. He showed he can still ball by dropping 81 points recently in a Pro Am game. 

Thomas was close to signing with the Los Angeles Lakers a week or so back, but when Rajon Rondo became available, those plans changed for LA.  

Earlier this month, Stephenson held private workouts for several teams, and he apparently showed enough for the Mavs to bring him in for another look. He's been out of the NBA since 2019, having spent some time playing in China. 

As for Ellis, his comeback is the longest shot, as he's been out of the league for four full seasons. But he compiled career averages of 17.8 points and 4.6 assists in his 12 years in the NBA, including two very productive years in Dallas. We reported on Ellis' comeback plans earlier this month. 

The Mavs would like to find some playmaking help for Luka Doncic, and since they broke off talks with the Toronto Raptors for Goran Dragic, they're now desperate to find some help, looking to the comeback kids to see if there's a fit.