The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed on a trade that ships Isaiah Thomas to Los Angeles. There is a lot going on here. Let's get through it together.
Cleveland is sending Thomas, Channing Frye and its (NOT Brooklyn's) first-round pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Larry Nance and Jordan Clarkson.
Cleveland just got a lot younger, more dynamic, and maybe got rid of the chemistry issue Thomas appeared to be bringing to the table. How LeBron James will react to this is a big deal, but Nance is an underrated talent and Clarkson, who has show flashes, should fit in relatively well with the Cavs.
As for Los Angeles, this move makes not a ton of sense. With Cleveland's first-round pick likely being worthless, as it's protect and in should be in the backend of the first, as well as Thomas' health concerns being real, Magic Johnson traded some parts of his young core to purposely get older.
To be fair to Johnson, this is his first trade deadline.
Another important domino results from this trade:
Unless some more craziness happens, this appears to be it for Cleveland on the trade market.
So much for Thomas and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert being the best of buddies.
Life comes at former All-Stars fast, apparently. This will be Thomas' third team in less than a year.
