Reports: Isaiah Thomas headed to Denver Nuggets

After missing the playoffs of a game last season, the Denver Nuggets would turn to a former star player to help them make a playoff race in 2018-1919.

According to several reports, Denver has come with independent agent guard Isaiah Thomas for a one – year contract. Thomas, twice titularized with the Boston Celtics, struggled last season trying to recover from a hip injury that ultimately required a hip surgery in March

Gina Mizell's The Denver Post On the pact between the Nuggets and Thomas:

Veteran playmaker Isaiah Thomas has agreed to sign a one-year minimum contract with the Nuggets, confirmed sources of the league at Denver Post.

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Thomas was an MVP player and a fan favorite two seasons ago in Boston, averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 badists per game and a place in the second team All-NBA. He had an emotional comeback to the Celtics during the playoffs, a day after his sister Chyna died in a car accident.

But a serious hip injury and being traded twice has spoiled the 2017-18 season for Thomas. He was part of the successful contract that sent star goalie Kyrie Irving from Cleveland to Boston, and then played in just 15 games for the Cavaliers after the injury was rehabilitated. It was then distributed to the Los Angeles Lakers during the active trading period in Cleveland, averaging 15.6 points and five badists in 17 games with the Lakers.

ESPN reported Thursday night that Thomas "has been progressing steadily since the beginning of April.", Adding that he has spent time this season off in Los Angeles and his hometown of Seattle. returning in top form, he could give Denver points and score points on the bench – a need with Barton's move to the small starting point.

The movement also reunites Thomas and Michael Malone, Denver coach. Thomas in Sacramento during the 2013-14 season and spoke fondly of him just after returning from injury last season.

This reported addition of Thomas was not the only move the Nuggets made Thursday. have also exchanged Darrell Arthur and Kenneth Faried, as well as a 2019 first-round pick against the Brooklyn Nets for Isaiah Whitehead in an effort to set a salary cap for Denver.

Thomas, 60th and last NBA draft picks 2011, he's made a name as a striker at the Boston Celtics after his two previous teams (Sacramento and Phoenix) separated from him. In two and a half seasons with Boston, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 24.7 points and six badists per game. In 2016-17, Thomas was the driving force behind the Celtics' race at the Eastern Conference finals while winning the honors of the second team in the NBA.

This playoff series, however, ended with a hip injury. Boston treating him in Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving. Thomas played only 15 games for the Cavaliers before being distributed again, this time to the Los Angeles Lakers. He played in 17 games for the Lakers before hip surgery finished a season when he only shot 37.3%.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that Thomas's agreement with Denver will be for a year

In an interview with Los Angeles Times during the season 2017-18, Thomas told Tania Ganguli that he was open to staying in Los Angeles – even in a reserve role. These words came less than a week after Thomas told Sam Amick of USA Today that "I am not a sixth man and I will not be a sixth man (in the future) everyone knows it, as clear as possible … "

Also, Thomas told NBA.com's Shaun Powell at the end of February that he wanted a long-term free agency contract "I'm looking to sign a long-term contract this summer, but anything can happen, I can not control it and I can not do too much, I've only spent three years in Sacramento In Boston for almost three years, the other stops were temporary, I try to sign long-term and call somewhere home. "

For the Nuggets, the move to add Thomas strengthens their already considerable depth. The franchise has re-signed the center of the stars Nikola Jokic and sixth man Will Barton to a long-term contract July 9, about two weeks after writing Michael Porter Jr. with choice # 14 in the NBA 2018 project.