The 2024-25 NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching on Feb. 6, meaning basketball fans can expect to see plenty of player movement in the coming days. Playoff-bound teams are always looking to improve their veteran presence at this time of the year, especially since a roster's experience level can be the difference between a championship run and an early postseason exit.
Trading isn't the only method that allows teams to add veteran help, though, as free agency is another option. Several experienced free agents have been dying for a chance to prove that they still have 'it,' including a former Los Angeles Lakers guard who just received a long-awaited opportunity.
Lakers News: Jazz Sign Isaiah Thomas to G League Contract
On Monday, NBA insider Shams Charania revealed the Utah Jazz have signed former Lakers guard Isaiah Thomas to a G League contract. The ex-Washington Huskie hasn't touched an NBA floor since he played seven games for the Phoenix Suns between the 2023-24 regular season and playoffs.
The Jazz are currently the Western Conference's last-place team, so it makes sense that they'd be willing to see what Thomas has left in the tank. It's a low-risk move for a team that has nothing to lose at this point in the campaign.
It's also the second season in a row that Thomas signed a G League contract with the Jazz in an attempt to make an NBA return. The former two-time All-Star joined the Salt Lake City Stars last March and averaged 32.5 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across four games, resulting in a 10-day contract offer from the Phoenix Suns.
Unfortunately, Thomas didn't find nearly as much success upon his NBA return. He never saw more than eight minutes of action throughout his seven outings in a Suns jersey, averaging just 1.1 points while shooting 25.0% from the field.
Hopefully, Thomas' latest NBA comeback goes better than his previous attempt. Although the diminutive guard has (rightfully) earned his fair share of appreciation throughout the last near-15 years, he must find a way to prove that he can still be an effective on-floor contributor in his mid-30s.
The Lakers and Jazz will face off twice in the middle of February, leaving time to tell if Thomas will have proven himself enough to be a part of that series.