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Isaiah Thomas Signs One-Year, $2 Million Deal With Nuggets; Kyle Kuzma Says Goodbye

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call in the second half against the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Isaiah Thomas is now a Denver Nugget.

Isaiah Thomas Agrees To One-Year Deal With Nuggets

The free-agent guard signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the team on Thursday. This marks 29-year-old Thomas’s fourth team in four years. After one year with the Phoenix Suns and three seasons with the Boston Celtics, the two-time All-Star was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason. In February, Cleveland sent Thomas and Channing Frye to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson. Thomas’s latest campaign ended early, however, after he suffered a hip injury in March and underwent surgery.

Thomas will now reunite with coach Michael Malone, under whom the point guard played with the Sacramento Kings in 2013-214.

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Thomas’s last season with the Boston Celtics, 2016-2017, was one of the finest of his NBA career: he averaged 28.9 points per game with the team, whom he helped lead to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics ultimately lost to the Cavaliers 4-1.

Around the time last year’s playoffs started, Thomas also suffered a personal loss: his younger sister Chyna died in a car accident near his native Tacoma, Washington.

According to ESPN, Thomas is still in rehab for his hip injury, and has been treated in both Los Angeles and Seattle this offseason. This physical setback seemed to have hurt Thomas”s chances at signing a long-term deal with any team.

Incoming second-year Lakers player Kyle Kuzma bid Thomas farewell in a tweet in which he thanked the veteran guard for all of the things he taught him during the few months they were teammates.

Kuzma also recently said he can’t wait to play beside new Lakers addition LeBron James.

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Dwyane Wade also congratulated Thomas on his new deal.

The Nuggets finished 46-36 and ninth in the Western Conference, ahead of the Lakers and Clippers but behind the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.