I.T.’s Value
With Dragic and Bledsoe being revered by fans as the “Slash Brothers,” Isaiah Thomas often gets overlooked. He’s one of the many new faces in town, and though he’s actually putting up better numbers this season than fellow heat check Gerald Green, many Suns fans are insistent on him being traded to give Phoenix more help in the frontcourt.
Thomas’ friendly contract and his ability to score and set up teammates make him a valuable trade commodity, but it might be too soon to mess with a good thing.
Averaging 14.6 points and 3.7 assists per game off the bench, I.T. is Phoenix’s fourth leading scorer and third leading facilitator. Last night against the Lakers, he displayed how vital his heat checks can be off the pine, tallying a season-high 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting (4-of-6 from three-point range).
Thomas won’t always shoot the ball that well, but he’s been more consistent than his backup counterpart Green and now that the three point guards have had time to gel, the results are starting to show.
Bledsoe said he’s very comfortable playing with Dragic and Thomas, even in small-ball lineups:
"“No question, he’s pretty much one of the unselfish players on this team beside Goran and when he and I play together, we can look for one another. It’s mutual.”"
I.T. has hinted at wanting a starting role multiple times this season, but he’s also said he ultimately chose the Suns because they wanted him and it was good to feel wanted. With Thomas getting the opportunity to close out games alongside Dragic and Bledsoe, that feeling hasn’t gone away.
"“Getting the opportunity and the minutes, you know I’ve been in the league four years so it’s nothing new,” Thomas said. “But when I get the minutes and the opportunity, I feel like I can make plays for my teammates and for myself.”"
Next: The Last, Overlooked Factor