Report: Isaiah Thomas best chance at a significant contract is with Cavaliers

The free agency this summer will be the most important in Cleveland Cavaliers history, as two of their premier players could leave in free agency.

LeBron James and Isaiah Thomas both could leave the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer.

Thomas has been known to be looking for a big contract, ever since he was with the Boston Celtics. According to a new report by Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the best chance of that significant contract could be only with Cleveland.

"Thomas is in a contract year, and he wants to be paid. League executives and agents judging the market believe Thomas’ best chance at a significant contract this summer is with the Cavs, and they believe he will proceed accordingly.That could be the case regardless of what happens with LeBron James‘ free agency. In the event James decides to move on from Cleveland again, some believe the Cavs may still be interested in retaining Thomas as long as he proves he can return to his All-Star form."

The second part of the paragraph is interesting. If the Cavs can retain Isaiah Thomas, if they lose James in free agency, the Cavs can build around Thomas, Kevin Love and whoever they select with the Brooklyn Nets pick, and still could possibly get into the playoffs next season.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

For the record, I still think James stays with the Cavs beyond this season.

It is going to be interesting to see the market for Thomas come this summer if he is back healthy and in his all-star form. The market for star point guards varied last summer. Kyle Lowry got $93M in his contract with Toronto. Jrue Holiday received a five-year, $126M contract from New Orleans. Jeff Teague only got $57M from Minnesota and George Hill got $40M from Sacramento.

The teams that will be looking for a point guard might have to search all over to find one. Chris Paul is a free agent but will likely stay put. Money won’t be a factor for CP3, or at least, it shouldn’t be. Players like Austin Rivers, however, could draw quite a bit of attention this free agency. An injured and aging Thomas or a younger Rivers, who would your take?

Windhorst mentioned a couple of teams who could have interest in Thomas over the summer.

"There are some options: Brooklyn, Phoenix and Indiana are possibilities, for example, though the Suns already traded Thomas once. It’s not inviting, even if Thomas had no injury concerns, which he does with possible degenerative hip issues."

Windhorst then said Cavs owner Dan Gilbert loves underdogs.

"Second, Gilbert loves underdogs like Thomas. He sees himself as an underdog, a self-made billionaire who went to Michigan State, not the Ivy League. In 2016, Gilbert was the driving force behind paying $2.4 million to buy a draft pick to take Kay Felder, an undersized point guard from Oakland University who attracted Gilbert because of his ability to overcome challenges. Felder didn’t make it with the Cavs, but Thomas is the embodiment of what the Cavs were dreaming of with Felder."

Must Read: 5 wing players the Cleveland Cavaliers should trade for

It will be interesting to see what the Cavaliers and Thomas do this summer. The most important thing regarding Thomas free agency this summer — His free agency does not depend on what James does.