During Stan Van Gundy’s tenure in Detroit, rumors circulated that the Detroit Pistons were interested in point guard Isaiah Thomas.
And for the record, the rumors were about the 5’9 guard who played collegiate ball at Washington, not “Zeke”.
While the rumors floated that there was interest on the Pistons’ end, the front office never swung a trade to grab him. At the time, Thomas was playing for the Phoenix Suns and averaging 15.2 ppg.
Well, you know how the old saying goes. Never say never, right?
Despite not having the best start to his rookie season, Killian Hayes was the Pistons’ starting point guard before his injury. On Wednesday, the Pistons confirmed reports that Hayes suffered a labral tear in his hip. Almost immediately, speculation began as to how the Pistons could fill the void.
Luckily for the Pistons, if they decide to add more depth at the point guard position, Thomas could be interested. After making a tweet suggesting the Pistons bring him in for a workout, Thomas went and “loved” the post.
At the time of the tweet, it’s arguable whether it made sense or not.
The Pistons still have Derrick Rose, Delon Wright, and rookie point guard Saben Lee at point guard. Unfortunately, like his pupil, Rose suffered a knee contusion during Wednesday’s 130-115 loss to the Bucks. While there is no indication that Rose will miss any significant time, it’s still a blow to the Pistons, who have suffered a string of injuries to start the season.
The Pistons will need depth at point guard regardless of Hayes’ timetable for recovery.
There is where Isaiah Thomas comes in.
What do the Pistons have to lose by bringing Thomas in for a workout?
I’ll tell you what they have to lose, and it’s absolutely nothing.
In 40 games last year with the Washington Wizards, Thomas averaged 12.2 points in 23.1 minutes and 3.7 assists. He also shot 41% from the field and three-point range.
Now let’s keep it real.
If the Pistons were to take a look at Thomas, they would be potentially taking a chance on a player who has an injury history himself. Just like Hayes, Thomas had a labral hip tear himself in 2017. It took place during the best stretch of his career as Boston Celtic.
He averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game.
While he did not return to his All-Star form, he showcased that he could still be a helpful role player on a roster last year. Those 40 games he played for the Wizards are also the most he’s played since his 2017 injury.
The Pistons have some tough decisions to make in the coming days and weeks.
Fortunately for them, giving Isaiah Thomas a call to gauge his interest seems like it would be the easiest one to make.