"I love the kid": Nuggets get their backup point guard, shed around $21 million in combined salary

The Nuggets’ search for their backup point guard is over. Denver has agreed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract with Isaiah Thomas, a league source confirmed to BSN Denver.

The signing was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Thomas, 29, is just one season removed from a career year in 2016-17 when he averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game. He finished fifth in the league’s Most Valuable Player that season but suffered a torn labrum in his left hip that forced him to miss the Celtics’ final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. Last summer, Thomas was traded to the Cavaliers in a package that netted the Celtics Kyrie Irving. He was never able to regain his MVP form in Cleveland.

After appearing in 15 games with the Cavs, Thomas was dealt to the Lakers at last season’s trade deadline and averaged 15.6 points and 5.0 rebounds across 17 games (one start). He underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in March with a projected recovery time of reportedly around four months.

The move to Denver reunites Thomas with Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who he played under during the 2013-14 season in Sacramento. That season, Thomas averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

“I say this with all sincerity: I love the kid,” Malone said of Thomas in 2017. “We hit it off and what I learned from those relationships is that if you are honest and you are real then it will go a long way. I remember sitting down with him and telling him, ‘listen, I am going to start Greivis Vasquez. You are going to come off of the bench.’ It’s not what is best for Isaiah, but it is what I think is best for the team and with that, Isaiah, you are going to close a lot of games and play together.

“The bigger picture was that we had a lot of people around the organization trying to get him to be something that he wasn’t. If you know Isaiah Thomas’ history, he was a scorer in high school. He was a prolific scorer in college, and he has been a scorer in the NBA. I didn’t want him to be John Stockton because that is not who he is and that would be unfair of me to ask him to change. I think he respected and admired that because I wanted him to be the best Isaiah Thomas. Stay true to yourself but also let us look to work on other areas he can work to improve upon.”

Bringing in Thomas on a veteran’s minimum deal is the ultimate low-risk high-reward play for Denver. Thomas can add more firepower to a dangerous Denver attack that will move Will Barton into its starting lineup next season alongside Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic. Thomas can add a punch to a weak bench unit that is expected to feature Malik Beasley, Torrey Craig, Trey Lyles, Mason Plumlee and potentially Juancho Hernangomez.

If Thomas isn’t able to give Denver the minutes it needs, the Nuggets have point guard Monte Morris at their disposal. Morris is currently under contract for next season on a two-way deal that permits him to spend 45 days with the Nuggets.

To clear space for Thomas, the Nuggets dealt veterans Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur to the Nets, along with a protected 2019 first-round pick that’s protected 1-12 and a future second-round pick for Isaiah Whitehead, ESPN reports. The Nuggets also plan to waive Whitehead, according to ESPN. The deal saves the Nuggets around $21 million in combined salaries between Faried and Arthur. The trade also moves the Nuggets, for the time being, under the luxury tax threshold.

Faried, 28, has spent his entire seven-year career with the Nuggets after the organization drafted him 22nd overall in 2011. He started 331 of his first 348 career games with Denver. In 2016-17, Faried teamed with Jokic to form a potent offensive frontcourt but moved to a bench role when the Nuggets inked Paul Millsap to a three-year, $90 million contract last summer.

Faried only appeared in 32 games (seven starts) last season and didn’t dress for a handful of games over the final month of the season as the Nuggets worked their way back into playoff contention. Faried is due to make $13.8 million this season.

Arthur, 30, has spent his last five seasons in Denver after beginning his career in Memphis. The 6-foot-8 forward has been used in a reserve role over the past few seasons. In 2016-17, Arthur appeared in 41 games and averaged 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Last season, Arthur only played 19 games (one start). Arthur’s contract will pay him $7.5 million this upcoming year.

The former Kansas Jayhawk was a valuable locker room presence for the Nuggets over the past few seasons, and when he’s been called upon to supply minutes, Arthur has delivered. Arthur stepped into Denver’s starting lineup and posted 10 points and three rebounds on 4-6 shooting in 19 minutes as the Nuggets almost pulled out a win in San Antonio over the Spurs in January.

During a halftime pep talk in the middle of a late-season matchup with the Trail Blazers that would have ended the Nuggets’ playoff hopes for all intents and purposes, Arthur was one of the veterans who addressed the team.

“D.A.’s (Darrell Arthur) the one, who when he talks everyone listens,” Jokic said. “When you see him play, you know that’s how you’re supposed to play. He said just ‘Come on guys! Fight for every ball! That’s the only way!’”

After Thomas’ signing and the three-player trade featuring Faried and Arthur both become official, the Nuggets will have 14 guaranteed contracts, one below the league maximum of 15.