By March 22, 2022
Photo: Derick Hingle / AP
The Charlotte Hornets are signing Isaiah Thomas to a guaranteed contract for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Sources: The Charlotte Hornets are signing guard Isaiah Thomas to a new contract for the remainder of the season. After 10-days with Lakers, Mavs, Hornets, Thomas finds home in Charlotte where he’s averaged 10 points and assumed leadership role. Hornets: 7-2 since signing Thomas.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 22, 2022
As Charania notes in his tweet, the Hornets are 7-2 since acquiring Thomas on March 2. LaMelo Ball, usually not one to gush to the media in one way or another, heaped praise upon Thomas after he arrived in Charlotte and has quickly taken a liking to the veteran guard.
— Melo (@MELOD1P) March 22, 2022
Ish Smith was the first true “vet” Ball had at his position, but exchanging Smith for Thomas has added a new level of leadership for the team with Thomas being a former All-NBA player who has had his fair share of ups and downs in the league. Being a former teammate of multiple members of the Hornets, he slid right in as a vocal leader, something the Hornets– the fourth-youngest roster in the league– needed for the stretch run.
Thomas received his contract following a 15-point performance on 5-9 shooting against New Orleans, in which he ignited a stagnant offense in the first half and finished with the highest total of his five double-digit scoring outings since signing with Charlotte. He’s shooting 48 percent (12-25) from distance with the team and averaging 9.9 points per game in seven appearances as a reserve.
The arrival of Thomas coincided with the beginning of a five-game win-streak. Since he got to Buzz City, the Hornets have only lost to the Celtics and Nets. Three of the five-straight wins have come at home, one of which was over a potential play-in tournament foe in Atlanta. The remaining schedule features an even split of home and road games with five a piece and it’s no murderers row; the Hornets play the Knicks twice, Orlando and Washington. Brooklyn, Miami and Philadelphia will be welcomed tests down the stretch as this Charlotte squad looks to make some postseason noise for the first time in a half-decade.
Check out the remaining 2021-22 Charlotte Hornets schedule.
OFFICIAL: We have signed guard @isaiahthomas for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
🔗: https://t.co/6BSigL7qsK pic.twitter.com/ltBhHCdcMq
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 22, 2022
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