Isaiah Thomas does not want to come off the bench.
He's made that clear throughout his career, and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, restated it in blunt terms after the point guard was traded from the Cavaliers to the Lakers in the deal that brought Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to Cleveland.
"[Isaiah] IS NOT COMING OFF THE BENCH," Goodwin texted ESPN's Rachel Nichols shortly after the deal, leading Nichols to suggest that Thomas could ask for a buyout if he does not start. Despite that ominous message, Goodwin told USA Today's Sam Amick that Thomas was 'ecstatic' about the opportunity to play up-tempo with a young team in Los Angeles.