The Dallas Mavericks reportedly took a look at three notable, former NBA players on Thursday, according to a latest report from Shams Charania.
Free agent guards Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson and Monta Ellis all got a chance to work out for the Mavericks earlier today, marking a major step in the right direction for their possible returns. All three veterans have been looking for another opportunity in the NBA in recent weeks ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Charania reported that Thomas in particular appeared to be in great shape when he worked out for the Mavs Thursday. The 32-year-old struggled with injuries throughout his time in the NBA, so any interested teams will be thrilled to hear that he’s in good health.
Thomas actually played in the league the most recently of the three guards on hand for Thursday’s workout. He signed a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Pelicans this past season and saw action in three games, averaging 7.7 points in 16 minutes per appearance.
Free agent guards Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson and Monta Ellis worked out for the Dallas Mavericks today, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. Thomas appeared to be in great shape, sources say, as he works to make an NBA return.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2021
However, it’s already been six years since Thomas averaged 28.9 points per game with the Boston Celtics. Since then, injuries have hampered him to the point where he’s struggled to earn legitimate chances as a rotation player. Thomas already worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this offseason, so it’s clear that NBA teams are taking him seriously this summer.
Of course, Thomas wasn’t the only player present for the Mavs work out Thursday. The 35-year-old Stephenson was present, trying to find his first spot in the NBA since he was a part of the 2018-19 Los Angeles Lakers.
The 6-foot-6 utility man last played for the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2019-20 season. He played in 29 games for the organization and averaged 26.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Ellis has the challenge of being the player who’s been away from the NBA and professional basketball the longest. The former Golden State Warriors guard was one of the best scorers in the league at one point, but it’s been over a decade since that was the case.
At the age of 35, Ellis will be hard-pressed to find his way back onto another NBA team. He does have some familiarity with Dallas, having played for the Mavericks for two seasons from 2013-13, so time will tell if the organization gives him a shot.
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