Lakers Trade News: Isaiah Thomas Reportedly 'Ecstatic' to Join LA

Isaiah Thomas is on the move, and he's reportedly pleased with the impending change of scenery. 

According to ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne, Thomas is "ecstatic" about Thursday's trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers along with Channing Frye and a top-three protected 2018 first-round pick in exchange for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. 

However, Shelburne noted the Lakers have yet to talk to Thomas about whether he'll start or come off the bench.        

Thomas has yet to comment on the trade, but his agent, Aaron Goodwin, seemed to indicate a split from the Cavaliers was in the point guard's best interest. 

"He's worked too hard to get back, and he's a ball dominant player," Goodwin told Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon. "It's LeBron's ball, and this clearly wasn't working. Koby (Altman) and I have had enough conversations where it was clear, with the way the system was going, it wasn't beneficial for either party. This is a good opportunity for Isaiah."

As for Thomas—who hasn't looked quite like himself since returning from a hip injury on Jan. 2—Lakers head coach Luke Walton seemed to indicate the team plans to give him a steady diet of minutes right out of the gate. 

"He's a great player," Walton told reporters Thursday, per Lakers.com's Mike Trudell. "He's still coming back from injuries, so the [more time he has on the court] the better [he'll get]."

For the time being, Thomas is the Lakers' healthiest option at point guard with rookie Lonzo Ball nursing a sprained MCL that has kept him out of the lineup since Jan. 15.

But once Ball is back at full strength, Walton will have a decision to make. 

And considering Thomas may not be in the team's long-term plans with his contract set to expire at season's end, the veteran could conceivably be relegated to the Lakers' temporary sixth man while they seek to get Ball more developmental minutes as they prepare for the 2018-19 season and beyond.