Isaiah Thomas Reportedly Searching for New Agent Ahead of 2018 Free Agency

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas is reportedly considering a change of agents ahead of hitting unrestricted free agency in 2018.

Chris Haynes of ESPN reported Thomas is planning to part with his current representation, Excel Sports Management. The 28-year-old is heading into the final season of the four-year, $27 million contract he signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2014.

The contract, which the Sacramento Kings refused to match before agreeing to a sign-and-trade, has become perhaps the NBA's best value deal. Thomas emerged as an All-Star franchise face in Boston and arguably had a better season in 2016-17 than Kyrie Irving, who the Celtics acquired last month as part of a blockbuster that sent Thomas to Cleveland.

Switching agents ahead of free agency is a somewhat common practice, especially for a player in Thomas' position. There is no way he's happy with his current deal, which will pay him just $6.3 million for 2017-18. While his reputation league-wide and the market were both very different in 2014, it's understandable that he'd want different representation for his next set of negotiations.

Thomas' next contract figures will be interesting from a number of standpoints. His production has been strong enough to demand nothing less than a max contract. His 5'9" stature, defensive struggles and lingering hip injury are enough to give any team rightful pause about giving him such a deal. After playing at a below-market rate for four years, Thomas will no doubt want to get every penny he can next summer.

Switching agents is the first sign that he plans to do just that.