Thomas was the biggest steal in the NBA since..

[The One]

In March and April he's averaging:

26 PTS
4.5 AST
46% FG
41% 3PT
82% FT
6.7 FTs

Looking good!

[Moranis]

Who is/was the last best undrafted player in the NBA?

Any that became an all star?

Ben Wallace is the only guy that leaps to mind. Undrafted but was a 4-time DPOY, 4-time All Star, and was probably the scariest guy in the NBA in the middle of the 00's.

Brad Miller and John Starks were undrafted All-Stars too, as well as Ben Wallace.

Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell, and Darrell Armstrong have won some awards (All-Defesnive, SMOY, MIP) and were all undrafted.

Wes Matthews just got a max contract last season as an undrafted player.

Although he was drafted in the 2nd round, Hassan Whiteside is looking pretty good for a guy who was out of the league for a couple of years and signed to a minimum contract.


Outside of Whiteside (whose bargain deal is almost over), Thomas is probably the best value contract in the NBA right now (outside of rookie deals), and will be for the next few years.

Jose Calderon, Avery Johnson, and David Wesley were undrafted as well.  The Sixers have 4 undrafted guys that look like they might have decent careers in Covington, Thompson, Smith, and Canaan.

[Tr1boy]

Good one guys. Though Calderon prob doesn't count

[GetLucky]

Gilbert Arenas?

[manl_lui]

if you're talking about value, and draft position. Dennis Rodman?

Round 2, pick 27 practically almost last in the draft

Isaiah Thomas

Round 2, pick 30

[footey]

3rd team all nba? Why not??

[bdm860]

3rd team all nba? Why not??

Because Damian Lillard.

A couple of months ago I thought Thomas had a chance.  Back when I thought there was a chance Boston could surpass 50 wins and maybe even catch Toronto for the #2 seed.  I also thought Portland might fall off a little, they haven't.

You have Curry, Klay, CP3, Westbrook, and Harden.  Those guys are a given.  Kyrie's numbers are down across the board and he's missed 20+ games.  So you have Lillard, Thomas, Lowry, and DeRozen fighting for that last spot on the 3rd team (as well as Kemba and Reggie Jackson who'll get some votes too).

At this point, with the season pretty much done, I think it's got to be Lillard.

[footey]

Yeah, I think you're right. IT would have a better case over Chris Paul than Lillard, and that ain't happening.

[Denis998]

3rd team all nba? Why not??

Because Damian Lillard.

A couple of months ago I thought Thomas had a chance.  Back when I thought there was a chance Boston could surpass 50 wins and maybe even catch Toronto for the #2 seed.  I also thought Portland might fall off a little, they haven't.

You have Curry, Klay, CP3, Westbrook, and Harden.  Those guys are a given.  Kyrie's numbers are down across the board and he's missed 20+ games.  So you have Lillard, Thomas, Lowry, and DeRozen fighting for that last spot on the 3rd team (as well as Kemba and Reggie Jackson who'll get some votes too).

At this point, with the season pretty much done, I think it's got to be Lillard.

Is Klay so much a lock for All NBA? IT and Klay have comparable stats

[BornReady]

I feel like Lillard takes the last spot because of what he's done with Portland
Celtics were mainly team effort and Stevens coaching

I would have thought harden would be off and have either Lowry or derozan
Because he's numbers are good but his team looks terrible and may not make the playoffs
Which may factor in people's decisions

[PhoSita]

3rd team all nba? Why not??

Because Damian Lillard.

A couple of months ago I thought Thomas had a chance.  Back when I thought there was a chance Boston could surpass 50 wins and maybe even catch Toronto for the #2 seed.  I also thought Portland might fall off a little, they haven't.

You have Curry, Klay, CP3, Westbrook, and Harden.  Those guys are a given.  Kyrie's numbers are down across the board and he's missed 20+ games.  So you have Lillard, Thomas, Lowry, and DeRozen fighting for that last spot on the 3rd team (as well as Kemba and Reggie Jackson who'll get some votes too).

At this point, with the season pretty much done, I think it's got to be Lillard.

Lowry absolutely gets it over Lillard.

[byennie]

I love me some IT, but you can't really pick him over a 2 way player like Lowry (who is equally good on offense but much better defensively).

Lillard is debatable IMO because they are so similar. But, you're probably going to pick the guy who's putting up 25/7/4 over 22/6/3, with bigger outbursts (albeit they are [dang] similar per-40).

That said, IT will make $13M the next 2 years... $50M+ for Lillard and close to $40M for Lowry (assuming he opts out next summer and signs a big contract). YES PLEASE.

[Celtics18]

Man, the point guard position is tough.

Talking all NBA, obviously Curry and Westbrook are first and second.

Third team, we are looking at Paul, Lowry, Lillard as the top candidates.  Wall's out as his team won't make the playoffs.  As good as Isaiah has been, he won't make the cut.

Kemba Walker and Reggie Jackson have both been fantastic as well, but due to the depth of the point guard position, they find themselves around eighth and ninth, respectively, in the pecking order.

[bdm860]

3rd team all nba? Why not??

Because Damian Lillard.

A couple of months ago I thought Thomas had a chance.  Back when I thought there was a chance Boston could surpass 50 wins and maybe even catch Toronto for the #2 seed.  I also thought Portland might fall off a little, they haven't.

You have Curry, Klay, CP3, Westbrook, and Harden.  Those guys are a given.  Kyrie's numbers are down across the board and he's missed 20+ games.  So you have Lillard, Thomas, Lowry, and DeRozen fighting for that last spot on the 3rd team (as well as Kemba and Reggie Jackson who'll get some votes too).

At this point, with the season pretty much done, I think it's got to be Lillard.

Is Klay so much a lock for All NBA? IT and Klay have comparable stats

Except for the stats in the wins column.  Klay was 3rd team last year putting up similar numbers.  When you have a guy coming of a championship and 3rd team All NBA, whose team then went on to 70+ wins, and put up the same numbers as last year with the huge amount of positive exposure they've gotten all year, I just don't see how he's going to drop off for a guy with comparable stats on a worse team.  With the Warriors great season, I think Klay is a lock (and may even get bumped up to 2nd team).

Lowry absolutely gets it over Lillard.

They're putting similar stats (but Lillard more points, Lowry more steals), and obviously Lowry has more wins.  I think DeRozen is going to take some votes away from Lowry (as people will be split on who is more important to Toronto's success).  On the flip side, I don't think Lillard has that same problem with McCollum.  Fair or not.

Plus Lillard having lifted Portland to the playoffs, while Thomas's and Lowry's teams are closer to where people thought they'd be.  Having your team greatly exceed expectations is going to help get Lillard some votes too.  Being top 5 in scoring (the sexiest stat) helps as well. (Lillard is techinally .01 behind LeBron for 5th).

Don't get me wrong, I totally see a case for Lowry and Thomas, but I'd be willing to bet that spot's going to Lillard.

Curry, Westbrook, Harden, Paul, Thompson, and Lillard.  Book it!

[guava_wrench]

3rd team all nba? Why not??

Because Damian Lillard.

A couple of months ago I thought Thomas had a chance.  Back when I thought there was a chance Boston could surpass 50 wins and maybe even catch Toronto for the #2 seed.  I also thought Portland might fall off a little, they haven't.

You have Curry, Klay, CP3, Westbrook, and Harden.  Those guys are a given.  Kyrie's numbers are down across the board and he's missed 20+ games.  So you have Lillard, Thomas, Lowry, and DeRozen fighting for that last spot on the 3rd team (as well as Kemba and Reggie Jackson who'll get some votes too).

At this point, with the season pretty much done, I think it's got to be Lillard.

Is Klay so much a lock for All NBA? IT and Klay have comparable stats

With similar stats, Klay wins because of history and how good GS is.