Denver Nuggets: What the future holds for Isaiah Thomas

It’s been a long road for Denver Nuggets point guard Isaiah Thomas. And a DNP against the Timberwolves may be just the first of many more down the stretch.

Surely, this isn’t where Isaiah Thomas thought he would be. Just three years ago, the Celtics were ready to “bring the Brinks truck” to re-sign him in Boston.

But then it all fell apart. Thomas injured his hip trying to carry the Celtics through the playoffs, Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge traded him for Kyrie Irving the following offseason and he was never the same.

He was traded from the Cavaliers to the Lakers at the deadline last season — and didn’t even finish the season, undergoing hip surgery in March of last year.

Then in the offseason he signed a one-year deal with Denver. It seemed like a good fit. The Nuggets were a young team in need of a strong veteran presence and IT was looking for a place that wasn’t going to try and rush him back.

And when Thomas finally made his season debut, it almost looked like a match made in heaven.

Against the Kings just before All-Star weekend, Thomas scored 8 points and dished out two assists. Just after the break, Thomas erupted for 16 points in 16 minutes against the Mavericks. Across those two, Thomas shot over 47 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Since then, it hasn’t been so pretty. Thomas has shot just 34.5 percent from the field and an abysmal 14.3 percent from behind the arc, despite leading the Nuggets in usage rate at 30.1 percent.

And that all came to a head against Minnesota, where Thomas received his first DNP since getting healthy.

“Obviously, 16 games to go, (we’re going to) try to find a rhythm,” said Malone, who didn’t play Thomas in the 26-point victory over the Timberwolves. “And a rotation that I feel gives us the best chance to win now, and into the playoffs.”

Like most Nuggets fans — and myself — have been saying, a rotation without IT does just that.

And Tuesday’s game was proof of that. The bench unit was as good as it’s been in a while, especially Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee and Malik Beasley — the three second-unit players expected to contribute the most down the stretch.

And despite not getting on the floor every night, Thomas can still make an impact. And Malone noticed him already doing that Tuesday.

“Isaiah is a pro,” Malone said. “He was into the game, he was supporting his teammates, he is a competitor. I know it’s not easy for him. But I admire his response and being such a pro (Tuesday).”