Dallas Mavericks Sign Isaiah Thomas to 10-Day Deal as COVID-19 Outbreak Ravages Team

(Photo : David Berding/Getty Images) MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Isaiah Thomas #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket while Patrick Beverley #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on December 17, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 110-92.

Isaiah Thomas' NBA journey will continue as the Dallas Mavericks signed the veteran point guard to a 10-day contract on Wednesday. The Mavs used a hardship deal to sign Thomas after a COVID-19 outbreak engulfed their team.

Marjanovic, Knight test positive for COVID-19

Boban Marjanovic and Brandon Knight were the latest Mavericks to test positive for the deadly coronavirus, with both players entering the league's health and safety protocols. That brings the total number of Mavs players to enter the NBA's COVID protocols this month to nine.

Reggie Bullock, Trey Burke, Luka Doncic, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, and JaQuori McLaughlin tested positive for COVID-19 and were placed by the Mavs on the health protocols. The Mavs' outbreak occurred soon after playing the Los Angeles Lakers on December 15. The Lakers were battling their own COVID-19 outbreak at the time of their game.

The good news for the Mavs is that some of their players have been activated off the COVID list. Green cleared protocols on Monday and was able to play against the Portland Trail Blazers that same night. Bullock has also tested negative for the coronavirus and will soon be back in the lineup.

The Mavericks also got a major boost with the news that the league will be changing its policy regarding COVID-19. The NBA has decided to change the length of quarantine for players, coaches, team staff, and referees who tested positive for COVID-19 from 10 to six days. That means a quicker return will be in place for superstar Luka Doncic, who entered the league's safety protocols on Wednesday, December 22.

Mavs sign Thomas to hardship deal

The Mavs have struggled with their key players sidelined, going 1-4 in their last five games. Help is on the way, though, for Dallas with the Mavericks signing Isaiah Thomas to a short deal. He is expected to join the Mavs in Sacramento for Wednesday's game against the Kings.

This will be the second time that Thomas is signing a hardship deal this season. He first joined the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this month, averaging 9.3 points in four games played during his 10-day contract. The Lakers opted not to extend Thomas' deal, though, leaving the former Boston Celtics star without a team in the NBA once again.

Fortunately for Thomas, there is a growing need for his services, with teams across the NBA being ravaged by the coronavirus. Thomas will hope his latest deal with the Mavericks will become permanent once his 10-day deal expires. This year, he has played just seven games on 10-day deals with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Lakers.

Thomas will be taking the place of veteran guard Brandon Knight, who the Mavericks also signed on a hardship deal. Knight has flourished in his return to the NBA, averaging 10.0 points and 2.7 assists in his last three games with the Mavs. COVID-19 has derailed his return, though, with Knight currently on quarantine.