Sep 29, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Thomas poses for a portrait during media day at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Isaiah Thomas, G, Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns offered something that the Sacramento Kings simply weren’t willing to offer Isaiah Thomas this summer — decent money and respect. The Kings tried to lowball Thomas with slow pitch of a deal, Thomas didn’t waiver. Instead, he signed somewhere he felt appreciated.
And while appreciation is well and good, he’s still going to play a backup’s role in Phoenix — behind Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic. The main reason why Thomas is going to disappoint in the NBA this season isn’t because he’s overrated or played a bit out of his talent zone last season. It’s because his role will be limited in Phoenix — it won’t be any expansion of what he had in Sacramento last season.
Last year, Thomas averaged nearly 35 minutes per game on 20 points and six assists per game. It’ll be tough for him to reach those totals while playing alongside a plethora of guards with the suns.
He won’t meet many expectations, but it won’t be a knock on him.