NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Phoenix Suns

The former Celtics All-Star had a season to forget with the Cavaliers and Lakers, squabbling with his teammates in Cleveland and getting shut down early in Los Angeles with another injury. After being one of the best players in the league in Boston, a hip injury sapped him of what made him special, and he’s going to have to hope that a team believes in that version of Thomas and not the version of Thomas that played last season.

Thomas had hip surgery after the season ended, giving him a chance to finally recover and get back to full strength. While he may not get as large of a contract as he thought a year ago, Phoenix could be a place where he signs a one-year contract and goes out to show what he can do on his next contract. The Suns aren’t likely going to be contending for the playoffs, and he could get a lot of shot attempts alongside Devin Booker in their backcourt.

Thomas doesn’t solve a lot of problems for the Suns – he’s not a strong defender, and he plays a similar role as Booker – but he could be a player that could develop a connection with the franchise and help them start over with their 2018 draft picks.