Weaknesses:
Like Jerel McNeal and Earl Barron, it’s hard to judge Thornton’s time in Phoenix because it was so limited. In nine games for the Suns, Thornton averaged a negligible 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game.
That’s not enough to get an accurate reading on what he had to offer, but in spite of being with the team for almost two months, head coach Jeff Hornacek found little time for Thornton in the rotation between chasing a playoff spot and letting the younger guys get minutes.
That’s probably for the best given his woeful shooting in Phoenix, however. His field goal percentage (32.5 percent) and ghastly three-point percentage (10.5 percent on 2.1 attempts per game) suggest his days of being a helpful spark plug off the bench are over, even if he was banged up down the stretch.
It doesn’t help that his time with the Boston Celtics was less than stellar, either. In 39 games with the Celts, Thornton averaged 8.9 points on 41.6 percent shooting, though he also made 41.9 percent of his threes. Thornton only played 16.4 minutes per game for Brad Stevens and there’s probably a reason the Suns are his fourth new team in the last two seasons.
Next: Strengths