Should the Phoenix Suns Consider Bringing Back Isaiah Thomas?

The Phoenix Suns want their dark days as a franchise butchered, buried, and essentially erased from existence as they begin to chase down their first ever NBA championship. With the team having fully closed off that less enjoyable chapter within its history books last year, nobody wants to revisit it while so many brighter days lie ahead.

However, one piece attached to Phoenix’s 2014-15 season keeps pushing itself back into the NBA limelight.

Like a lost buoy out at sea, free agent point guard Isaiah Thomas continues to float around lonesomely, refusing to let himself sink, while repeatedly bobbing up and down to try and attract attention. The most recent team to notice him hails from Phoenix’s own division, as the Golden State Warriors invited him in to work out this week.

But at this point, Thomas remains unsigned, leading one to believe that the Warriors no longer feel interested in his services. This comes as just another episode within the Thomas free agency saga, with several other teams having also worked him out this summer, only to let him walk away unsigned.

Only five years ago, Thomas finished fifth in MVP voting, averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game with the Boston Celtics. His involvement within the Kyrie Irving deal sent him packing for Cleveland though, where injuries derailed his career shortly after.

After leaving the Cavaliers, Thomas played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, and finally the New Orleans Pelicans for three contests last season. He averaged just 12.6 points per game, while shooting 38.4 percent from the field.

But despite his falloff from MVP consideration, Thomas remains a notable talent, who deserves a spot on an NBA roster. He continues to work on his game despite his abrupt fall from grace, and even dropped 81 points during a Pro-Am game a month ago.

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During his earlier days with the Suns, Thomas averaged a solid 15.2 points per game and shot 39.1 percent from long range. But as we all know, significant time stands between now and then, with the team also looking entirely different at this point.

However, Thomas still seems infatuated with Phoenix. He celebrated the “Valley-Oop” on Twitter with the rest of the world, paying specific homage to former teammate and current Suns power forward Jae Crowder.

Today’s Suns players also know all about the grit and passion which Thomas carries. After proving his own doubters wrong this past year amidst Phoenix’s run through the postseason, Chris Paul payed homage to Thomas and his patented “slow grind.”

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The Suns still own an extra roster spot, and quite frankly, no real reason exists for James Jones to turn Thomas down on a minimum contract. At the very least, he operates as a floor spacer and solid locker room presence, fully embodying a low risk prospect.

Additionally, Phoenix currently holds Elfrid Payton as their third string point guard. Last year with the New York Knicks, Payton posted an ugly -97 plus/minus score. Although that remains an inflated stat that only somewhat represents a player’s talents, anytime one extends that far into the negative, it warrants grave concern.

As a veteran who knows his role, Thomas poises to only support what the Suns have built, rather than threaten it like Payton. That also goes without even mentioning his unrivaled work ethic, certain to make him a fond pupil for Monty Williams to foster.