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It turns out Chandler Parsons isn't the only one who felt disrespected during his time as a restricted free agent.
Earlier this week as he was introduced as the newest member of the Phoenix Suns, who acquired him via a sign-and-trade that will pay him $27 million over four years, former Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas copped to having his feelings hurt by the Kings organization, too.
Here's Thomas, via the Arizona Republic:
I felt very disrespected. Every year it was somebody new. I felt I did a good enough job to show them I was a starting point guard or a guy who could play a big role with their team. But they thought differently.
They're going to go forward without me, and I'm going to go forward with the Phoenix Suns, and I know something special is coming here.
What Thomas is referring to is the sense that Sacramento was always on the lookout for another point guard, and it's tough to argue with him.
Drafted 60th overall in the 2011 draft, Thomas impressed as a rookie by scoring 11.5 points with 4.1 assists in just 25.5 minutes in a support role behind Tyreke Evans. Following the season, the Kings signed Aaron Brooks to challenge Thomas, but again the Washington product impressed, upping his scoring on a per-minute basis without any dip in efficiency.
So then the Kings went after Greivis Vasquez in an offseason trade and drafted Ray McCallum, but it took less than 20 games for Thomas to again assert himself as the unquestioned starter. And again, his per-minute production rose and his efficiency took no hit, and even improved, with greater repsponsibility.
But then the Kings signed Darren Collison to a three-year, $16 million deal that will pay him nearly as much as Thomas to be not nearly as good, and the writing was on the wall.
So now Thomas is a Sun, and he's looking forward to sharing a backcourt rotation yet again - this time as a part of a methodical, style-based plan rather than an implied desire to replace him. Thomas, Goran Dragic and perhaps restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe are going to be a tough check:
I think it would work. We're totally three different basketball players. We could come at guys from three different directions. It's going to be tough for teams to guard us.
[Dap EOB]
