Matt Thomas, who played parts of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the Toronto Raptors, has signed a deal with Spanish club Fundacion CB Granada, according to Alberto De Roa of HoopsHype’s transactions list. Known for his three-point shooting, Thomas has enjoyed a long career overseas, split up by a quick stop in the NBA.
In addition to his season-and-a-half with the Raptors, Thomas played 19 games with the Utah Jazz during the 2020-21 season before playing 40 with the Chicago Bulls in 2021-22. Last year, Thomas played with German side ALBA Berlin, and now, he’ll head over to Spain (where he’s played before).
All the while, the Raptors are still looking to form their new identity in the post-Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan (and Kawhi Leonard) era.
What have the Raptors looked like since Matt Thomas?
Thomas’ time with the Raptors came directly after the peak of their organization’s history. Leonard left town following their 2019 NBA Championship run, and since then, the Raptors have been trying to figure things out.
When Thomas was on the team, the likes of Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet were running the show. Since then, those guys have been swapped out for Scottie Barnes, and now, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, and others.
However, the Raptors haven’t made the playoffs since VanVleet and Siakam were on the team. It’s been a bumpy ride. They were bounced in the first round of the postseason in 2021-22, and ever since, they’ve been stuck on the outside looking in.
During that time, Thomas has played in Greece and, most recently, Germany. And before joining the Raptors, he played in Spain.
Heading into next season, the Raptors will be looking to end their postseason drought, which could be easier than ever in a weakened Eastern Conference. They ran into some injury issues last year, but if they can stay healthy, they’ll have a real shot at making the playoffs (and maybe more).
Toronto will be depending on the development of guys like Barnes, Gradey Dick, and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles along the way. And if all goes according to plan, they won’t be trying to tank anymore.
The time for losing is over for the Raptors, as Thomas’ time in the red and purple was marred by a team that had lost its identity.
But the Raptors have tried to restructure since then. And if their new brand of basketball is ever going to work, now is the time.