Former No. 4 overall pick Tyrus Thomas has signed with Eisbären Bremerhaven, the German team announced (hat tip and translation via Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, on Twitter). The Mavericks were reportedly among those in attendance for workouts that Thomas staged earlier this summer in Las Vegas. The big man made a brief NBA comeback on a 10-day contract this past season with the Grizzlies after failing to play in 2013/14.
The Lakers reportedly worked him out around the same time he got a look from Memphis. Thomas spent part of 2014/15 in the D-League with the Grizzlies’ affiliate, posting averages of 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in a modest 18.7 minutes per game. The now 29-year-old last had a steady NBA gig with Charlotte, which released him via amnesty waivers in July 2013.
Thomas had two years and more than $18MM left on his contract with the then-Bobcats when they let him go, so the financial motivation for him to return to the court hasn’t been profound. However, that amnestied contract has run to term, so that might explain why Thomas is headed overseas rather than to the D-League, where salaries are lower but NBA scouts are in closer proximity.
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