Could this be a low-profile move to secure an enforcer for Yao?: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/199233p-172022c.html Kurt looks to trade futures By FRANK ISOLA DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Kurt Thomas has an impressive financial portfolio and enough tailored suits to at least look the part of a Wall Street broker as he did yesterday, standing inside the Merrill Lynch World Headquarters in lower Manhattan to honor the winners of the Investment Challenge that bears his name. Thomas' nickname on the basketball court may be Crazy Eyes, but he is smart enough to look after his money. In March, the Knicks and Thomas agreed to a four-year contract extension worth approximately $30 million. The forward, who is scheduled to have surgery on his right pinkie today in New York, could have waited for a more lucrative deal in July but he jumped at the chance for financial security. His decision not to test the free-agent market has increased speculation that the Knicks will trade Thomas this summer, a move that Lenny Wilkens seemed to endorse when the head coach said that the Knicks' main need for next season was to add "a physical (power forward) who blocks shots and give you a real low-post presence." "I wasn't aware of it," Thomas said of Wilkens' comments. "It doesn't bother me. I know I can play with my back to the basket. I believe I led the team in blocked shots or was second (he was second to Dikembe Mutombo, 123-80). I think I led the team in rebounding (he did at 8.30 per game), so I think my numbers speak for themselves. And I play with injuries. It doesn't bother me." But Thomas was also providing subtle hints that he would welcome a change of scenery. His shooting hand will be in a cast for six weeks, which could scare off potential suitors. Not so, according to Thomas, whose 20% trade bonus probably eliminates most teams from pursuing him. "I think everybody saw I could play with the injury," he said. "I don't think that will be a factor or anything." Thomas was nearly traded to San Antonio before the February deadline and has replaced Latrell Sprewell and Charlie Ward as the Knick most often rumored to be going elsewhere. There has already been talk about a deal with Portland for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Thomas is the second-longest tenured Knick behind Allan Houston and established himself as a strong presence in the community. His fourth annual Investment Challenge includes 1,600 students from 13 New York City public high schools. Ten winners received summer internships with Merrill Lynch and Thomas honored five students with $2,000 scholarships. When he addressed the individual and team winners yesterday, Thomas said his goal is to create similar programs in Dallas and Houston. Of course, those are two cities where he wouldn't mind being traded to. "I'm from Texas," he said, smiling. "So I would like to see the program in Texas as much as possible." Originally published on June 3, 2004
Don't know about his contract, but Kurt Thomas would be the perfect PF for this team. At 30 mpg, he gets you over 10 points, 8 boards, a block, one and a half assists, few turnovers...just a very blue collar player.
We need slightly betetr shotblocking. He also can't stay in the game longer than 30 minutes even if he wanted to - probably the most foul prone player in the NBA.
Defense is more than shotblocking. Haven't watched him enough to know this part of his game that well, but I do know how he plays and imagine he could be effective as a man on man defender. As for mpg, he's played over 30 each of the past 3 years (and not that you necessarily need much more than that). He's average about 4 fouls a game in the last three years as well. Definitely too much, but not a huge problem. I'd take Thomas over Mo Taylor any day of the week.
Nah, that title belongs to Raef LaFrentz... But Thomas would be a good fit as backup PF/C... But we already have an overpaid backup PF, so I don't think he'd be a great fit with the roster as it stands now.
Lets see, former Knick, played under JVG. I guess JVG had no problems with him. He'll be a Rocket by August 1st.
his grunt, power, and rebounding would be great but can he guard the quicker mobile 4s with shooting range that we struggled with last season???
No, but neither can MoT or Cato, lol. I'd swap MoT for him, but not Cato. I wouldnt' give them the TE for him, we're already overloaded at PF. Definitely wouldn't give up Mobley. Basically, the only thing I'd do is MoT for Kurt Thomas and a contract. I'd also think about MoT and Mobley for Penny and Kurt Thomas. Penny's contract only has 1 or 2 years to go, and he'd be great alongside Francis.
that was my point Sane..... we need a PF that can do that... and rebound and provide some grunt would you really do Mot and Mobes for Kurt and Penny......you must have seen some alot more of good Penny than i did last season...... for me he is done... his smarts are nice but the jumper has declined and his legs are real slow
since i live in NY i've seen my share of knick games. here is my 2 cents: kurt is way to slow to guard the odoms and gasols that light us up everynight. however, he is a much better rebounder then cato/mo and his jumper is almost automatic inside 18 ft. he is a definite upgrade over mo and cato, but only solves our problems on offence. i also know from local interviews that the knicks will only let him go for a great offer. i doubt we will be able to work something out.
thanks for the input, smoothie. I agree with Sane; I only give up Mo Taylor for Kurt Thomas, unless as part of a larger trade. He would be a great rotation player for the Rockets frontcourt, but we'd still need an agile, shot-blocking PF to cover his deficiencies. The problem with Thomas is that he has a lengthy contract and is already 33 and will likely deteriorate as a player. I bet the Knicks move him if they can get an upgrade in talent.
today there was news on realgm that his operation revealed a problem.... also i talked to my friend who is a huuuuge knick fan about what was in the papers regarding what the knicks hope to get for him. his responce was: "zeke said nothing less than an upgrade at 4/5" they want too much. we dont have what they are looking for. he isnt even the best fit we can find.
LOL... Kurt Thomas is a 4/5... and Zeke wants to trade him for an upgrade. If my logic serves me correctly, then someone else would have to trade for a downgrade.
this is why i hate having to talk to knick fans. they think their garbage (not that kurt is) is worth their weight in gold on the open market. now even zeke talks like a knick fan if any of you think there is way too much dreamcasting on this bbs about brand, tmac, ect try living in NY!
Kurt Thomas is not a 5 and that was very clear last year. When Kurt Thomas plays the 5, Guards' eyes light up with penetration opportunitites. The guy is not a good shotblocker, and he's short. He's not intimidating at all. SmeggySmeg, The thing that intruiges me about Penny is his play with Marbury in Phoenix. Honestly, I didn't see much of him in New York, but the few games I saw him starting with Marbury, I saw Marbury take it off a notch. Penny can handle the ball like a point, and he is capable of getting 12/5/5, which is exactly what we need. He's got size too. What I WOULD be worried about is our shooting - Mobley shot almost 40% last season, while Penny is not generally known as a shooter. Penny has 2 good but not great seasons under his belt now after his injury. If he gets into good shape this summer, I wouldn't mind taking him. I'd have some doubts, but Penny would come off our cap in 2 seasons. After 1 season, he'll be a very tradeable asset. MoT will be making around 10M for the next 3 years. I don't know who I'd ratehr overpay, someone like MoT or someone like Penny, whom I think can help Francis flourish.
