Kurt Thomas to PHX for Q (from REAL GM)

[Ron Mexic]

Supposedly the Knicks are sending Kurt Thomas and a future #1 to Phoenix for Q Rich.

The Suns want to create a little more room for Joe J, but I don't see how this accomplishes that. Kurt's salary is pretty much the same as Q. His contract is shorter, but that has no bearing on overall money.

 

[CBBI]

Suns trade QRich to New York, plan to resign Johnson now

Quentin Richardson Dealt To The Knicks For Kurt Thomas
Authored by Christopher Reina - 23rd June, 2005 - 2:46 am

Quentin Richardson will be dealt to the Knicks in exchange for Kurt Thomas and a future conditional number one draft choice. This deal is pending league approval and should be formally announced after Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

The deal was confirmed to me by a source close to the trade negotiations.

There was little doubt that one of the Suns’ five starters would not be back for the 2005-2006 season and Richardson is the player that Bryan Colangelo and the Suns have decided to move. The move indicates that Joe Johnson is the shooting guard that the Suns want on their team long-term.

Thomas is signed through the 2009 season, while Richardson, whose game overlaps with Johnson's, is signed through the 2009 season as well, but the Suns have a team option for the 2009-2010 season.

Richardson averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game in his first season with Phoenix. He made 226 3-pointers, tied for first in the NBA with Philadelphia's Kyle Korver, in his one season with the high-powered Suns, compared to 120 in his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers .

Thomas, a 10-year veteran, gives the Suns a player who averaged 11.5 and 10.4 rebounds per game last season with the Knicks. He will allow Shawn Marion to slide back to the small forward position and Amare Stoudemire will be less exposed at center, playing beside a power forward of Thomas' caliber.

He also gives the Suns another player that can stay outside on the pick and roll to let Steve Nash drive and dish to the open man, as Thomas is one of the best power forwards in the league at hitting a mid-range jump shot.

Christopher Reina is the executive editor of RealGM.com and may be reached at Christopher.Reina@RealGM.com.

Source

 

[LyXo]

Re: Suns trade QRich to New York, plan to resign Johnson now

Bye-bye, Joe Johnson. It was nice talking about you. At least we have something set in stone now and don't have to waste 7 days for them to match.

 

[CBBI]

Supposedly the Knicks are sending Kurt Thomas and a future #1 to Phoenix for Q Rich.

The Suns want to create a little more room for Joe J, but I don't see how this accomplishes that. Kurt's salary is pretty much the same as Q. His contract is shorter, but that has no bearing on overall money.

Its not so much they wanted to create more cap room to sign Joe, they just wanted to create a more traditional lineup.

Now JJ can play his natural SG, Marion can play his natural SF, and Thomas gives them toughness and rebounding and DEFENSE at the PF slot.

I like this move a lot for Phoenix personally.

 

[Glen Infante]

The trade helps Phoenix alot. They actually can move Stoudamire and Marion to their natural positions now.

It does seem like the re-signing of Joe Johnson is now in the books. It's too bad, it started to become more clear everyday that he would be a perfect fit here.

I am starting to think that we aren't even going to get any of the top 3 shooting guards this offseason...

 

[CBBI]

The trade helps Phoenix alot. They actually can move Stoudamire and Marion to their natural positions now.

It does seem like the re-signing of Joe Johnson is now in the books. It's too bad, it started to become more clear everyday that he would be a perfect fit here.

I am starting to think that we aren't even going to get any of the top 3 shooting guards this offseason...

I think Amare is going to remain the center. Kurt Thomas is only like 6'8" or 6'9" isn't he?

 

[Glen Infante]

Yeah, he's 6'9. But Kurt Thomas has been playing C for pretty much his entire career. They can do either or.

 

[LyXo]

They'll probably push K.Thomas to the center. It's a more defensive spot than the 4, and that's most likely what Thomas was brought in for. He'll man the post with Amare running the break. It'll be ridiculous.

On the other hand, this team is going to be cap strapped for quite a bit. What will happen once Kurt Thomas gets injured? That'll be fun. Coangelo is betting on his young players staying healthy... don't bet on that too much.

Phoenix will be a much better playoff team than this year. But I don't think Kurt Thomas is really enough. They need more pieces, more role players.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

what in the world are the Knicks going to do in their back court with Q, Marbury, Houston, and Crawford? do they simply realease Houston? they won't find anyone to take his deal.

if they do release Houston i wouldn't mind seeing the Cavaliers take a run at him if it comes at a decent price. if he is willing to be a role player for this team he could be a nice shooter to have off the bench.

 

[LyXo]

I think a new thing in the CBA allows a team to release one player from their roster and have their salary not count towards the luxury tax. Still will count towards the cap, but no tax. Perfect for oft-injured players like Houston. Penny Hardaway. Or anyone on the Knicks' roster. Good for teams over the cap. Sounds like this CBA clause is something Isiah Thomas campaigned for. Doesn't seem like anyone else is on the same ball as the Knicks.

 

[Glen Infante]

If Allen Houston came to Cleveland, we would all just be dissapointed a month after the signing when he goes back to the IR.

I have always liked Houston, but I don't trust his health at all.

 

[LyXo]

I don't want a washed up superstar for our SG FA. If we can't land a top tier shooter, then we should see how Luke Jackson develops. We don't want to cap-strap ourselves with such a liability. We can wait to make a good trade later in the season. Hopefully the new GM won't submit to Houston as the last resort if he gets released.

 

[Slim Sheedy]

his health is way to big of a question mark.. it would be too much of a risk... I for one still want Mike Redd.. but who knows what's going to happen..

 

[Pioneer10]

Again the Suns prove they have awesome managment. Joe Johnson gonna be a star, the perimeter guy to Amare for the rest of their careers and they make the moves to keep him.

Compare this to the Cav's history: we had our point for the future in Miller and we dump him for salary purposes and replace him with Wagner. Uggh

 

[PIP]

at this rate, i wish they would have never got rid of sura either.........