Does anyone have any thoughts about the bolded part of the article? I don't blame Q for taking a stance with suns management...but it kinda sheds some light on why the suns threw in the 21st pick.
Knicks land Quentin and point guard too
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
The Kurt Thomas-for-Quentin Richardson deal was finally completed last night when the Knicks agreed to take point guard Nate Robinson, the 21st selection in last night's draft, and drop their demand to have Richardson's contract insured.
"I'm excited that it's going to happen," Thomas said last night. "I was starting to think that it was over. Now, I'm looking forward to playing with Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire."
The Knicks and Suns began working on the trade last week, but the talks stalled when Isiah Thomas learned that the six-year, $44 million contract Richardson signed last summer was not insured. Richardson missed 17 games in the final month of the 2003-04 season because of a back injury. Richardson missed only three games this past season, none because of his back.
The deal appeared dead as late as 6 p.m., but with Richardson telling the Suns that he would not return to the team, Phoenix sweetened the deal by offering the 21st pick in exchange for the Knicks' second-round pick, No. 54. Phoenix used that selection to take Dijon Thompson, a 6-7 guard-forward from UCLA.
The deal for Robinson gave the Knicks three first-round picks for the first time since 1996, when Ernie Grunfeld drafted John Wallace, Walter McCarty and Dontae Jones.
Isiah Thomas went into the draft looking for a backup point guard, and there were four top players still available: Robinson, Jarrett Jack, Luther Head and high schooler Monta Ellis.
Thomas opted for Robinson, who is listed at 5-9 but looks even smaller on the court. Robinson averaged 16.4 points and four assists last season for Washington. Robinson played three seasons for the Huskies before declaring for the draft.
Robinson is a leader who is ideal for playing at a fast pace. Thomas wants to play a style similar to that of Phoenix and Seattle, by which the Knicks would spread the court with shooters - Jamal Crawford and Richardson - and take advantage of Stephon Marbury's and Robinson's ability to penetrate. Last week, Kurt Thomas received calls from several teammates to congratulate him on the trade. But over the previous two days, Thomas' phone stopped ringing. When asked about his future being in limbo two hours before the deal was announced, Thomas said: "I'm under contract, so that's the most important thing. I'm not worried about next season. It's summer time." The trade is the first of many moves Isiah Thomas is expected to make to clear out veterans with long-term contracts. Allan Houston is expected to be released and the Knicks want to trade Jerome Williams and Malik Rose.