Kurt Thomas Deal on Hold

[Joe Mama]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0625sunsnb0625.html

Deal with Knicks is placed on hold

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 25, 2005 12:00 AM

If you wanted Quentin Richardson to remain with the Suns, you get your wish for a weekend. If you are pining for confirmation that Kurt Thomas is the newest Suns player, wait until Monday.

The two-player swap between Phoenix and New York was not approved as hoped Friday, when the league office was still trying to recover from an eventful week of averting a labor lockout and staging a Game 7 in San Antonio on Thursday.

That delayed taking care of the final technical aspects that would clear Phoenix to send Richardson and a future conditional first-round pick to New York for Thomas, a tough post player the Suns desired. advertisement




" 'Q' is a big part of what we did," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said Friday. "Kurt Thomas is a heck of a player."

Knicks President Isiah Thomas canceled a draft briefing with New York media Friday for a second straight day.


Gomes returns
Providence's Ryan Gomes returned for his second workout in a month with the Suns. Want to know his position? So do the Suns. Gomes is a 6-foot-8, 240-pound "tweener."

He is clearly a hard worker, given how much he improved his outside shot and quickness from last season. But there are still doubts of whether he can cover speedy swingmen.

"My own judgment is that I'm just a player," said Gomes, a late first-round or early second-round pick. "Whether I'm at the 3 or 4, I've got to use my advantages against the other guy just like he would to me."

Phoenix looked at Gomes against Pittsburgh power forward Chris Taft and Oakland small forward Rawle Marshall, a high hopper who could be attractive in the second round.

"When you have his (Gomes') feel for the game and his ability to make shots, there may not be an in-between," Suns Director of Player Personnel David Griffin said.

The fact that Taft is working out for Phoenix is a bad sign for him. Taft entered his sophomore season as a projected high lottery pick but knocks on his consistency, conditioning and desire may have put him in the low first round. Taft shored up his body, which is 6-10 and 260.

Griffin said Phoenix would not consider Taft if its decision were based only on his reputation, but the staff gets a different perspective in a workout.

"He has a great jump hook and uses his body well," Griffin said.

Taft has worked out for about 12 teams with two more planned.

"I play a lot of up-tempo game, running down the center of the floor and finishing a lot of plays," Taft said. "I fit this (Suns) style well."


Iavaroni's status
Marc Iavaroni remains a Suns assistant despite a strong chance to land Portland's head coaching job and a new opening in Milwaukee, where he was a finalist with the executives who hired and fired Terry Porter.

Iavaroni has been interviewed only by Portland, which is waiting on Seattle coach Nate McMillan's contract to expire June 30 in order to woo him. Porter also is pursuing the Portland job.

 

[cly2tw]

So they've got a closer look at Taft, are we gonna get him?

 

[Gaddabout]

Is there really a lot of interest in Taft here? Every scouting report I've read says he's really far off skill wise and he comes with a reputation of disinterest. His own coaches at Pitt were surprised he was getting lottery attention, and now that he's been around to a few workouts, he's dropping.

The more I look at this draft, the less interested I am in it. I would not be disappointed if the Suns traded out in favor of signing veterans. I'd be happy with two or three second-round projects. At least there'd be some value there.

 

[jbeecham]

I'm still pissed that we're the ones giving up the draft pick. Sure it's probably top 20+ protected so it won't be a great pick in 2007, but the deal was much better when we were getting a Knick 1st Rd pick. I realize we traded small for big and usually you have to pay a little more when you do that, but we also traded young for old so they should've each other cancelled out without giving up a pick.

 

[Mainstreet]

...I realize we traded small for big and usually you have to pay a little more when you do that, but we also traded young for old so they should've each other cancelled out without giving up a pick.

Exactly. Well said.

 

[newfan101]

I realize we traded small for big and usually you have to pay a little more when you do that, but we also traded young for old so they should've each other cancelled out without giving up a pick.

It's not just young for old. It's a young starter on a 62 win team for an old starter on a lottery team ... run by Isiah Thomas.

This might be good in the short term, but Brian sure seems to be giving up a lot in his trades lately.

 

[Kolo]

I'm still pissed that we're the ones giving up the draft pick. Sure it's probably top 20+ protected so it won't be a great pick in 2007, but the deal was much better when we were getting a Knick 1st Rd pick. I realize we traded small for big and usually you have to pay a little more when you do that, but we also traded young for old so they should've each other cancelled out without giving up a pick.

Maybe it says something about Q's trade value. I'd imagine BC offered him to more than just the Knicks, and probably to teams w/ cap room to take him in a straight salary dump. Based on what the Colangeli have done w/ the team for the past three years (and generally for the past thirty), I'll give BC the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Joe Mama]

Maybe it says something about Q's trade value. I'd imagine BC offered him to more than just the Knicks, and probably to teams w/ cap room to take him in a straight salary dump. Based on what the Colangeli have done w/ the team for the past three years (and generally for the past thirty), I'll give BC the benefit of the doubt.

I agree. I think that many of us Phoenix Suns fans over value our own players. You have to look at what you are actually getting with Q. He's good on the boards. He has a good low post game as long as he is facing opposing shooting guards, but he did show any of that this year with Phoenix. he's a quantity shooter averaging under 39% from the field in a great offense. Finally, he is under contract for five more years and approximately $7.3 million per. That's not exactly a hot commodity.

The only reason I'm disappointed that we are the ones giving the draft pick is that this is Isaiah Thomas we are dealing with. I would have expected him to give us a little more for a player that is a terrible fit for his team.

Joe Mama

 

[Yuma]

I agree. I think that many of us Phoenix Suns fans over value our own players. You have to look at what you are actually getting with Q. He's good on the boards. He has a good low post game as long as he is facing opposing shooting guards, but he did show any of that this year with Phoenix. he's a quantity shooter averaging under 39% from the field in a great offense. Finally, he is under contract for five more years and approximately $7.3 million per. That's not exactly a hot commodity.

The only reason I'm disappointed that we are the ones giving the draft pick is that this is Isaiah Thomas we are dealing with. I would have expected him to give us a little more for a player that is a terrible fit for his team.

Joe Mama

Exactly the way I look at it! Although the pick we are giving away will probably be #30!

 

[PhxGametime]

Well I was watching 1 of the Suns/Knicks games - I'm nearing the half and KT has a bunch of rebounds, made I believe 5 jumpers (1 being a 3PTer to end 1st Quarter), and he sets a ton of picks... he almost got a charge from Amare Stoudemire that could of gone either way but it was good weakside help. He's a pretty good passer but he does average 2.0, so I expected that. He just looks like a smart player on court. I probably won't watch anymore until Trade is official though...


I want to watch some Prospects (Nate Robinson for now) for upcoming Draft...

 

[fordronken]

Well I was watching 1 of the Suns/Knicks games - I'm nearing the half and KT has a bunch of rebounds, made I believe 5 jumpers (1 being a 3PTer to end 1st Quarter), and he sets a ton of picks... he almost got a charge from Amare Stoudemire that could of gone either way but it was good weakside help. He's a pretty good passer but he does average 2.0, so I expected that. He just looks like a smart player on court. I probably won't watch anymore until Trade is official though...


I want to watch some Prospects (Nate Robinson for now) for upcoming Draft...

I tend to remember him playing especially well against us over the last couple of years.

 

[KloD]

I'm still pissed that we're the ones giving up the draft pick. Sure it's probably top 20+ protected so it won't be a great pick in 2007, but the deal was much better when we were getting a Knick 1st Rd pick. I realize we traded small for big and usually you have to pay a little more when you do that, but we also traded young for old so they should've each other cancelled out without giving up a pick.

I just assumed it was to make up for them taking on much more of a salary committment w/ Q than they pass on to us.

 

[Amare32]

KT always killed us from what I remember. Seemed like he would never miss a 15-18 foot jump shot.

Hopfully this deal is done by monday.

 

[jbeecham]

I just assumed it was to make up for them taking on much more of a salary committment w/ Q than they pass on to us.

That's a good point, but NY has also been trying to trade KT for the last year so I would think they would've been pretty desparate to move him by now and willing to give up a pick to do so. There should at least be an exchange of 1st rd picks.

 

[coloradosun]

One thought that crossed my mind is the reason that the KT has not had its formal announcement is that there could be a possibility that Barbosa may be included in the deal. The Suns may wait until the 30th pick in draft and see if Nate Robinson is still on the board to make the deal final. Barbosa could be a backup point guard behind Marbury again and with a half court offense could be kept under control. Barbosa was the 29th selection so it would be basicly draft position for draft position adjusted for inflation.

Just a possibility of connecting some dots of why the deal is not final and rumors of Barbosa departure.

 

[Mainstreet]

One thought that crossed my mind is the reason that the KT has not had its formal announcement is that there could be a possibility that Barbosa may be included in the deal. The Suns may wait until the 30th pick in draft and see if Nate Robinson is still on the board to make the deal final. Barbosa could be a backup point guard behind Marbury again and with a half court offense could be kept under control. Barbosa was the 29th selection so it would be basicly draft position for draft position adjusted for inflation.

Just a possibility of connecting some dots of why the deal is not final and rumors of Barbosa departure.

coloradosun, I'm not sure about Barbosa being involved, but I think possibly you might have hit on something. I think the KT trade might be on hold because there may be an exchange of draft picks (perhaps contingent on who is available at #30).

This would make sense as there was contradictory information from different sources initially who gets the pick. Perhaps Phoenix trades down to #30 if their player is there and gets some form of compensation for doing so. Perhaps the Suns will pick for NY at #21 and the Knicks pick for Phoenix at #30 and the Suns pick up another future first round pick or second round pick this year.

Also, the knicks might feel the player they want will be available at #21 and the Suns get their player with the Knicks first pick. My head is swirling but it makes some sense if each team is not wanting to reach for their selection.

I'm not good at figuring out these scenarios, but I think each team may be exchanging picks and the league says no you can't do it this way until the picks are made because they are contingent on players being there.

This insurance thing with Q may just be the reason their giving for not approving the trade just yet and waiting for draft day.

 

[coloradosun]

coloradosun, I'm not sure about Barbosa being involved, but I think possibly you might have hit on something. I think the KT trade might be on hold because there may be an exchange of draft picks (perhaps contingent on who is available at #30).

This would make sense as there was contradictory information from different sources initially who gets the pick. Perhaps Phoenix trades down to #30 if their player is there and gets some form of compensation for doing so. Perhaps the Suns will pick for NY at #21 and the Knicks pick for Phoenix at #30 and the Suns pick up another future first round pick or second round pick this year.

Also, the knicks might feel the player they want will be available at #21 and the Suns get their player with the Knicks first pick. My head is swirling but it makes some sense if each team is not wanting to reach for their selection.

I'm not good at figuring out these scenarios, but I think each team may be exchanging picks and the league says no you can't do it this way until the picks are made because they are contingent on players being there.

This insurance thing with Q may just be the reason their giving for not approving the trade just yet and waiting for draft day.

I do think that there are other contigencies in the deal that will not make it official until after the draft. The other matter is that once it got leaked it exposed NY intent on taking a big man, namely Channing Frye. The delay is smoke and the insurance is a mirror.

 

[Mainstreet]

I do think that there are other contigencies in the deal that will not make it official until after the draft. The other matter is that once it got leaked it exposed NY intent on taking a big man, namely Channing Frye. The delay is smoke and the insurance is a mirror.

I agree, especially since ESPN's headline did not match the contents of the story last week. I cannot remember the headline other than it said Phoenix was to receive a conditional first round pick in the Q for KT trade. However the story below the headline said NY was to receive the first round draft pick in the trade.

The only way both the headline and the story could both be correct if there was some sort of exchange of draft picks contingent upon the right players being available for each team. The reason for such a contingency would be that so neither team had to reach for the player they wanted.

Anyway I believe it was ESPN that had the story that way. Perhaps it is posted on the Board somewhere.