Nets notebook: Looks like Thomas may go West

[slinslin]

What the hell Sarver is a cheap bastard he would never sign him because the team cut Reiner and Ford who would have saved us now.

sarcasm

 

[F-Dog]

Nets losing out on Tim Thomas
Suns likely to land Paterson native
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO
Star-Ledger Staff

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Nets didn't play last night, but they may have suffered the biggest setback of their season.

The resolution of the Tim Thomas buyout agreement was nearly final last night, and it included the provision that the Paterson native would not play for an Eastern Conference team once he is released to become a free agent.

According to a league official, Thomas is headed to Phoenix, which has a frontcourt shortage because of the recent loss of Kurt Thomas, who might miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his foot.

Here's the worst part: Another league official who spoke with agent Arn Tellem yesterday said the Nets were Tim Thomas' first choice.

But on Sunday night, Chicago GM John Paxson told Tellem he wouldn't release the 6-10 forward to a team in the East because it could affect the Bulls' playoff ambitions. After three days of negotiations, Tellem agreed to accept Paxson's terms or risk the possibility that the Bulls wouldn't let Thomas out of his contract.

If Thomas weren't waived by today, he would have been ineligible for the playoffs. He will receive nearly all of the $5.1 remaining on his contract.

The Nets had hoped to plug Thomas into their rotation as a backup forward, one who can spell Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins, and occasionally swing to two-guard. He always has been defensively challenged, but his athleticism and ability to run the floor would have been assets for a Nets team that has received little bench help all season.

Entering tonight's game against the T'wolves, Jason Kidd is on perhaps the best run of his season, averaging 17.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 12.4 assists in the past five games.

Here's the catch: He's also averaging 41.6 minutes in those five games, including 45 apiece in the past two. That's not an ideal scenario for someone who is going to turn 33 later this month.

Still, no complaints from the captain:

"I don't know how many games are left, but I don't think there'll be any effects," Kidd said. "I feel great. After the game (against Indy Sunday) night, I felt great. We'll keep the routine, keep working out and lifting and keep myself young."

He also didn't dismiss the notion that being passed over for the All-Star Game was probably the best thing to happen for him.

"The break is the break. I used it well," he said. "Just getting ready for the second and most important part of the season."

Despite the two-game losing streak, Jefferson is also on one of his efficient offensive streaks again. He's averaging 23.7 points on 50-percent shooting in his past four games.

Timberwolves owner, billionaire Glen Taylor, issued his biannual support for GM Kevin McHale Monday, even though the team is in the tank for the second straight year.

"I think you work with a guy over a longer period of time and you try to judge him over the whole period of time," said Taylor, whose team was 3-9 this month entering last night's game at Chicago.

"Though we're having difficulties this year, I don't just judge a person. I assume some of the times we played better than we should have. Now we're playing probably less than my expectations. I don't want to judge him just on this (season)."

The good news is that this is low-risk. Worst case, TT sits next to Jim Jackson and they can grumble together.

The Suns will definitely need a center for the indefinite future--Amare's minutes will be regulated by his knee, and Brian Grant will not be good for more than a few minutes a game ever again. The question is whether TT can beat out Pat Burke...

We'll see, I guess.

 

[keric]

Its sad that NJ was his first choice.

Hopefully Phoenix was a close second.

 

[George O'Brien]

Its sad that NJ was his first choice.

Hopefully Phoenix was a close second.

If he wanted to play SF, being behind Jefferson is a lot more appealing than being behind Marion.

In a few hours, we'll know.

 

[jandaman]

C: Boris Diaw (6'8 )
PF: Tim Thomas (6'10)
SF: Shawn Marion (6'7)
SG: Raja Bell (6'5)
PG: Steve Nash (6'3)

If Tim Thomas lands in Phoenix, he'd be fit in, due to the uptempo pace and small ball type offense the Suns uses. Looks good on paper, but it all depends on Tim's mentality now.

 

[Amare32]

Nice

TT will do well in this system

 

[carrrnuttt]

Its sad that NJ was his first choice.

He's from NJ.

As for those questioning his motivation, it's kinda tough to get motivated when you've been playing on losing, or barely-winning teams most of your career. Hopefully he can pick up the attitude here.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think the other reason why TT prefers the Nets is that he might have a better chance of signing on long term with them this summer. On the Suns, he's probably a stop gap.