http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090106
Updated: January 6, 2009, 3:16 AM ET
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- "No, that wasn't a showcase."
Those were the words of Sacramento Kings coach Kenny Natt, though it should be noted that Natt emitted a hearty belly laugh before providing that answer when the subject was raised whether Thomas had been showcased in Monday night's 98-90 loss to the New Jersey Nets.
But since Thomas sightings are about as rare as full solar eclipses, and with the 6-foot-7 forward logging 24 minutes -- playing the entire second and fourth quarters -- the showcasing radar was on full tilt.
"It felt weird," said Thomas, who converted his only field goal attempt, thereby making it onto the scoreboard for the first time since Dec. 14, 2007. "I've always had good relationship with Kenny Natt, and right now he's trying to find something that'll click."
Asked whether he felt he was being showcased, Thomas replied: "I don't know, to be honest. I can't look at it like that. Maybe they are, maybe they're not. There have been times when teams have tried to call, from my understanding, but I really don't know what [the Kings] are thinking.
"I haven't played in a year, so I was just happy to play."
In terms of getting the most bang for the buck, Thomas might be the absolute worst value in the NBA. In the next-to-last year of a seven-year, $49 million contract he signed with Philadelphia before being shipped to Sacramento in the Chris Webber trade, Thomas is earning $8.6 million this season and will make $8.8 next season.
Sacramento general manager Geoff Petrie has repeatedly tried to include Thomas in deals he has discussed over the past three seasons with various NBA teams, but Thomas' contract was always a deal-breaker.
But is that still the case?
With Brad Miller considered the most obtainable player on the Kings roster (he makes $11.3M this season and $12.2M next season), it would be reasonable to believe that Petrie might be trying to move Miller and Thomas as a package.
Just a thought, but wouldn't it make sense for both teams if Sacramento were to trade Miller and Thomas to New York for Stephon Marbury? The Knicks would address their big man deficiency, would not be taking on any salary past 2010, and would be providing the Kings with $21 million of salary cap space for this summer.
Another thought: with Larry Brown seeking some size, and with Brown being a big Thomas fan from their time together in Philadelphia, might it make sense for Charlotte to send Adam Morrison and a spare part to Sacramento for Thomas and John Salmons, the latter of whom is none too happy about his lack of touches since Kevin Martin returned from an ankle injury.
By scoring two points, Thomas removed himself from the list of players who have appeared in at least one NBA game this season but have failed to score a single point. (That list is now down to Calvin Booth of Minnesota, Darius Miles of Memphis, Jeremy Richardson of Orlando, DJ Mbenga of the Lakers, Martell Webster of Portland and Linton Johnson of Charlotte).
"Obviously Kenny is hungry, he came in and gave us a lift," Natt said. "He played great D, had four steals and eight rebounds -- that's his role that he plays. It's not about scoring baskets, it's more about him defending and rebounding -- the things he does well, and I thought he stayed with his strengths and gave us a lift. One thing Kenny has always been able to do in this league, and that's defend. He's our best post defender, he has quick hands, he can move his feet, and when he has his head right, he can be one of the better rebounders. And those are things we really need right now."
See that? Natt is talking him up, too.
Isn't that one of the things you do when you showcase someone?
That's why we're a little skeptical that the Natt quote you read in the first paragraph is 100 percent truthful.
"As long as he continued to play the way he's playing now, you'll see him out on the floor. You'll see another sighting," Natt said.
But will it be with the Kings? And if so, will it convince someone that Kenny Thomas can still be a contributor? Stay tuned.
Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
Updated: January 6, 2009, 3:16 AM ET
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Bill Kostroun /Associated Press
Who's that guy next to Kenny Thomas? It's Vince Carter, soaring for two of his 29 in the Nets' win.
ESPN.com
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- "No, that wasn't a showcase."
Those were the words of Sacramento Kings coach Kenny Natt, though it should be noted that Natt emitted a hearty belly laugh before providing that answer when the subject was raised whether Thomas had been showcased in Monday night's 98-90 loss to the New Jersey Nets.
But since Thomas sightings are about as rare as full solar eclipses, and with the 6-foot-7 forward logging 24 minutes -- playing the entire second and fourth quarters -- the showcasing radar was on full tilt.
"It felt weird," said Thomas, who converted his only field goal attempt, thereby making it onto the scoreboard for the first time since Dec. 14, 2007. "I've always had good relationship with Kenny Natt, and right now he's trying to find something that'll click."
Asked whether he felt he was being showcased, Thomas replied: "I don't know, to be honest. I can't look at it like that. Maybe they are, maybe they're not. There have been times when teams have tried to call, from my understanding, but I really don't know what [the Kings] are thinking.
"I haven't played in a year, so I was just happy to play."
In terms of getting the most bang for the buck, Thomas might be the absolute worst value in the NBA. In the next-to-last year of a seven-year, $49 million contract he signed with Philadelphia before being shipped to Sacramento in the Chris Webber trade, Thomas is earning $8.6 million this season and will make $8.8 next season.
Sacramento general manager Geoff Petrie has repeatedly tried to include Thomas in deals he has discussed over the past three seasons with various NBA teams, but Thomas' contract was always a deal-breaker.
But is that still the case?
With Brad Miller considered the most obtainable player on the Kings roster (he makes $11.3M this season and $12.2M next season), it would be reasonable to believe that Petrie might be trying to move Miller and Thomas as a package.
Just a thought, but wouldn't it make sense for both teams if Sacramento were to trade Miller and Thomas to New York for Stephon Marbury? The Knicks would address their big man deficiency, would not be taking on any salary past 2010, and would be providing the Kings with $21 million of salary cap space for this summer.
Another thought: with Larry Brown seeking some size, and with Brown being a big Thomas fan from their time together in Philadelphia, might it make sense for Charlotte to send Adam Morrison and a spare part to Sacramento for Thomas and John Salmons, the latter of whom is none too happy about his lack of touches since Kevin Martin returned from an ankle injury.
By scoring two points, Thomas removed himself from the list of players who have appeared in at least one NBA game this season but have failed to score a single point. (That list is now down to Calvin Booth of Minnesota, Darius Miles of Memphis, Jeremy Richardson of Orlando, DJ Mbenga of the Lakers, Martell Webster of Portland and Linton Johnson of Charlotte).
"Obviously Kenny is hungry, he came in and gave us a lift," Natt said. "He played great D, had four steals and eight rebounds -- that's his role that he plays. It's not about scoring baskets, it's more about him defending and rebounding -- the things he does well, and I thought he stayed with his strengths and gave us a lift. One thing Kenny has always been able to do in this league, and that's defend. He's our best post defender, he has quick hands, he can move his feet, and when he has his head right, he can be one of the better rebounders. And those are things we really need right now."
See that? Natt is talking him up, too.
Isn't that one of the things you do when you showcase someone?
That's why we're a little skeptical that the Natt quote you read in the first paragraph is 100 percent truthful.
"As long as he continued to play the way he's playing now, you'll see him out on the floor. You'll see another sighting," Natt said.
But will it be with the Kings? And if so, will it convince someone that Kenny Thomas can still be a contributor? Stay tuned.
Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
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