Kurt Thomas heading to the Suns for Quentin Richardson

[Ray Allen34]

RealGM.com's Christopher Reina has learned that 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 Reina 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 and 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, 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 & 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.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/36324/20050623/exclusive_quentin_richardson_dealt_to_knicks_for_kurt_thomas/

 

[sloter]

Wow, SMART movie by the Suns... with their history of amazing draft picks, they'll probably have someone contribute off the bench just like Richardson did.

 

[Ryle]

I can't stand Q.

Anyway, Not sure what this does for the Suns because Thomas is not known to be effective in their uptempo style and he is 33 and has about 3-4 more years left on his deal. This does allow Marion to switch back to the 3 and Amare can move to the 4.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

i personally am unsure about this happening. while thomas provides a center for the suns, hasnt everyone been talking about Amare being able to dominate at center in the suns system? also, i think thomas' long contract would hold the suns back from making this deal, because its not like Q (as far as we know) is causing locker room trouble, and so obviously the suns are not trying to run him out of Pheonix. this move, to me, seems like its a desperatioin kind of thing, so if the suns are actually making the trade, i feel sorry for the management, because they are in a much better place than they think.

while i believe ray allen and reina, im very doubtful of this transaction going all the way through

maybe i'll be proved wrong

 

[Diehard Jim]

what i find funning is that the article said thomas would provide tuffness.

This guy is a woose! he is just another guy to jcak up 3's and will provide nothing for the suns.

bad move on there part. they could have gotten someone better for Q.

 

[Ryle]

what i find funning is that the article said thomas would provide tuffness.

This guy is a woose! he is just another guy to jcak up 3's and will provide nothing for the suns.

bad move on there part. they could have gotten someone better for Q.

I'm pretty sure you are thinking of Tim Thomas.........the actually guy they are trading for is Kurt Thomas

 

[Evenstar]

intresting deal. should hurt the suns O, but kurt is a pretty good defender. they must have been looking to up the D after they were so embarassed in the WCF.

i won't miss moosey that is for sure!

 

[Bricklayer]

intersting -- Q is definitely the weak link and the guy I would move if I were the Suns, but Kurt Thomas seems an odd fit with his age and at least theoretical preference for a half court style.

On the flip side, while nothign the Knicks have done in the past decade has made a lick of sense, you would have to assume this says something about Allna Houston, Jamaal Crawford etc. (although Crawford really does have the game of a 6th man, so maybe that's what they will do with him).

 

[Yoda]

STUPID trade.
The Suns had something unique going this year. It is amazing how GMs can not be patient and let a team gel and develop together. Adding Kurt Thomas changes their unorthodox style, makes them easier to match up with. Good for the Kings.
As for the Knicks, at this point, my old highschool team has more size then them.

Dumb, dumb, trade on both ends.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

what are you talking about? that's a great trade for the knicks. they get rid of a aging player for a nice young 2 guard that can fill it up. i don't know about giving up a future 1st rounder though. the suns management seem to find gems w/ their picks.

 

[AriesMar27]

im thinking that q will be dealt somewhere else afterwards.... i could see him somehow ending up with the cavs.... if they dont get redd or whchever sg they are looking for.....

 

[Ryle]

what are you talking about? that's a great trade for the knicks. they get rid of a aging player for a nice young 2 guard that can fill it up. i don't know about giving up a future 1st rounder though. the suns management seem to find gems w/ their picks.

ESPN's article indicated it was the Suns sending the Knicks a first round pick.

 

[Yoda]

what are you talking about? that's a great trade for the knicks. they get rid of a aging player for a nice young 2 guard that can fill it up. i don't know about giving up a future 1st rounder though. the suns management seem to find gems w/ their picks.

Is Q going to play center? Knicks roster is laughable right now.


The Suns had something good going (and may still). Why risk the change? Why tamper with something that worked, after just one year? Opinions are just that opinion. I think this trade is silly and I am glad I am not a fan of either. I would be ticked today.

Conversely, I think the margain between the Kings and Suns just shrunk considerably.

 

[sloter]

Well, the way that I see it the Suns would use Thomas against center or stronger PFs, in order to provide some more rest for Amare on the defensive end. Amare would guard the more athletic PFs. Thomas will not be in front of Nash on the fastbreak, but there are plenty of those who will. Also, don't forget that Thomas is a hard working experienced player who doesn't run away of setting picks and doing other small things (which make a difference), and he will be a little extra motivated because he's been unhappy for a while on that losing NY team. I can see this working out really well in Suns favor.

Richardson had a pretty good shooting year, but that's all he does - jacks up shots - and the Suns have two other players in the same position who can do the same and are a lot more versatile: Jimmy Jackson and Joe Johnson.

 

[funkykingston]

I'm not sold on this one until I hear it's official, it just doesn't make enough sense for either side.

The Suns are going to have salary problems soon (resigning Joe Johnson, extending Stoudamire, huge deals for Nash/Marion) but this doesn't really help. It doesn't reduce payroll now, and Thomas' deal is only a couple years shorter than Q's.

Thomas let's Stoudamire do what he wants, which is move back to PF (and Marion to SF) and it gives them more interior defense. Thomas doesn't give them a scorer in the post though.

Richardson gives the Knicks the shooting they've needed since Houston's injury made him a shell of his future self, but he also crowds a backcourt that is already paying out over $20 million a season to Marbury and Crawford. Adding in Q, Penny and Houston, this means that the Knicks will be paying SEVENTY THREE MILLION DOLLARS for five guards.

Maybe the Knicks really are targeting Channing Frye and they want to open some room at PF for all of their undersized fours. One thing is for sure, I thought Scott Layden was the King of reckless spending. Isiah has him beat hands down.

It's also a bit strange that the Suns give up on Richardson after only one year since they praised him as a great free agent acquisition. Then again, I've never been a fan of his game.

 

[Yoda]

Well, the way that I see it the Suns would use Thomas against center or stronger PFs, in order to provide some more rest for Amare on the defensive end. Amare would guard the more athletic PFs. Thomas will not be in front of Nash on the fastbreak, but there are plenty of those who will. Also, don't forget that Thomas is a hard working experienced player who doesn't run away of setting picks and doing other small things (which make a difference), and he will be a little extra motivated because he's been unhappy for a while on that losing NY team. I can see this working out really well in Suns favor.

Richardson had a pretty good shooting year, but that's all he does - jacks up shots - and the Suns have two other players in the same position who can do the same and are a lot more versatile: Jimmy Jackson and Joe Johnson.

Again, why mess with what works.


See the logic in this one, I do not.

 

[sloter]

Again, why mess with what works.


See the logic in this one, I do not.

Well, I didn't quite work all the way.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I'm not sold on this one until I hear it's official, it just doesn't make enough sense for either side.

The Suns are going to have salary problems soon (resigning Joe Johnson, extending Stoudamire, huge deals for Nash/Marion) but this doesn't really help. It doesn't reduce payroll now, and Thomas' deal is only a couple years shorter than Q's.

Thomas let's Stoudamire do what he wants, which is move back to PF (and Marion to SF) and it gives them more interior defense. Thomas doesn't give them a scorer in the post though.

Richardson gives the Knicks the shooting they've needed since Houston's injury made him a shell of his future self, but he also crowds a backcourt that is already paying out over $20 million a season to Marbury and Crawford. Adding in Q, Penny and Houston, this means that the Knicks will be paying SEVENTY THREE MILLION DOLLARS for five guards.

Maybe the Knicks really are targeting Channing Frye and they want to open some room at PF for all of their undersized fours. One thing is for sure, I thought Scott Layden was the King of reckless spending. Isiah has him beat hands down.

It's also a bit strange that the Suns give up on Richardson after only one year since they praised him as a great free agent acquisition. Then again, I've never been a fan of his game.

I don't think the Suns need much more of a post game with Amare. And I think the Knicks can waive Houston this summer and he won't count against the luxury tax (part of the new CBA deal).

 

[captain bill]

Criticizing this trade because Thomas doesn't fit with the run-and-gun offense is really irrelevent, because the Suns are going to improve defense. They know that they can put up another 110 average next year, and then get beat by San Antonio in the playoffs again. Most WC teams who will contend can run and keep up if they need to, but then lock down at critical times. The Suns will still be high scoring, with Nash, Johnson, Amare and Shawn Marion, but Amare and Thomas down low will give them some toughness and defense in the half court. I like this move- the Suns could have sat on their hands, been a feel-good story that is increasingly less feel-good, seeing as now they have to win a title or get to the finals to get respect, which they really can't do know. Instead, they build to go forward and now have a much better shot at winning it all.

 

[Yoda]

Criticizing this trade because Thomas doesn't fit with the run-and-gun offense is really irrelevent, because the Suns are going to improve defense. They know that they can put up another 110 average next year, and then get beat by San Antonio in the playoffs again. Most WC teams who will contend can run and keep up if they need to, but then lock down at critical times. The Suns will still be high scoring, with Nash, Johnson, Amare and Shawn Marion, but Amare and Thomas down low will give them some toughness and defense in the half court. I like this move- the Suns could have sat on their hands, been a feel-good story that is increasingly less feel-good, seeing as now they have to win a title or get to the finals to get respect, which they really can't do know. Instead, they build to go forward and now have a much better shot at winning it all.

As I stated befoe I disagree.
There has to be something said about patience with what you got. They had the best record in the league and that team was together for just 1 year. The Spurs unit has been together for awhile. With Amare and Matrix only getting better, this team had room to grow as a unit. Now, if this trade is for real, they dont have the chance to see that reached. They have taken, IMO, an unneccessary risk.

 

[SacTownKid]

Strange deal for both sides. Kurt Thomas is a solid player but won't provide the "muscle" they are looking for. They have seen Kurt Thomas play right?

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

Q never did anything agiasnt the Kings anyway... but it should make them weaker IMO...

 

[4cwebb]

Kurt Thomas will gladly do the dirty work, but is he a good fit to do those tasks against centers night in and night out, especially when Amare is on the floor there will be someone better able to do those things than Kurt (but who just doesn't really want to playing center)?

 

[Cafe1]

STUPID trade.
The Suns had something unique going this year. It is amazing how GMs can not be patient and let a team gel and develop together. Adding Kurt Thomas changes their unorthodox style, makes them easier to match up with. Good for the Kings.
As for the Knicks, at this point, my old highschool team has more size then them.

Dumb, dumb, trade on both ends.

LOL... I agree though, they had a good base to build upon... now its upset. Brandy Richardson musta ruffled someone feathers in mgmt or something to get dealt away so quickly is what Im thinking...

 

[VF21]

Brandy?

(So good to see you back BTW...)

 

[Mad D]

Brandy?

(So good to see you back BTW...)

His Wife

 

[King4Life]

This will help the Suns in rebounding and take some of the load off of Amare, but defensively they still won't be able to beat the Spurs. The Spurs are among the teams with the lowest payroll, so they could also improve if need be.

 

[loopymitch]

His Wife

They already got married? She was still the fiance a couple of weeks ago.

 

[twocents]

yeah, kurt thomas may not be the perfect fit, but you have to start somewhere. q had to be moved; he was atrocious during the playoff's. he used to have more of an inside-outside game when he was with the clippers; he has completely reduced his game to his ugly styled 3-pt shooting which does not always do the trick.

 

[Gaddabout]

Q was the weak link in the Suns starting 5. He provided athleticism and size at the 2. He tied the record for most threes made in a season, but he did it at a 35 percent clip. That's over 600 chucks. Not good. Marion was not far off that pace, and he moves over to the 3 while the bigger, strong, and equally athletic Joe Johnson moves to the 2. Not only is Joe a vastly more accurate shooter, but he has a midrange game, is something of a stopgap point guard, and can dribble and create his own shot. Q has no midrange game and is neither a ball handler nor a passer. The net result, though, will be ab etter perimeter defense for the Suns.

Kurt Thomas has a pretty good mid-range J and excels in the two-man game, but the Suns got him for his defensive rebounding, the big, gaping hole in the Suns scheme. They specifically like him as the "best available player" who can give Tim Duncan some nastiness. With KT and Marion manning the forward positions, the Suns now have the Nos. 2 and 4 rebounders in the league last year. Amare will continue playing center ... I think it's reasonable to expect his rebounding numbers to continue to climb, considering his age.

This actually helps a lot with resigning Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire, because KT's contract expires in '07. He has a player option for 07-08. He is essentially being paid the high end of today's MLE. Q's contract ends in 2010, and accelerates a hair more than KT's at the end. In volume dollars, the Suns have just addressed a pressing need (gaining some size, strength at PF) while lopping off over $16 million from the back end.

The only truly questionable part of this deal is the inclusion of a first-round pick. I suspect this is the reason the deal is not finalized. It has Suns fans really scratching their heads, since Q should be enough to acquire a player the Knicks haven't wanted for over a year now.