Seattle looking for salary cap relief and making Thomas available

[Streakyshooter08]

Isiah Thomas says making trades to get under cap 'not our goal'
by frank Isola
daily news sports writer

Wednesday, February 20th 2008, 4:00 AM

WASHINGTON - Apparently Isiah Thomas is giving up the dream of making a run at LeBron James or Kobe Bryant.

Thomas provided a jaw-dropping quote Tuesday when he was asked if his goal is to make trades that would help the Knicks to get under the salary cap.

"That's not our goal," Thomas said. "Our goal is to continue to get better, but be mindful of where we are. We've done a good job the last couple years of bringing the number down.

"So we're in a good position. We've got young talent. We've got a cap that's going down or a number that's going down, but you want to turn that into some wins also."

The Knicks own the league's second highest payroll behind Dallas, and their cap number - $89 million - increases next season even though the contracts of Fred Jones, Randolph Morris and Dan au expire on July 1. The following year, an additional $30 million will come off the cap when Stephon Marbury and Malik Rose become free agents.

KURT ON BLOCK: Former Knick Kurt Thomas could be the next big man on the move in the Western Conference. Thomas, who is in his final year of his contract with Seattle, has drawn interest from several teams including Orlando, San Antonio, Cleveland and Houston.
The Magic seems to have the inside track because it has the expiring contracts that the Sonics covet.

[Holt's Cat]

KURT ON BLOCK: Former Knick Kurt Thomas could be the next big man on the move in the Western Conference. Thomas, who is in his final year of his contract with Seattle, has drawn interest from several teams including Orlando, San Antonio, Cleveland and Houston.
The Magic seems to have the inside track because it has the expiring contracts that the Sonics covet.

Good. Spurs have expiring contracts as well that would match up with Thomas' salary. I wonder if they aren't try to include someone who doesn't, like say Bonner.

[timvp]

Trading for Thomas and using him as the 3rd/4th big would solidify the bigman rotation pretty nicely. Pop can go with Horry or Thomas off the bench depending on matchups. With teams like the Lakers and the Suns out there, getting a big who can defend the low block makes sense.

If Oberto doesn't recapture his playoff magic from a year ago, it gives the Spurs a quality option to survive that scenario.

[Holt's Cat]

Trading for Thomas and using him as the 3rd/4th big would solidify the bigman rotation pretty nicely. Pop can go with Horry or Thomas off the bench depending on matchups. With teams like the Lakers and the Suns out there, getting a big who can defend the low block makes sense.

If Oberto doesn't recapture his playoff magic from a year ago, it gives the Spurs a quality option to survive that scenario.

Maybe they could get Damien Wilkins as a throw in.

[Ghost Writer]

Maybe they could get Damien Wilkins as a throw in.

Not a terrible thought... kid has shown flashes and you help the swingman spot.

[MoSpur]

I'm sure they've tried to move Bonner, but probably got denied.

[MoSpur]

Wilkins has an option after this season. I'm sure he'd like to pick that option up. His contract is worth $9.3 million for three years.

[Holt's Cat]

Wilkins has an option after this season. I'm sure he'd like to pick that option up. His contract is worth $9.3 million for three years.

Final year is 2009-10. Not a perfect fit, but Pop likes players who bust their ass and work to improve. He strikes me as that kind of guy.

[urunobili]

do y'all see Seattle getting bonner and pics for this?

[1Parker1]

Looks like the Magic are on the forefront for Kurt Thomas

[1Parker1]

Per ESPN...

[Spurminator]

David (Dallas, TX): What should the Mavs do to shore up the center position with the loss of Diop?

Chad Ford: (1:13 PM ET ) They are in the hunt, along with San Antonio, Orlando and others for Kurt Thomas. However, the only way Dallas will be able to swing it financially is to hope that the Sonics don't trade him and then release him after the trade deadline. A lot of teams think they'll do just that ... which is why teams are reluctant to give up expiring contracts and a first round pick for him (that's Seattle's asking price). There aren't a lot of other cheap players out there that can fill that role for Dallas. I think they'll have to stick with Dampier, Brandon Bass and Malik Allen.


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Jason (Washington, DC): Lots of talk of Kurt Thomas going to Orlando. Any update on that?

Chad Ford: (1:15 PM ET ) I was hearing strongly this morning that the Magic where in the lead to acquire Thomas' services. He'd be a good fit in Orlando and they have the expiring contracts to make it happen. But is a guy in the last year of his deal worth a first round pick as well? That's a steep price. I think there are other deals Orlando could get that would give them a younger, more productive four. They might have to trade Turkoglu (who admittedly has been great this year) ... but if they could shore up their front line and move Rashard Lewis back to his natural position, they should do it.

[Man In Black]

There's a rumor that there's a good chance of Brad Miller and Francisco Garcia going to Orlando for expiring contracts and J.J. Red .

Now that might steer Thomas back towards Texas.

[spursfan09]

ala Jerry Stackhouse and the Dallas Mavericks. Oops

Barry's smarter tho. He wouldn't go around parading that to the media.

[RonMexico]

I bet you the Suns and Sonics had a Stackhouse-like deal: The Suns trade him and the picks for the trade exception; then the Sonics buy him out this week... he re-signs with the Suns and the rest is history.

That can be the only reason Sarver and Kerr traded him away last year, because the trade is still one of the most illogical things I've ever seen. And a sleaze like Clay Bennett would be down with it. In the end, the Suns give the Sonics 2 first rounders for their trouble.

[Holt's Cat]

I bet you the Suns and Sonics had a Stackhouse-like deal: The Suns trade him and the picks for the trade exception; then the Sonics buy him out this week... he re-signs with the Suns and the rest is history.

That can be the only reason Sarver and Kerr traded him away last year, because the trade is still one of the most illogical things I've ever seen. And a sleaze like Clay Bennett would be down with it. In the end, the Suns give the Sonics 2 first rounders for their trouble.

They wanted to cut their lux tax bill what's illogical about that?

[ChumpDumper]

They are in the hunt, along with San Antonio, Orlando and others for Kurt Thomas. However, the only way Dallas will be able to swing it financially is to hope that the Sonics don't trade him and then release him after the trade deadline. A lot of teams think they'll do just that ... which is why teams are reluctant to give up expiring contracts and a first round pick for him (that's Seattle's asking price).

The more I read about it, the more I think Thomas is not going to be traded and will be bought out and allowed to choose the team he wants to play for. In that case, we'll be in compe ion with the Mavs and who knows who else.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/show...9&postcount=31

I win the kluby of the day award.