Link:Isiah Thomas gave Fred Jones the reprieve any journeyman player with an expiring contract would want to hear halfway through training camp. When former all-star Allan Houston parachuted in last week to make a run at a roster spot that, right now, doesn't exist, Thomas went out of his way to announce that Jones wasn't "going anywhere anytime soon."
The 6-4 shooting guard came to the Knicks from Portland in the five-player Zach Randolph trade in June and appeared, like the since-waived Dan Dickau, to be a throw-in, not a shoo-in. But Thomas, who drafted Jones in 2002 when he was with the Pacers, sees a dimension that Jones can bring to the Knicks.
"His defensive tenacity," Thomas said. "His ability to guard the 'two' and 'three' positions. He's a tough defender, and in this league, you've got to be able to stop people."
However, unsigned rookie shooting-guard Demetris Nicholas - who'd missed Saturday and Sunday with personal issues of his own - was back at practice. He's battling for a roster spot with Allan Houston, whom Thomas said has shown enough to be able to get some playing time tomorrow.
It's also obvious Thomas wants to keep shooting-guard Fred Jones, saying "[I like] his defensive tenacity, his ability to guard the 2 or 3. He's a tough defender, and in this league you've got to be able to stop people."
Jones - whom Thomas drafted in Indiana - added, "My job is to come out and play basketball every day. I'll let the organization and coaching staff determine what's going to happen. It's my job to make it a hard decision.
