Link:While free-agent Rashard Lewis is their pipe dream, on-the-block Ron Artest is more attainable. Thomas had stayed clear of his former player because of his list of violent transgressions that soured owner James Dolan. With the acquisitions of troubled Zach Randolph, the character issue is dead.
Artest, whose fallen out of favor in Sacramento, makes sense. Small forward is the hole in the lineup, and Artest would make the Knicks a solid perimeter defensive team that would cover up their shot-blocking woes. Jared Jeffries was such a disappointment that Quentin Richardson is slated to start there next season.
Thomas has 17 players on the roster - two above the max, so another trade is coming - even if it's lateral. The new players can't be dealt for 30 days, so Jared Jeffries, Nate Robinson and Randolph Morris are being shopped.
While he promised he wouldn't use his $5 million mid-level exception this summer, indications are he could back off that stance following the Randolph trade. He would prefer to add a free agent via a 3-for-1 sign-and-trade.
"I've been active and we'll continue to be active," said Thomas, who broke a 16-month trade drought with the Randolph deal. "If there's someone we identify fitting the team we're building, we'll go after them like we went after others. I don't consider this a finished product by any stretch."
Thomas confirmed he spoke to free-agent Rashard Lewis when free agency opened Sunday. Lewis could make a recruiting visit, but the Knicks' chances of doing a sign-and-trade with the Sonics are small. They'll be competing with a number of teams, including under-the-cap Orlando. Lewis made a recruiting visit to Orlando yesterday.
"He's a person of interest," Thomas said. "Anytime you can get a good player, you get him."
