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Looking At Free Agent To-Be’s On The New York Knicks, Part I

By Sean Linhares

Nov 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors point guard Cory Joseph (6) attempts to play defense at Air Canada Centre. The Knicks beat the Raptors 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors point guard Cory Joseph (6) attempts to play defense at Air Canada Centre. The Knicks beat the Raptors 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks
Apr 13, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Knicks forward Lance Thomas (42) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Lance Thomas

On a team filled with fun stories, Lance Thomas might be my favorite.

The career reserve player had gone three seasons averaging less than five points a game after signing undrafted by the New Orleans Pelicans, at the time the Hornets. The man was as much of an afterthought in this league as anyone and it was relatively easy to assume he would be playing in Turkey or China somewhat soon.

Things have since turned around for Lance.

After signing a contract to go to the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, Thomas was traded to the Knicks in the same deal that sent J.R. and Shump away. Since then, the 27-year-old has been on Cloud 9.

While his numbers last season are a bit bloated because of how bad the team was, Thomas has been an intricate part of New York’s offense since coming to the franchise. His 8.6 PPG this year is more than double his previous career high before last season and he has inexplicably become the Knicks’ second highest scorer off the bench.

With a contract worth just $1.6 million but a skill set worth much more than that, Thomas could be asking for somewhere around $5 million, depending on what happens over the next few months. If he can keep this pace up, there’s no reason Phil Jackson shouldn’t keep him around.

Verdict: Keep him

Next: Amundson

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