ORLANDO, Fla. — While defensive forward Lance Thomas has been courted by five clubs, even turning down an offer from the Clippers, his chances of remaining a Knick still are “better than 50-50,” according to an NBA source familiar with the matter.
“He still wants to stay,” the source said. “He likes the moves they’ve done.”
Thomas’ reps met with Knicks general manager Steve Mills here Sunday to debrief him on his free-agent courtings. The Knicks have a cap hold on Thomas, meaning they can go over the salary cap to re-sign him. The Knicks have his early Bird rights, and the max they can give him is a starting salary of roughly $6 million.
The Timberwolves, Spurs, Clippers, Thunder and Pelicans are interested, and Thomas has received at least two offers that would slightly top what the Knicks can do.
Thomas played for OKC and New Orleans before emerging last season as arguably the Knicks’ most energetic defender and dramatically improving his 3-point shot before a series of knee injuries derailed his season in mid-January. Thomas was a key part of the Knicks’ successful start when they began the season 21-21.
Jeff Hornacek met Thomas when he was working out with Carmelo Anthony in Manhattan.
“One thing, it looked like he was starting to make that 3-pointer,” Hornacek said. “That extends your abilities when you make that shot and when you’re a defender. People don’t just give you shots anymore. He saw that and was able to use his athletic ability to drive to the basket. He’s a good player.”
The source said the Brooklyn-born Thomas would lean toward doing a hometown discount for the Knicks and would return unless an offer comes in that bowls him over.
On Friday, Thomas penned a piece for the Players’ Tribune detailing his undrafted, rocky NBA career of 10-day contracts, praising Anthony as a much greater leader than he gets credit for. He began the long piece: “The last six years, my duffle bag has been the only constant in my life.”
He ended it by saying: “Even today, I’m awaiting a phone call about where I’ll go next season. Maybe it’ll be the Knicks and maybe another team. Wherever it is, I still got that duffle bag in my closet. I’ll be ready to go.”
With Cleanthony Early still out with a hamstring strain, the Knicks’ bare-bones summer-league team suffered another embarrassing loss, 74-48 to the Heat. The Knicks scored 49 points in their opening game. Undrafted guard Ron Baker, who has been invited to training camp, had more shooting woes, going 3-of-9 with five turnovers and a team-worst minus-23. He was 1-for-9 in the opener.
