Knicks Acquire Richardson and Draft Rights to Robinson

NEW YORK, June 28, 2005 – New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas announced today that guard/forward Quentin Richardson, the draft rights to Nate Robinson, the 21st pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, and cash considerations have been acquired from Phoenix in exchange for forward Kurt Thomas and the draft rights to Dijon Thompson, the 54th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Richardson, 6-6, 230-pounds, averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 79 regular season games for the Suns last season, and in addition, averaged 11.9 points in his first 15 career NBA Playoff games. Considered one of the premier three-point shooters in the League, the 25-year-old Chicago-native led the NBA in attempts with 631 and tied for the league-lead in makes with 226. In just his second appearance at the Three-Point Shootout during NBA All-Star Weekend, the five-year NBA veteran captured the title in Denver this past February. In addition, Richardson has been ranked in the top five in rebounds amongst guards in the NBA over the past two seasons.

Robinson, 5-9, 180-pounds, was drafted by the Suns after his junior year as the 21st overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft and averaged 14.4 points and 3.3 assists in 89 games for the University of Washington. The Seattle, WA-native earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors his sophomore and junior seasons.

Nate Robinson worked out for the Knicks on June 21. MSG Photos

“Welcoming Quentin and Nate to the Knicks family are more steps in the right direction for this franchise,” Isiah Thomas said. “Not only does this trade make our team younger and more athletic, but it adds a strong defensive presence to our perimeter. We think both will be perfect compliments to our existing backcourt.”

Thomas, 6-9, 235-pounds, completed seven seasons in New York and finished his Knicks career as the franchise’s ninth all-time leading rebounder with 4,183. The 33-year-old Dallas-native averaged 11.5 points and a career-high 10.4 rebounds in 80 games (all starts) and was just one of 11 players to average a double-double during the 2004-05 season.

“I am sorry to see Kurt Thomas leave New York because we all know what he has meant to this franchise,” Thomas said. “He was one of our toughest frontline players this past season, but this trade is just one step in a large plan to improve this team.”