Thomas averaged 9.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season with the Rockets.
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Billy King announces the trade
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Dec. 18, 2002 - In a trade involving the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets, the Philadelphia 76ers have acquired Rockets forward Kenny Thomas, General Manager Billy King announced tonight. In the deal, Sixers forwards Mark Bryant and Art Long, and a draft pick are sent to Denver, while Denver forward James Posey is sent to Houston. The Nuggets will receive a future first round pick from Philadelphia and also a future second round pick from Houston.
Thomas, a 6-7, 245-pounder, is averaging 9.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 29.3 minutes per game in 20 games (14 starts) this season. He scored a season-high 29 points on Dec. 6 at New Orleans. Thomas was drafted by Houston in the first round (22nd pick overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft. A product of the University of New Mexico ’99, he has career averages of 9.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 28.1 minutes per game in 238 games, including 135 starts through Dec. 17, 2002. He enjoyed his best season as professional in 2001-02 when he averaged 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Bryant was originally acquired by the Sixers from San Antonio on June 26, 2002, in a draft day trade with the rights to John Salmons and Randy Holcomb for Speedy Claxton. He was averaging 1.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.0 minutes per game in 11 contests this season. The 6-9, 250-pound forward was making his eighth stop in 14-NBA seasons and has career averages of 5.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in 792 games. Selected by Portland in the first round (21st overall pick) of the 1988 NBA Draft, he spent first seven seasons with Portland. Bryant had helped his team to the playoffs in 12 of his 14 seasons and has appeared in the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 with the Blazers.
Long, a 6-9, 250-pound forward, was averaging 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 6.9 minutes per game in 19 games for the Sixers this season. Signed by the Sixers as a free agent on Sept. 30, 2002, Long was playing for his third NBA team in as many seasons. After transferring to the University of Cincinnati in 1994 where he played two seasons, Long was not drafted in 1996, and played overseas in Portugal, France, Argentina, Cyprus and Puerto Rico from 1996 through 2001. He was signed by Portland in January 1999 but did not play in the NBA. He played his first NBA contest in February 2001 with Sacramento where he spent the remainder of the 2000-01 season.
