Eighteen months ago, a blockbuster trade with the New York Knicks helped pave the way for one of the greatest seasons in Phoenix Suns history.

The Pacific Division champions hope deal No. 2 during Tuesday’s NBA Draft will take them even further in 2005-06.

The Suns acquired big man Kurt Thomas from the Knicks for Quentin Richardson and the draft rights to Nate Robinson, the 21st pick in the NBA Draft. Phoenix also received the draft rights to swingman Dijon Thompson, the 54th pick.

With Thomas, the Suns not only pick up a 10-year NBA veteran, but they get some frontline help in the form of the 6-9, 235-pounder. Last season, the forward/center averaged 11.5 points, a career-high 10.4 rebounds and two assists a night, while shooting 47 percent from the floor. Thomas joined Suns All-Stars Steve Nash and Shawn Marion as one of only nine NBA players to average a double-double. His 661 total defensive rebounds tied for third in the league, trailing only Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett and Marion.

“We’re happy with moving forward,” Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We have Kurt Thomas now. We hate to lose Q. He was a big part of what we did, but we’re trying to get a little bit better, bigger and stronger. And I think we did that.

“It gives us a lot more options. We have someone a lot bigger and stronger than Amaré (Stoudemire). We also can still play small. Shawn can go back to playing the three and still play some four. I think we’re getting better.”

A late-night call from Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo to welcome Thomas on-board put an exclamation point on a deal that’s been rumored for the last week.

“Hopefully I can bring my style of play,” Thomas told Suns.com in an exclusive interview Tuesday night. “I’m a guy who can play with a lot of intensity, a guy who can play with a lot of emotion, a guy who can come out and shoot the ball from the outside, score inside, rebound and play some defense.”

The addition of Thomas gives the Suns the physical inside presence they’ve been looking for, as well as a guy who can help keep the double teams on Stoudemire to a minimum. He leaves the Knicks ranked 21st on their franchise scoring list with 5,930 points, ninth in rebounds with 4,183 and fourth with 463 blocked shots.

Factor in the Suns’ “exciting, up-tempo style,” and Thomas looks to fit in with a program that isn’t exactly new to him.

“I played that style in college -- the run and gun,” he said about his time at Texas Christian. “It’s been awhile since I played that type of style, but I don’t think that will be a problem.

“To play with Steve Nash, the MVP… I had the chance to play with him in Dallas in 1997-98, but I was injured so I didn’t get the chance to benefit from his skills. He’s a much better player now than he was back then. Playing with Amaré Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion, I think that’ll be great. The way the Suns play is very exciting. They really keep you glued to your seat as you watch the game. I just want to come in and complement this team help make this team even better.”

Thompson, whose draft rights where acquired Tuesday night, comes way of UCLA where the senior finished his collegiate career as the school’s 19th all-time leading scorer (1,458 points) and fifth-best three-point shooter (133). He also collected All-Pac-10 honors in his final season.

“He can shoot the basketball,” said D’Antoni about the 22-year-old. “He’s 6-8. He’s a good athlete. At 54, we thought he was a great pick. We are going to score some points, so him being able to shoot will give him a better chance of making the team.”

So it's one draft down and a free agency period to go as the Suns count down the days until the much-anticipated start of the 2005-06 season.

“We’re looking at different ways to improve and add players,” Colangelo said. “We have some thoughts as to free agency which starts as early as Thursday night here in Phoenix at 9:01 p.m. We have some things on our plate as to continuing to build and add to what we’ve done tonight.”