Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE
With 14 guaranteed roster spots currently filled, the New York Knicks are looking to add one more player for depth.
There is a need at the power forward position behind Amare Stoudemire with just Kurt Thomas and Chris Copeland as his backups and Marcus Camby expected to be Tyson Chandler’s backup. Chandler is foul-prone, so it would be good idea to add depth in the front court.
Free agent forward Malcolm Thomas, who is 23 years old and stands in at 6’9’’, 215 pounds, has earned a workout with the Knicks over the next two days. He went undrafted out of San Diego State and is limited offensively, but his defensive presence could land him the Knicks’ final guaranteed roster spot.
The Knicks were reportedly impressed by Thomas’ summer league performance with the Chicago Bulls where he averaged 11.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in five games. Thomas also received interest from the Charlotte Bobcats, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers this offseason.
Prior to the summer, Thomas saw just 14 minutes in three games with the San Antonio Spurs last season, averaging 0.3 points and 1 rebound per game. He also signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets, but didn’t receive any playing time after signing the contract.
Thomas also spent time in the NBA D-League with Austin Toros and the Los Angeles D-Fenders. If he doesn’t earn the final guaranteed roster spot with the Knicks, he could always join the Knicks’ NBA D-League affiliate, the Erie Bayhawks.
Other free agent power forwards who have been linked to the Knicks as possibilities are Sean Williams, Louis Amundson, Kenyon Martin, Chris Anderson and D.J. White. The Knicks can only afford to offer the veteran minimum though.
