New York Knicks: Free Agency Tracker
Lance Thomas: Signed
Position: Forward
Age: 28 (4/24/1988)
Slash Line: .442/.404/.857
Season Averages: 22.3 MPG, 8.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.7 3PM
As one can see on the previous slides, the New York Knicks have retooled the roster. Key positional upgrades were made in the form of free agency signings, but there’s a certain measure of continuity to appreciate.
According to Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com, the Knicks have agreed to terms with hybrid forward and fan favorite Lance Thomas.
Forward Lance Thomas has reached a multi-year agreement to re-sign with Knicks, league source tells @clevelanddotcom.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 4, 2016
Per Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Thomas agreed to a four-year contract that will begin with an annual salary of $6.1 million.
Lance Thomas' contract is a 4-year deal with standard raises of 7.5 percent, sources say. Starts at around $6.1 million.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 5, 2016
That comes out to $27.3 million over four years—a bargain deal in the current market.
Thomas’ statistics may not jump off of the page, but he was one of the most valuable players on the Knicks in 2015-16. His defensive versatility was a vital asset, as was his efficiency as a shooter and unselfishness as a teammate.
Coupled with his clear value in the advanced metrics, it’d be fair to call Thomas the Knicks’ proverbial glue guy.
The Knicks posted a net rating of -0.1 with Thomas on the floor in 2015-16—the No. 1 mark on the team. New York also had a net rating of -4.2 when Thomas came off the floor—a difference of 4.1 points per 100 possessions.
If that doesn’t do it for you, then try this: New York was 25-34 when Thomas played and 7-16 when he didn’t.
Next: Willy Hernangomez