New York Knicks Rumors: Will Louis Amundson, Lance Thomas Get Second 10-Day Contracts?
New York Knicks Rumors: Will Louis Amundson and Lance Thomas Get A Second 10-Day Contract With the Knicks?
The New York Knicks were able to end their franchise-worst losing streak Monday evening against the New Orleans, ending the losing at 16 straight games. A big reason for the victory was the play of the new guys on the team; guard Langston Galloway and forwards Louis Amundson and Lance Thomas. Galloway, who was called up from the Knicks NBA D-League affiliate Westchester Knicks, already signed his second 10-day contract. Could the same be done for Amundson and Thomas?
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Amundson and Thomas were acquired originally in the three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder that saw Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith shipped to Cleveland, with Samuel Dalembert being waived shortly after. The Knicks then waived Amundson, Thomas and Alex Kirk, the third player acquired, as their contracts were not guaranteed and it saved the Knicks some money and gave them roster spots.
In an interesting move, the Knicks then signed re-signed Amundson and Thomas to 10-day contracts prior to leaving for their game in London against the Milwaukee Bucks this past week. Have they shown enough to get second 10-day contracts like Galloway did?
First we’ll take a look at Amundson. Amundson is a 32-year old, eight year veteran with the Knicks being his 10th NBA team. He has averaged 36 games played per team; is that a number that will increase or will his time with the Knicks be done once that 10-day contract expires?
One thing he has working in his favor is that he was in the starting lineup Monday, as the Knicks won their first game of 2015, and their first in 38 days. Like he has done at every stop, Amundson provide energy and the willingness to do the dirty work on the glass and on the defensive end.
He was a helping factor in slowing down Pelicans’ power forward Ryan Anderson, who normally kills the Knicks. On this night it did not happen though, as Anderson struggled to shoot the ball, making only 4-17 from the field and 3-13 from deep. From without a team to starting lineup, not bad for a journeyman such as Amundson.
For Thomas, he was the only player the Knicks acquired that they considered keeping. They knew right off the bat they were going to waive Amundson and Kirk, but had second thoughts about doing the same to Thomas. Ultimately they decided to waive him the first time around but he was brought back.
Like Amundson and Galloway, Thomas was relied upon heavily in the victory Monday, playing 22 minutes, even though he has been with the team less than two weeks. He finished the game with four points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block during his time on the court. While the stats aren’t eye-popping, the fact he received 22 minutes is telling.
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So the answer to the original question about if Amundson and Thomas will receive second 10-day contracts is yes. It would be hard to waive two players who helped snap the team’s 16-game losing streak. The fact they also received more minutes than players such as Travis Wear, Quincy Acy, Cole Aldrich and Pablo Prigioni, who were all starters and regulars in the rotation at times this season, means something. Derek Fisher could have just been trying out a new combination of players, something that has been done much too often this season, but even if that was the case they got a victory, something that hadn’t been done in a while. It would be hard for the Knicks to just kick them to the curb now after a good performance.
Ultimately the decision about Amundson and Thomas will come down to Phil Jackson and Knicks management. Fisher said, “I cast my vote, and I will leave it at that,” in regards to the two players. I think it is safe to say that both of them will be back on a second 10-day contract, as it doesn’t really hurt the Knicks in the long run and they will attempt to keep the good vibes going after Monday’s victory. But, once the second 10-day contract runs out, it will become a different story potentially for Amundson and Thomas, as they will then potentially be given guaranteed contracts through the remainder of the season.