Ok, so maybe the signing of backup center/power forward Kurt Thomas won’t exactly usher in an “era,” at least in the sense of the phrase “the Michael Jordan era.” That’s the way most people in Chicago refer to the glory years of the Chicago Bulls franchise. This signing obviously won’t move them any closer to NBA dominance, but it does give them an 11th player under contract, at a price just above the league minimum ($1.35 million) for one season. And it adequately fills a need.
They still have $3 million left in cap space to sign another body, hopefully a veteran shooting guard. Thomas has been in the league for 15 years, most recently with the Milwaukee Bucks, where averaged three points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season.
By Paul M. Banks
However, when Andrew Bogut went down Thomas’ playing time increased to about 30 minutes a game and he averaged just under eight boards a contest during the Bucks’ seven game series with Atlanta.
Thomas’ overall career averages are 8.8 points and 7.0 rebounds for seven different NBA teams. The 37-year-old Thomas will serve primarily a backup role (filling the minutes of the now departed Brad Miller), spelling Joakim Noah at Center.
Paul M. Banks is President and CEO of The Sports Bank.net , a Midwest focused webzine. He is also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, the Chicago Tribune’s blog network, Walter Football.com, the Washington Times Communities, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com
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