Van Horn, Tim Thomas involved in three-team trade

New York, NY (Basketball News) - Forward Keith Van Horn was traded by the Knicks to the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday in a three-team trade that brings forward Tim Thomas and center Nazr Mohammed to New York.

Mohammed comes to the Knicks via Atlanta, where centers Michael Doleac — from New York — and Joel Przybilla — from Milwaukee — will be headed.

In the deal, the Hawks also get a 2005 second-round pick from the Knicks, the better of the two second-rounders that New York currently owns.

In 47 games with the Knicks this season, Van Horn is averaging 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Thomas, who was also traded for Van Horn on draft day in 1997, is averaging 14.1 points and 4.9 boards in 42 games for the Bucks. Mohammed, who was a member of the 1998 NCAA champion Kentucky Wildcats, is averaging 6.5 points and 5.0 boards in eight seasons with the Sixers and Hawks.

"Tim Thomas is a young, versatile small forward who suits our style of play very well, and Nazr Mohammed is a strong front-court player who will help us with rebounding and interior defense," explained Knicks president of basketball operations Isiah Thomas. "Although we had to part with two quality players and individuals, we felt this trade makes us better now and in the future."

The addition of Tim Thomas and Mohammed adds to the overhaul that has occurred in New York since Isiah Thomas’ regime took over in late December. Isiah Thomas has added the likes of Stephon Marbury, Anfernee Hardaway, Moochie Norris and now Tim Thomas and Mohammed. Not to mention, a change of coaches for the Knicks, who have responded with some solid place that currently positions them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star break.

Selected by the 76ers with second overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft, Philadelphia then traded Van Horn’s draft rights with Lucious Harris, Don MacLean and Michael Cage to the New Jersey Nets for Jim Jackson, Eric Montross and the draft rights to Tim Thomas and Anthony Parker.

Van Horn, who was eventually shipped back to the Sixers for the 2002-03 campaign, is averaging 17.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in his seven-year career. He came to the Knicks as part of a four-team trade that sent Latrell Sprewell out of New York this past offseason.

Doleac averaged a career-best 16.1 ppg as a senior and led Utah to the NCAA Championship game against Kentucky in 1998, but since coming to the NBA is averaging just 5.7 points and 3.6 boards in 370 games with Orlando, Cleveland, and New York.

Przybilla has only played in five games this season for the Bucks and is averaging under two points a contest in his four-year career, all with Milwaukee.

The addition of the two big men allows the Hawks even more financial flexibility at season’s end. After trading Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff and Dan Dickau to Portland in exchange for Rasheed Wallace and Wesley Person, both on the last year of their contracts, Atlanta again shed some future money.

"The things that I’m trying to accomplish are things I think will benefit the organization moving forward," Atlanta general manager Billy Knight said. "I feel both of the moves will help us rebuild the team the way we envision it."