Knicks acquire Quentin Richardson

According to the Arizona Republic, Richardson was informed of the decision by his agent as well as team president and general manager Bryan Colangelo while at a photo shoot in New York.

Richardson spent just one season with Phoenix after signing a six-year contract worth $45 million in the offseason.

Colangelo apparently made the move to clear up space in order to offer star forward Amare Stoudemire a contract extension and to re-sign guard Joe Johnson.

"It definitely is a shock but I also understand it’s a business decision," said Richardson. "It’s something that comes along with being an NBA player. I’ve got to roll with it."

Richardson, a five-year veteran, spent his first four seasons with the Clippers. During his time in Los Angeles, he was known more as an inside player, but changed his game to become an outside shooter to fit the up-tempo style Phoenix was accustomed to.

Despite the role change, Richardson scored 14.9 points and grabbed 6.1 rebounds per game while hitting a club-record 226 three-pointers last season for the Suns. Phoenix ended the regular season with the league’s best record, but lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.

"It’ll give me an opportunity to play more of my game," added Richardson about the shift to the Knicks.

Originally selected out of DePaul in the first round (18th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft, Richardson has posted averages of 12.6 points and 4.9 boards in 360 career games (183 starts).

Thomas, who has spent 10 years in the NBA, has moved around in his career. A TCU product, Thomas was drafted by Miami with the 10th overall pick in the 1995 draft. He also had a brief stint with Dallas before signing as a free agent with the Knicks, where he had played the past seven years.

Last season, Thomas averaged 11.5 points and 10.4 rebounds while playing in 80 games and is averaging 10.8 points and 7.6 boards in his career.

The 6-9 Thomas will help Phoenix’s frontcourt and met their offseason need of acquiring a presence on the backboards as well as a low-post defender.

This marks the second big trade in the last few years between Phoenix and the Knicks as the teams also pulled off a blockbuster deal in 2004 that saw all- Star guard Stephon Marbury end up in New York.