Quentin Richardson and a future conditional number one draft choice will be dealt to the Knicks in exchange for Kurt Thomas.  This deal is pending league approval and should be formally announced after Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

The deal was confirmed to me by a source close to the trade negotiations.

There was little doubt that one of the Suns? five starters would not be back for the 2005-2006 season and Richardson is the player that Bryan Colangelo and the Suns have decided to move.  The move indicates that Joe Johnson is the shooting guard the Suns want on their team long-term.

Thomas is signed through the 2009 season, while Richardson, whose game overlaps with Johnson's, is signed through the 2009 season as well, but the Suns have a team option for the 2009-2010 season.

Richardson averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game in his first season with Phoenix. He made 226 3-pointers, tied for first in the NBA with Philadelphia's Kyle Korver, in his one season with the high-powered Suns, compared to 120 in his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers.  

Thomas, a 10-year veteran, gives the Suns a player who averaged 11.5 and 10.4 rebounds per game last season with the Knicks.  He will allow Shawn Marion to slide back to the small forward position and Amare Stoudemire will be less exposed at center, playing beside a power forward of Thomas' caliber.

He also gives the Suns another player that can stay outside on the pick and roll to let Steve Nash drive and dish to the open man, as Thomas is one of the best power forwards in the league at hitting a mid-range jump shot.

Isiah Thomas and Bryan Colangelo were trade partners during the 2003-2004 season when Stephon Marbury was sent to the Knicks for Antonio McDyess.

- During the course of Thursday afternoon, a rumor began to circulate do to an error on a prominent website that made it appear as though the Lakers had completed a trade with the Bobcats for the fifth pick.

I spoke with the Lakers' public relations department and that rumor was quickly dimissed as being completely a mistake.

Christopher Reina is the executive editor of RealGM.com and may be reached at Christopher.Reina@RealGM.com.