Many experts believed the Knicks reached badly by selecting Renaldo Balkman, but the Suns were reportedly set to pick the forward from South Carolina. The Suns ended up trading out of the first round altogether.

"I thought, 'If we take Balkman at No. 20, somebody will drop to us [at No. 29],' " Thomas said last night. "If we didn't get Collins, we had a backup. But Balkman wouldn't have been there at No. 29."

"Balkman is a unique player," Thomas said. "He reminds me of Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest. Mardy Collins is a big guard who can defend. Defensively, we feel you can put those two guys on the floor at and cover [small forward and shooting guard]."