Tyrus

Thomas

As the fourth overall pick, Thomas will make $5.63 million in the first two years of the deal under the rookie salary scale with the Bulls holding a club option for the next two years. Thomas played in the summer league with the Bulls, so this announcement was a mere formality.

Many experts have him going No. 2 overall to the Chicago Bulls. Thomas has scheduled to work out for the Bulls on June 15, and is already practicing privately with Bulls guard and former LSU standout Randy Livingston.

“I really think in the right organization, with the right support and the right teaching, in four years you may have an NBA All-Star,” LSU coach John Brady said. “This young man’s personality, his toughness and his ability to improve and get better is special.” Thomas shot 60.8% (152 of 250) from the floor last season in a final four run.

“I was able to show I can shoot the ball,” Thomas said. “I did some spot shooting and I did a little bit of dribbling.” When asked if he could return for another workout with Chicago, he replied, “That’s up to the general manager and coaches. If they want me to come back, then I’ll be happy to.”

Blazers GM Steve Patterson, who holds the No. 4 pick, said that tactic could hurt Thomas. “Usually a workout is an important part of the evaluation for a high draft pick,” Patterson wrote. “It can be an influencing factor, sometimes significantly so. It is also a risk for the player if he doesn’t get drafted where he expects to.” He cited Gerald Green and Nick Van Exel as examples.

Of course, that is barring they don’t change their minds between now and Wednesday, and that the Raptors don’t trade down and let someone else have the No. 1 pick. It’s conceivable that if the Bobcats got ahold of the first pick, they could take Thomas.

He’ll be traded to the Bulls along with Viktor Khryapa and considerations in exchange for LaMarcus Aldridge, who the Bulls took at No. 2. The Blazers did the deal in an effort to secure Aldridge, who they apparently wanted much more than Adam Morrison. As for Thomas, he’s probably not a fantasy player this season, but three years from now he could be a guy taken in the early rounds of your draft. The question is why did Portland make the trade when Aldridge would have been there at No. 4 anyway?

Games like these are prime examples of why Thomas cannot be trusted in fantasy leagues. Trust, as it turns out for fantasy owners, is probably way out of Thomas’ reach.

He should be considered extremely questionable to play on Friday. He hasn’t practiced in two days and did not play on Wednesday due to the injury. D.J. White started in Thomas’ place and had 14 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Even if Thomas suits up he may not get a full complement of minutes, which moves him from shaky to untenable in fantasy leagues. D.J. White figures to be the main beneficiary if Thomas is out or limited.