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Adonis Thomas has been called up from the Springfield Armor to the Orlando Magic. Thomas has signed a 10-day contract with the team and is expected to join the Magic in Washington for their game Tuesday against the Wizards.
Hearing from Adonis Thomas' agent the former Tiger will sign with the Orlando Magic on Monday and join the team Tuesday in Washington.
— L. Jason Smith (@TheCAJasonSmith) February 21, 2014
Thomas has been playing quite well for the Armor this season, starting 21 games and averaging 16 points and four rebounds.
The 20-year-old was a Nets "project." Two years agol, he was a top 10 high school prospect -- Sporting News had him as the top prospect. Then, at Memphis, injury and uncertainty about his position --small forward or power forward-- led to two disappointing seasons. He declared for the draft but wasn't selected last June. After he was cut by the Hawks in training camp, the Nets signed him so they could cut him and assign him to Springfield.
But the Nets had no NBA rights to Thomas and as the season progressed, the 20 year old developed rapidly, this month averaging 20 points a game and shooting nearly 50 percent from three. Other NBA clubs took notice. Could the Nets have called him up? Yes, but even a 10-day contract would have cost them nearly $200,000.
It's the second time, the combination of D-League rules and the Nets cap situation cost them a prospect. Just befor the D-League season opener, the 76ers called up Lorenzo Brown, a 6'5" point guard the Nets thought highly of. Brown was late signed for the remainder of the season.
Many were calling for the Nets to look to call up Thomas from the Armor and give him an opportunity in Brooklyn, but that option is on hold until he returns to Springfield, which isn't a guarantee anymore. Thomas is a 6'7" rookie forward out of Memphis.