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The Phoenix Suns announced today the signing of free-agent forward Tim Thomas, who was waived by the Chicago Bulls on March 1.

“It’s unusual to be able to add a talent like Tim Thomas this late in the season,” Suns Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We are looking forward to working with Tim. His length and athleticism will be a nice fit for our team.”

Thomas, who is currently in his ninth NBA season, owns career averages of 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 577 games (316 starts) with four teams (Philadelphia, Milwaukee, New York, Chicago).

The 6-10, 235-pound forward made five consecutive postseason appearances from 1999-2004 and averaged 12.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 33 playoff games (all but one with Bucks), and has a career .433 three-point field goal percentage in the playoffs.

A consistent scorer, Thomas has averaged double figures in scoring and made at least 62 three-pointers in seven of his eight seasons prior to the 2005-06 season. The runner-up for the 2000-01 NBA Sixth Man Award owns a career three-point field goal percentage of .367 and has shot 40 percent or better from behind the arc twice (.412 in 2000-01, .409 in 2004-05).

The Patterson, New Jersey native appeared in three games with the Bulls this season and averaged 4.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.7 minutes. The former Knick teammate of current Suns center Kurt Thomas, went to Chicago in a trade along with forward Michael Sweetney, forward Jermaine Jackson, and two conditional first-round picks from New York for center Eddy Curry and forward/center Antonio Davis on October 4, 2005.

The seventh overall selection in the 1997 NBA Draft was originally selected by the New Jersey Nets but traded two days later to Philadelphia (June, 27, 1997). The Sporting News Freshman of the Year at Villanova made the 1997-98 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 11.0 points and 3.7 rebounds with the 76ers.

The Suns roster now stands at 15. Thomas will wear jersey No. 2 and will dress for tonight’s game vs. Orlando at 7 p.m. at the US Airways Center. The game will be televised on FSN Arizona as Phoenix seeks its ninth consecutive victory.

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