Former Blue Devil Lance Thomas Traded To Knicks

On Monday, Duke grad Lance Thomas, born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey, got what every Tri-City kid who plays basketball dreams of: a trade back home.

Thomas was part of a three-way trade between Cleveland, Oklahoma City and the Knicks.

Cleveland dumped Dion Waiters, who was supposedly not happy about not starting - he's off to Oklahoma City.

For their part, the Knicks sent JR Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavs.

And the Thunder sent Alex Kirk, Lou Amundson and Thomas to the Knicks.

The Knicks are expected to waive Kirk and Amundson - none of the the former Thunder have guaranteed contracts - but may keep Thomas.

That speaks volumes to what he's accomplished since leaving Duke.

Keep in mind this is a guy who didn't really score in college and didn't rebound much either.  He's carved out a career in the NBA based on defense, energy and leadership. He's never going to be a dominant player, but there's always room for someone like that.

The funniest part of the trade? Putting LeBron James and JR Smith on the same team.

That's going to be some interesting chemistry.