NBA Insider with Ken Berger

Here’s the latest: Ex-Knick Kurt Thomas is going to the Spurs for the expiring contracts of Francisco Elson and Brent Barry. Yawn.

Actually, as my man Alan Hahn pointed out moments ago in a series of poignant text messages, this is a good deal for the Spurs. The Spurs always make good deals. Now they have someone with size, length, know-how and toughness to defend Shaq. Reportedly, the Sonics also get a 2009 first-round pick.

So much for the Spurs’ interest in Ron Artest, which created some buzz this afternoon but fizzled with the Thomas deal. Artest had been rumored to be going to San Antonio for Elson and Barry. No dice. Other than that, a person close to Artest says things are quiet. Clearly, though, he has to get out of Sacramento and the Kings have to get him out of there.