updated 9:51 p.m. ET Feb. 24, 2005

Isiah Thomas didn’t want Chris Webber, and the president of the New York Knicks said he wasn’t in contact with the Sacramento Kings before they traded Webber to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Thomas did make two minor deals Thursday, acquiring two first-round draft picks and forward Malik Rose from San Antonio and forward Maurice Taylor from Houston.

New York sent Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer to San Antonio and Vin Baker, Moochie Norris and a future No. 2 pick to the Rockets.

Acknowledging he was “surprised” that the 76ers were able to acquire Webber, Thomas said he never inquired about the five-time All-Star’s availability. Webber is coming off knee surgery and has $62 million remaining on his contract.

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“For us to try to take players right now at this stage of the game who are making in excess of $19 or 20 million and are over the age of 30, those don’t work for our strategic plan right now,” Thomas said. “I don’t think that’s the healthy and secure way to go.”

The moves were a clear sign Thomas is placing a greater emphasis on rebuilding through the draft.

New York now has its own No. 1 and the Suns’ first-round pick this June, along with the Spurs’ pick in 2006. Thomas traded the Knicks’ own 2006 first-round pick to Phoenix as part of the Stephon Marbury deal, although the pick is protected — meaning New York can keep it and owe Phoenix a future pick — if it is among the top 26.

“Four first-round draft picks is something we didn’t have a couple months ago,” Thomas said.

For the Spurs, the acquisition of Mohammed provides an additional option at center behind Rasho Nesterovic. Mohammed, in his seventh NBA season, also could be used as the backup to Tim Duncan at power forward — the role Rose had for the last 7½ seasons.

It also allowed San Antonio to position itself for deals down the road by unloading the last five-plus years of Roses’ seven-year, $42 million contract.

“Contract-wise and basketball-wise, we think it will be good for the franchise,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said late Thursday. “If you have an opportunity to trade somebody and you think it makes your team and organization better in the long run, the responsibility is there to do it.”

In the short run, he said Mohammed’s size will help the Spurs down the stretch and into the postseason.

“What we’re doing is preparing for playoff time,” Popovich said. “He gives us the size that we’re going to need.”

San Antonio put guard Mike Wilks on the injured list Thursday to open a roster spot, but Popovich said the team plans to waive Brewer.

Mohammed was averaging 10.9 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Knicks, while Rose averaged 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds for San Antonio.

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