Lance Thomas wanted to stay with the Knicks. He’s grateful he could stay in New York.

The former Knicks captain, who was waived in June after four-and-a-half seasons with the team, signed with the Nets on Friday. The 6-foot-8 forward appeared in 46 games last season, averaging 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 17 minutes per game, and will enter training camp as the Nets’ 20th player, fighting for a roster spot.

“That was always something I was hoping it would happen. I was there for five years. It didn’t. This is a business. I think nothing but the world of those guys over there,” said Thomas, who was born in Brooklyn. “I’m moving forward, and happy I had the opportunity to stay in New York.”

As Thomas, 31, prepares for another season, he remains bewildered his good friend Carmelo Anthony remains unemployed. Though several Nets are reportedly in favor of signing Anthony, the 35-year-old, 10-time All-Star hasn’t played since a failed 10-game stint with the Rockets early last season.

“I think it’s the best his body looks. He has the first step back. It looks like he’s having fun playing the game again,” said Thomas, who recently played pickup games with Anthony. “I think he deserves to end up on a team. A guy of his caliber, someone whose always been a stand-up guy in the league, given amazing basketball memories to the NBA, has affected almost every teammate he’s had in a positive way. It’s unfortunate what’s happening.

“I think the world of him and he does deserve a chance to be able to lace them up again.”

DeAndre Jordan, 31, arrived in Brooklyn alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but the free-agent acquisition doesn’t expect to be handed the starting center spot over former first-round pick Jarrett Allen.

Last season, Jordan averaged 11 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while playing with the Mavericks and Knicks. Allen, 21, started 80 games in his second season, averaging 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

“I think it should be competitive,” Jordan said. “I think Jarrett’s done a great job here. … We just want to build off of that. We just want to bring the best out of each other. Whatever’s gonna help the team, we’re willing to do that.”

Henry Ellenson is currently the Nets’ only two-way player. The Nets can hand out one more two-way spot to a camp invitee — Thomas isn’t eligible — who would spend the majority of the season in the G-League, and spend no more than 45 days with Brooklyn.