"Mickael Pietrus is a swingman with athleticism, 3-point range and a good defensive reputation.

It should have been a natural fit with the Suns, but the partnership disintegrated last season because of the team's overload of wings, his fluctuating performance and a knee issue that caused him to sit out the final 12 games.

Pietrus became a locker-room deterrent to the point that Suns players said chemistry would be better if he did not return. The Suns tried to trade Pietrus when the lockout ended, but he failed a physical in Toronto because of his right knee, on which a French national-team surgeon performed an arthroscopic procedure in July.

Pietrus came to Phoenix for a MRI exam on his knee in December and then was bought out days later to save the Suns about $1million in salary. Once Pietrus cleared waivers, he signed with Boston but still needed rehabilitation.

"An unsuccessful situation to a better situation," Pietrus said. "I was just trying to get my knee right."

Suns coach Alvin Gentry diplomatically wished Pietrus well.

"I wasn't a fit for the system," Pietrus said. "The best move for me was that I play better on a championship team. So I made the right decision.""