Phoenix Suns Trade Rumors

Phoenix Suns' Robin Lopez might explore value on open market
stycznia 24
Arizona Republic
 
"When the Suns selected Robin Lopez 15th overall in the 2008 draft, he was considered the franchise's center of the future. His future with the Suns now appears it will be left to July free agency. The Suns have until Wednesday to come to a contract extension with Lopez but that appears unlikely. Lopez would then become a restricted free agent on July 1, meaning the Suns still could match any other team's offer sheet to him. Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said he has had several discussions with Lopez's agent, Arn Tellem, to inquire about an extension. "We have talked to see if there was any common ground worth pursuing and I'd say it's unlikely at this time," Babby said."
Suns' Grant Hill unsure about quadriceps soreness
stycznia 16
Arizona Republic
 
"Suns swingman Grant Hill will not deny that the soreness in his right quadriceps tendon likely is related to his September right knee surgery in some way. Hill also will not deny himself the notion that it will not bother him again moving forward. Hill suffered the injury Thursday morning during a shootaround and had swelling in the knee by game time that night. He left that loss to Cleveland early because of the soreness in the tendon, which connects to the kneecap. Hill did not play Friday night before returning to action in Sunday night's game at San Antonio. Hill's surgery was not related to the quad tendon. A piece of cartilage was loose in his kneecap, exposing a tiny portion of the"
Suns' Michael Redd expects to debut Thursday vs. Cavaliers
stycznia 12
Arizona Republic
 
"Michael Redd has had butterflies before every one of the 594 NBA games he's played. That won't change Thursday, when Redd is expected to make his debut with the Suns. But the nervousness will be paired with a greater sense of anticipation. Redd has played just 61 games the past three seasons while recovering from two reconstructive surgeries on his left knee. If he does take the court against Cleveland, it will be his first game action since last April. "I'm so excited," Redd said. "The last two years have been the toughest of my life. To come back and climb this mountain, be on this team and play, God is faithful.""
Suns sign guard Michael Redd
grudnia 29
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns made it official today, signing former All-Star guard Michael Redd. "Michael Redd has a proven pedigree as a first-rate NBA scorer," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said in a team statement. "He will work with our renowned training staff to get into basketball shape. When he is ready to play, Michael will be a welcome addition to our team." An 11-year NBA veteran, Redd averaged 20 or more points in six consecutive seasons from 2003-09. A 6-6, 220-pound guard, he was the 43rd overall pick (second round) of the 2000 draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he spent all 11 of his professional seasons. Redd is a career 44.9-percent shooter overall, including 38.3"
Former All-Star Michael Redd likely to sign with Suns
grudnia 29
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns could use a pure-shooting off guard who's unattached and has an All-Star resume. And there is one available. Michael Redd, who has a scary knee history, worked out for the Suns at US Airways Center on Tuesday, and the Suns are expected to sign the 32-year-old Thursday to address their need for scoring and shooting. Redd likely would not play immediately as he learns the Suns' system and works into playing shape. Redd worked out for the Suns along with free agent NBA veteran Ime Udoka and free agent Gilbert Brown, but Redd appears to have the primary interest. The Suns also had Redd's left knee examined because he has played only 61 games over the past three seasons due to two"
Phoenix Suns buy out contract of Mickael Pietrus
grudnia 22
Arizona Republic
 
"Mickael Pietrus was a Sun in roster only lately until they waived him Thursday. The Suns bought out Pietrus' contract, paying him about $4.2 million of his $5.3 million salary. Once he clears waivers, Pietrus can pick from a group of other interested teams, led by Boston, to make up the difference. "Both Mickael and us realized it'd be beneficial for both parties to party ways," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said. "There's an expression that, 'All's well that ends well.' In this case, all's well that ends.""
Suns' trade of Mickael Pietrus to Toronto Raptors called off
grudnia 11
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns' agreement to trade swingman Mickael Pietrus to Toronto has been called off because Pietrus had slight knee swelling after a workout for the Raptors, according to Pietrus' agent Bill McCandless. McCandless said the trade has been "postponed" and that Pietrus did not fail his Friday physical exam. He said the Raptors medical staff determined that Pietrus needed two to four more weeks to be cleared for play. Toronto will likely move another direction to fill the roster slot. Toronto's doctors flagged something they saw in Pietrus' MRI exam on his right knee, which underwent minor surgery this summer after he missed the final 12 games of the last Suns season too. The Suns had agreed"
Suns to trade Mickael Pietrus, waive Vince Carter
grudnia 10
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns have agreed to trade swingman Mickael Pietrus and cash to Toronto for a conditional second-round pick but the deal is pending a physical. Pietrus underwent minor right knee surgery in July after the French national team declared him unable to play. Pietrus also missed the final 12 games of the Suns season because of a quadriceps-tendon strain near the same knee. Pietrus is in Toronto today for the physical. He would be an ideal fit into the international look that Bryan Colangelo has pursued since leaving Phoenix to take over the Raptors' basketball operations. The Suns also would have to send about $1 million to Toronto for the Raptors to take on Pietrus' $5.3 million salary in"
Phoenix Suns waive Vince Carter, Gani Lawal
grudnia 10
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns waived Vince Carter and Gani Lawal today. Carter's waiver was planned since the time they acquired him nearly a year ago. His contract's final year was worth $18 million but only $4 million of it was guaranteed. The Suns extended the deadline to waive him in June to delay the $4 million payment. Carter, 34, averaged 13.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 51 games with the Suns, starting 41 of them. He was acquired with Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus from Orlando on Dec. 18 for Jason Richardson, Earl Clark and Hedo Turkoglu."
Grant Hill staying with Phoenix Suns
grudnia 9
Arizona Republic
 
"Grant Hill is still Suns swingman Grant Hill. Hill agreed today to re-sign with the Suns for a one-year, $6.5 million contract. The Suns increased the offer from $5 million to $6.5 million on Thursday with Hill being pursued by New York, Chicago, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Spurs offered him two years and the Clippers offered him more money but the Knicks' and Bulls' one-year offers were tempting because of the quality of teams and Hill's relationship with Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni."
Suns to sign guard Shannon Brown
grudnia 9
Arizona Republic
 
"Shannon Brown spent part of his first two seasons in the D-League and was on his fourth team in three seasons in 2009 when his career hit a turnaround that set up this important offseason. After posting career-high scoring averages as Kobe Bryant's backup on a loaded Lakers team for the past two seasons, Brown's choice to sign with the Suns on Friday was not made lightly. The one-year, $3.5 million contract that the shooting guard will sign is an indication in duration that he expects to break out this season with more opportunity. The money shows he correctly gauged his increasing value after declining a $2.4 million option to stay with the Lakers. Instead, Brown will duel his former"
Grant Hill still undecided on returning to Suns
grudnia 9
Arizona Republic
 
"In March, Grant Hill said it would be nice to return to the Suns. Last week, he said there were "good chances" of it happening. But as the NBA ratified a collective bargaining agreement Thursday to start free agency acquisitions at noon today, Hill openly wrestled with where he will sign as a free agent to close his career. The Suns, offering Hill a one-year, $5.5 million contract, appear to be fending off similar offers from New York and Chicago to keep the 39-year-old swingman. "Everything is compressed and rushed but this is a big decision," Hill said after working out Thursday at US Airways Center, as he has daily for the past week. "It's probably my last decision so I'm going to make"
Phoenix Suns close to contract with guard Sebastian Telfair
grudnia 8
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns have been on a seven-year search for Steve Nash's backup. Sebastian Telfair has gone on a seven-year odyssey to find an NBA home. Now they might have found each other. Telfair appears to be in line to sign a contract Friday with Phoenix to become the latest Nash backup. The 26-year-old has been in the league since he was drafted 13th overall by Portland in 2004, but unfulfilled potential and hype have sent him through Boston, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Minnesota again."
Knicks close to deal with Grant Hill
grudnia 8
New York Post
 
"The Knicks are on the verge of landing Grant Hill, according to two NBA sources. Hill, the Suns free agent, deliberated for the past few days between making the jump to New York or staying with the Phoenix Suns, who are in rebuilding mode. Hill is close to accepting the big challenge of the Big Apple. "It's not 100 percent done, but he's leaning,'' one source said. The third time appears to be the charm. The Knicks failed to woo Hill when he became the NBA's most-sought-after free agent in 2000 and were rejected again two years ago when he decided to remain in Phoenix."
Knicks 'in hunt' for Hill
grudnia 6
New York Post
 
"Free agent Grant Hill's interest in the Knicks is heating up, with one source saying the club has been told they are "definitely in the hunt.'' The Knicks appeared long shots over the weekend when Hill characterized the Suns as having "good chances'' of re-signing him. The Bulls and Celtics reportedly were also in the mix. Hill's leadership, defense and shooting have Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni pushing for him again. Hill would become the starting shooting guard over incumbent Landry Fields, who showed up for voluntary workouts in Westchester yesterday. If Hill signs with the Knicks, they could boast a potentially formidable starting five of Chauncey Billups at point guard, Hill at SG,"
Sources: Suns to waive Vince Carter
grudnia 5
ESPN.com
 
"Vince Carter isn't a free agent yet, but sources close to the situation say the eight-time All-Star will be thrust onto the open market shortly after the end of the lockout. Based on an amendment in his contract obtained by ESPN.com, Carter must be waived by the Phoenix Suns within 72 hours of the official start of free agency or his $18 million salary for the 2011-12 season becomes fully guaranteed. The Suns, sources said, have already decided to waive Carter within that window."
Suns cautiously approaching free agency
grudnia 4
Arizona Republic
 
"This is the week the Suns will start work as a team, but they won't be a complete one. There is still roster work ahead for the Suns, who will start practicing Saturday at Grand Canyon University Arena. The Suns need to sign free agents, but there is no reason to expect them to chase the top ones. Every Suns move will be made with July 1, 2012, in mind. The Suns want to preserve the cap space they have set up for next summer's free agency, when they could sign one or two maximum-salary free agents from a potential pool led by Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. The free-agent names will not be so scintillating for this contracted off-season, which began Wednesday with teams able"
Grant Hill said ''good chances'' of his return
grudnia 3
Arizona Republic
 
"Grant Hill worked out several hours Friday at US Airways Center, the Suns' home. Hill emerged from the training room in Suns practice gear after spending the day with the Suns athletic trainers and Suns players Steve Nash, Channing Frye, Robin Lopez, Josh Childress and Zabian Dowdell. But unlike the past four years of this routine, Hill is not a Suns player. He is an unrestricted free agent who has kept his family in the Valley and expressed a desire to stay. Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby called Hill their top free-agent priority when training camp starts in a week. Like two years ago, Hill also has high-caliber, big-market suitors. The list could include Miami, Boston,"
Phoenix Suns guard Aaron Brooks plans to sign with Chinese team
listopada 18
Arizona Republic
 
"Aaron Brooks waited as long as he could bear for the NBA but the Chinese Basketball Association kept calling. After NBA labor talks dissolved this week, Brooks accepted a $2 million-plus offer to play a season for CBA four-time defending champion Guangdong. He will be unable to return to the NBA until his CBA season ends. Brooks is an NBA restricted free agent, allowing the Suns to match any NBA offer to keep him. Brooks believes he will remain a restricted free agent whether he returns to the NBA immediately after his CBA tenure (the season ends Feb. 15; the playoffs end in March) or if he is in the 2012 summer free-agency pool. Suns teammate Josh Childress left Atlanta for Greece in 2008"
Suns' guard Aaron Brooks expected to sign in China
listopada 17
Arizona Republic
 
"Suns guard Aaron Brooks has agreed to a one-year deal with a Chinese team that would not allow him to return to the NBA until the Chinese Basketball Association season ends in mid-February, according to a Yahoo! report. Brooks, 26, is a restricted free agent, which would have allowed the Suns an opportunity to match any offer he received on the open market. Based on how Suns forward Josh Childress left Atlanta for Greece in 2008 and remained a restricted free agent upon his return last year, it would seem that the Suns would retain Brooks' rights when he returns to the league. However, with a new collective bargaining agreement coming, nobody can be sure what the rules will be."
Phoenix Suns President and CEO Rick Welts resigns
września 9
Arizona Republic
 
"Suns President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Welts is resigning after running the franchise's business side for nine years. Less than four months after jolting the sports world by becoming the first pro sports team senior executive to be openly gay, Welts jolted his own organization Friday by sharing plans to leave what he has called the best jobs in sports on his own accord. Welts told The Arizona Republic Friday morning that he is not leaving for another job but to be in another city. In the past year, Welts started a new relationship and his partner is in Sacramento. He plans to do speaking engagements and perhaps take an offer to write a book. "The most important thing for me is to"
NBA wants 3rd round in draft
września 7
SheridanHoops.com
 
"After an overnight flight connecting through Helsinki, Finland, I bumped into a scout for the Denver Nuggets near the tourist information booth at the quaint little airport here where the second round of EuroBasket is taking place. Whether he knows it or not, he may be here scouting future third-round draft picks. That's right: Third round. SheridanHoops.com has learned that NBA owners have proposed adding a third round to the annual draft, a proposal that the players' union has countered by offering an array of changes to the draft that would help address the owners' desire for more competitive balance."
NBA Lockout Update: Sides are closer than they're saying
września 6
SheridanHoops.com
 
"Here's the dirty little secret about the NBA lockout, despite what both sides — the owners and the players — would have you believe: They are a lot closer to a settlement than most people realize. I know this because I talk regularly with a bunch of important people who tell me important things, and I am going to explain why I believe a settlement will be reached that will not only save the season, but also enable the NBA to have an "all is forgiven" honeymoon period (similar to what the NFL just experienced following its labor settlement) in which the frenzy of free agents signings, trades, training camps and exhibition games will make everyone forget all of the doomsday talk they've been"
Next bargaining session coming early September?
sierpnia 17
CBSSports.com
 
"It took 46 days for the NBA and its players' union after the lockout began July 1. It didn't go all that well. Rhetoric from both sides ramped up, lawsuits started flying around and most importantly, there wasn't any movement towards the middle. Then David Stern accused the union of cancelling a meeting last week with the union responding that Billy Hunter had been told Stern wasn't going to be available for two weeks. So as you can tell, this is all going just super. But they're finally going to try again sometime in early September, according to Newsday. At this point, the union will host an executive meeting in New York at the end of August. The anticipation is the union and league"
David Stern: NBA to look at contraction
sierpnia 15
CBSSports.com
 
"The NBA currently has thirty teams, but the league's commissioner, David Stern, seems open to the possibility that that number of franchises could shrink in the future. Speaking on an ESPN.com podcast, Stern stated that there is some interest in contraction from both the league and players sides and that the subject will be picked up after the current Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations are completed. "[Contraction] is not a subect that we're against," Stern said. "In fact, when you talk about revenue sharing, a number of teams have said that if you have a team that is perpetually going to be a recipient, aren't you better off with the ability to buy them in? Because between the"
Suns draft pick Markieff Morris weighs Greek interest
sierpnia 11
Arizona Republic
 
"For all the compliments Markieff Morris received after the Suns drafted him in June, the best one he has received might be in the form of interest from Athens. European clubs are built with veteran players who are well-versed in team basketball and drilled in fundamentals. It is rare that any team, particularly a Euroleague power, reaches out to an American rookie but Panathinaikos is pursuing Morris to fill a power forward void. Morris' agent, Tony Dutt, said talks with Panathinaikos are "moving along" but nothing is imminent. Dutt said he would pursue an out clause so that Morris could return to the Suns if the lockout ends. It is not clear whether Panathinaikos, the Euroleague's"
Report: Earl Clark signs to play in China next season
sierpnia 10
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"Earl Clark, the fan-favorite backup center that bounced from Phoenix to Orlando last season, is bouncing all the way to China for next season. And not in the Dwyane Wade "I'm open to it" way — Clark is going. Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld tweeted the news. Earl Clark has signed a one-year deal with a Chinese team, sources confirm. Sources say Clark's deal doesn't include an NBA out. Clark was a free agent so he doesn't need an opt-out to return to the NBA. In fact, no matter what he will not be back in the NBA next season now."
Steve Nash and the rebuilding question
lipca 26
ESPN.com
 
"If you're not contending, then you're rebuilding. Many front office execs in sports accept this maxim as an article of faith. Once the championship window closes for a team, the theory goes, it's best to blow things up, particularly in basketball, where a salary cap generally prevents a team from adding high-dollar talent to bolster an imperfect roster. Whereas the Yankees and Red Sox can erase personnel mistakes by signing a couple of All-Stars, NBA organizations don't have that kind of flexibility -- not in the last collective bargaining agreement and certainly not in the next one. But rebuilding is painful, and like many painful exercises, it's prone to procrastination. We tend to put"
Suns' Gortat not headed to Russia
lipca 18
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Word came recently that 6-11 center Marcin Gortat of the Phoenix Suns, a native of Poland, would be headed over to Russia to play pro ball while the NBA and its players work out a new CBA. His agent begs to differ. "I can assure you that the story claiming that he has reached an agreement with Spartak St. Petersburg of Russia, is incorrect," Gortat's agent, Guy Zucker, said, according to HoopsHype. "While I have a lot of respect for Spartak St. Petersburg and its GM, Alex Karvanen, Gortat has not signed with or reached an agreement with Spartak St. Petersburg or any club whatsoever.""
Steve Nash has interest, passport to play overseas
lipca 17
Arizona Republic
 
"Amid all the misleading, deceptive and ambiguous talk of locked-out NBA players taking their talents to south Europe, it actually is not far-fetched to think Steve Nash could play there instead of Phoenix this year. Nash travels the world like a wave. He is a South African-born, America-residing Canadian with British parents, a Paraguayan ex-wife and a Chinese shoe deal. Only Australia and Antarctica aren't covered. An inquiry into his interest found him dining with ex-Suns teammate Boris Diaw . . . in Paris. "I'd love to play overseas," Nash wrote. "It may be difficult with three kids but I'd love to do it." Besides Nash's worldly nature and interest, what makes the possibility more"
Brooks returning to Suns?
lipca 13
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Phoenix Suns and Aaron Brooks can't discuss business while the lockout is in effect but the 26-year-old restricted free agent point guard, who was traded to the team at the deadline this year, thinks he'll be staying in Arizona, according to HoopsWorld. "All signs point to me going back to Phoenix," Brooks said, HoopsWorld reports. "I had a good time. I like the organization and it's a great city. I would love to continue playing in Phoenix. I would love to stay with this team. This summer, I'm going to get more comfortable with the guys. I want to get to know everyone a little bit better and then hopefully we have a better season than we did last year.""
Mickael Pietrus says teams interested in acquiring him
lipca 8
Arizona Republic
 
"If Mickael Pietrus' comments in a French newspaper mean that he would like to leave the Suns, they probably would be happy to say au revoir to him and his $5.3 million salary. According to a hoopshype.com translation of an interview Pietrus did with L'Equipe, Pietrus said, "A lot of teams are interested in me, like the Lakers or the Celtics. This came from the best player in the world: Kobe Bryant. He told me two months ago that he would like to see me with the Lakers." Two months ago, Pietrus was supposedly undecided on whether he would exercise the $5.3 player option in his contract for 2011-12 or become a free agent. It was a no-brainer choice but he did not commit to it until June 13."
It only gets harder for owners, players; owners expected to push for $45 million hard cap
czerwca 30
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Mike Monroe
"The NBA's Board of Governors met Tuesday in Dallas and heard a report on collective bargaining from Spurs owner Peter Holt, chairman of its labor relations committee. The league wouldn't reveal if the board officially authorized locking out the players once the clock strikes midnight Thursday, the end of the collective bargaining agreement that's been in place since 2005, but it doesn't matter. As commissioner David Stern has warned already, such a vote is a mere formality and can be conducted by any means at any time. The first lockout authorization via text message may be mere hours away. Holt's committee will meet with the negotiating committee of the National Basketball Player's"
Suns staging free agent minicamp
czerwca 29
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns normally would turn their post-draft attention to formulating an NBA Summer League team to watch their draft choice play with free-agent veterans and undrafted rookies who piqued their interest. An impending lockout nixed those plans, prompting the Suns to hold a minicamp Wednesday. First-round pick Markieff Morris and former New Jersey first-round pick Sean Williams will work out with other players who went undrafted or have played in Europe or the D-League. Undrafted invitees include Butler power forward Matt Howard, Ohio State swingman David Lighty, Washington power forward Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Colorado guard Cory Higgins and Tulsa off-guard Justin Hurtt. Howard and Hurtt"
Kings to make a play for Aaron Brooks?
czerwca 26
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"One of the big questions after the Kings' draft-day moves was "Who is going to get the ball to all these guys?" They traded for John Salmons (21% usage) to go with Marcus Thornton (25% usage), and Tyreke Evans (25 percent usage), then drafted Jimmer Fredette, who's not a playmaker and who's biggest contribution is scoring and ability to create his own shot. So who's going to, you know, pass these guys the ball? Or is Sacramento just going to run the Oklahoma City Thunder offense of a zillion ISOs? Well, according to the New York Daily News, they have a plan for who to get to run the show… except it doesn't make any sense: With Jimmer Fredette's addition to a backcourt featuring Tyreke"
Suns delay Carter deadline, extend qualifying offer to Brooks
czerwca 23
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns took care of some front-office housekeeping hours before the draft by announcing Thursday that they have extended the guaranteed-salary date on Vince Carter's contract and extended a $3 million qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks to make him a restricted free agent. Carter's previous contract language stipulated that his $18 million salary would have become fully guaranteed if he was not waived by June 30, when he still would have received a guaranteed $4 million. The Suns have negotiated for that deadline to move back to the start of free agency, whenever that occurs once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. The guaranteed amount remains $4 million and the likelihood of"
Nash reiterates stance on staying
czerwca 23
Arizona Republic
 
"It was appropriate that Steve Nash had to reiterate his stance on his Suns commitment on the same day his team president, Lon Babby, needed to reiterate the franchise's commitment to him. Babby again stated that the Suns will not be trading Nash, nor have they initiated talks with other teams about such a deal. Meanwhile, Nash was having a "global chat" of a press conference in advance of his charity soccer game in New York today when he received a question about whether he would want to play for Toronto."
Phoenix Suns seek impact with No. 13 NBA draft pick
czerwca 23
Arizona Republic
 
"Since adding Amar'e Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa in 2002 and 2003, most of the Suns' draft contributions to the NBA have been for other teams. Robin Lopez is the only Suns' first-round pick since Steve Nash in 1996 to still be playing in Phoenix, and that is tenuous with trade talks involving him. Stoudemire, Barbosa and Shawn Marion were long-ago picks who had stellar Suns stints but are thriving elsewhere. Most of the other first-round picks were traded on or before draft night and turned out to be Luol Deng, Nate Robinson, Rajon Rondo, Rudy Fernandez and Serge Ibaka. The Suns' front office of Lon Babby, Lance Blanks and John Treloar has a chance to make its first draft more impactful"
Knicks inquired about Steve Nash
czerwca 22
ESPN.com
 
"The Knicks inquired with the Phoenix Suns about the availability of two-time MVP Steve Nash, ESPN colleagues Marc Stein and Chad Ford are reporting in a news story today regarding the Minnesota Timberwolves' efforts to acquire Nash in a deal that would include the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft. I also have been hearing that efforts by the Knicks and other teams to acquire Nash have been falling flat, because the Suns are not presently inclined to move him. But Nash is entering the final year of his contract on a team that needs to begin rebuilding, and logic dictates that there could come a time when the Suns might chance their stance -- especially if Nash decided to press the issue,"
Suns expected to extend qualifying offer to Brooks
czerwca 22
Arizona Republic
 (scroll down)
"In the coming days, the Suns are expected to tender a qualifying offer of nearly $3 million to Aaron Brooks to make him a restricted free agent. Under the current CBA rules, the Suns would be able to match any offer made to Brooks in free agency and re-sign him."
Babby firm on not trading Nash
czerwca 22
Arizona Republic
 
"Another day, another report of Suns-Timberwolves trade talk. Another offseason, another summer of reports that Steve Nash could be traded. Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby had an emphatic response to a Wednesday morning espn.com report that the Suns have discussed trading Nash to Minnesota in a package for the No. 2 pick in Thursday's draft. It came on the heels of denying another espn.com report that the Suns explored sending Marcin Gortat to Minnesota. "We are not trading Marcin Gortat. Period. End of sentence," Babby said Wednesday morning. "We are not trading Steve Nash. Period. Exclamation point.""
Suns have guards on their radar
czerwca 22
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns enter Thursday's draft with a to-do list that includes strengthening their front line, finding wing scoring and shoring up the backup point-guard spot. Three tasks, one draft choice. Though the crop of big men projected to be available at their 13th overall pick puts a lean toward drafting a power forward, the Suns are poised to select a guard if their post preferences vanish or they are able to swing a deal to add a draft pick. The Suns discussed sending center Robin Lopez to Golden State for the No. 11 pick and another player or pick, but those talks are dormant. Colorado shooting guard Alec Burks, Washington State shooting guard Klay Thompson and BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette"
Explored: Steve Nash for Wolves' No. 2
czerwca 22
ESPN.com
 
"The Phoenix Suns' general posture has been to rebuff trade inquiries for star guard Steve Nash, but the Suns have had discussions this month with the Minnesota Timberwolves about a deal to send Nash to Minnesota in a package for the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday's draft, according to sources briefed on the talks. The talks, though, haven't advanced beyond the exploratory stage because of what sources described as a "mutual conclusion" by both teams that such a deal would ultimately not work for the Wolves because of Nash's presumed desire to land with an established title contender if he finally leaves the Suns. Sources say that the player Phoenix covets in the draft is Arizona forward"
How would 'Vinsanity' look in Silver and Black?
czerwca 21
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Vince Carter's days appear numbered with the Phoenix Suns. He'll likely be playing for another team when the lockout ends and basketball resumes next season. The Arizona Republic reports that Phoenix is expected to buy out Carter's remaining year for $4 million instead of trying to move his final year on another team. Carter then will be a free agent in a dramatically different NBA free agency landscape following the restructuring of the collective bargaining agreement, but still should get an offer from some team. How about the Spurs? Carter turned 34 in January and likely is pining for a shot at playing for a championship team. He has never played on a team that has advanced past the"
Phoenix Suns could favor complete power forwards over specialists
czerwca 21
Arizona Republic
 
"When shopping in the NBA draft's green room, one size does not fit all. There will be playmakers, scorers and perimeter defenders to be had, but nothing in the draft is as popular as big men. Like many teams, the Suns have a need for front-line help and are not immune to the allure of the candidates who at least physically can bang as pros. The upside among the power forwards beyond that has yet to be determined. After one season at Texas, Tristan Thompson seems two years away because of a limited offensive game but might be the most-compelling target for the Suns, considering his mix of athleticism, length and youth (20). Congo's Bismack Biyombo and Morehead State's Kenneth Faried have"
Vince Carter would look good in an Orlando Magic uniform now
czerwca 21
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Vince Carter often was a target for Orlando Magic fans, but even his most vocal detractors would have to admit that Carter would be valuable to the team right now as a trade chip. Only $4 million of Carter's $18 million salary for the 2011-12 season is guaranteed through the end of this month. As The Arizona Republic's Paul Coro reports, the Phoenix Suns are expected to buy out Carter in the next few days rather than trade him and be forced to pay the salary of an incoming player or players. But the Magic could have tried to deal Carter this month to a team that is looking to shed a salary or two. In December, the Magic traded Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, their 2011 first-round"
Vince Carter would look good in an Orlando Magic uniform now
czerwca 20
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Vince Carter often was a target for Orlando Magic fans, but even his most vocal detractors would have to admit that Carter would be valuable to the team right now as a trade chip. Only $4 million of Carter's $18 million salary for the 2011-12 season is guaranteed through the end of this month. As The Arizona Republic's Paul Coro reports, the Phoenix Suns are expected to buy out Carter in the next few days rather than trade him and be forced to pay the salary of an incoming player or players. But the Magic could have tried to deal Carter this month to a team that is looking to shed a salary or two. In December, the Magic traded Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, their 2011 first-round"
The Circle of Stupidity is complete: Suns expected to buy out Vince Carter
czerwca 20
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"This is like some crazy train of poor decision making and it just jumps from car to car to car. Let me try and trace this back for you. Hedo Turkoglu looks awesome in the 2009 NBA playoffs, helping the Orlando Magic make it all the way to the NBA Finals. He rebounds, runs point forward, hits threes, the works. It's a bright, bright, sun-shiny free agency day for Turkolu when he hits the open market that summer. The Magic decide to let him go by the wayside, instead opting to take on Vince Carter and his ridiculous contract which pays him $16 million in 2009-2010, largely to miss games with minor injuries, miss free throws and not be able to carry a team at all like he did back when he"
Suns will likely buy out Vince Carter's contract for $4 million
czerwca 20
Arizona Republic
 
"When it comes to the Suns' draft situation for Thursday night, it is easier to address what won't happen: They won't end the night without a draft choice. They won't trade Vince Carter's contract, opting instead to buy him out for $4 million in the coming days. They probably won't use one of their trade exceptions to take on extra payroll, which could compromise flexibility expected in 2012. They surely are not pushing to trade center Marcin Gortat to Minnesota, a rumor that got so out of hand that Gortat received a call to assure him it was not happening. There is a strong possibility that the Suns will keep their No. 13 overall pick and choose from a group of decent power forwards"