Brian Grant likely signing with Suns

[picnroll]

link (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3893558)

Agent: Grant, Suns close in on deal
Story Tools: Print Email
Associated Press
Posted: 19 minutes ago



CHICAGO (AP) - Free agent power forward Brian Grant will likely sign a two-year, nearly $4 million contract with the Phoenix Suns, agent Mark Bartelstein said Monday.

The Chicago Bulls also were interested.
"It's a great opportunity," said Bartelstein, adding his client will "make a final decision" on Tuesday. "They have the best record in the league. It was a tough call because Chicago made a great presentation."

The first year of the contract would be guaranteed, with Grant holding an option for 2006-07, according to Bartelstein.

"I think that's the way we're leaning," Bartelstein said.

The Suns declined comment.

Grant was waived last week by the Los Angeles Lakers under the NBA's amnesty clause - a one-time provision in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows teams to cut a player without paying luxury tax on his contract. He is still owed $29.8 million on a contract that had two more years remaining.

After being dealt from Miami with Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and a future first-round draft pick in the Shaquille O'Neal trade last July, Grant averaged a career-low 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds last season while bothered by chronic tendinitis in his knees. He also injured his neck in training camp.

The 33-year-old Grant has averaged 10.7 points and 7.6 in 11 seasons, including three each with Sacramento and Portland and four with the Heat.

[BillsCarnage]

Yeah, i don't know about this. This effectively ends our shot at Finley unless he'll come for the vet min. Unlikely.

If Grant can stay healthy he's serviceable, but overall i'm not to fond of this pickup. Could end up Voshkuling it on the bench for 2yrs.

I would have like to see them get Mikki Moore and Tyronn Lue as the backups. They still have the trade exceptions so we'll see who is available at trading time.

[picnroll]

Finley probably told his buddy Nash he's going to the Heat if he's released.

[Mark in Austin]

Lemme get this straight. The Suns are on the verge of signaing a guy who can't hope to ever play the game at the only speed the Suns have a shot of winning at?

:jack

Signing big men like Thomas and Grant who are somewhat known / have reps as defenders doesn't mean they fit your team. Phoenix should have gone after Stromile Swift, or made a better effort to keep Hunter. They need athletic defenders that can defend halfcourt when needed, not half court (or half speed) defenders that might be able to get out and run if their knees responded well to treatment the day before.

[Knoxville Spur]

Yep, that's a lot to pay just for 6 more fouls!

[midgetonadonkey]

Without JJ and QRich, the Suns aren't shit. If they wish to contend they better hope for a good lottery pick up this next offseason.

[FromWayDowntown]

Lemme get this straight. The Suns are on the verge of signaing a guy who can't hope to ever play the game at the only speed the Suns have a shot of winning at?

:jack

Signing big men like Thomas and Grant who are somewhat known / have reps as defenders doesn't mean they fit your team. Phoenix should have gone after Stromile Swift, or made a better effort to keep Hunter. They need athletic defenders that can defend halfcourt when needed, not half court (or half speed) defenders that might be able to get out and run if their knees responded well to treatment the day before.

My thought, exactly.

In their effort to overcome the Spurs, instead of pushing to become a deeper team that uses young legs to run opponents into the ground, the Suns are now becoming an older team with marginally better depth but far less talent and a bunch of bigs who haven't ever shown the ability to play effectively with up-tempo teams. It's a curious move -- it reminds me, to an extent, of the moves the Mavs made in 2003-04; adding nice names, but few who actually fit the teams' needs in the context of the team's existing structure.

[T Park]

Fine with me, makes the road to the Finals all that much easier.

[Dalamar_the_Dark]

Dont underestimate the Suns this season. I still think that they are very very good. If not better than last season. They may not score 120 per game any more. But I think they have a good core trio. Amare, Marion and Nash. They are to the Suns what Duncan, Parker and Manu are to us. I think they will be trying to surround these 3 with role players and deepen their bench. I believe Kurt Thomas will do well with the Suns cause he doesnt need to be the star on the team. He will go about his business quietly and compliment the leading trio. And he will upgrade their defense quite a bit and help keep Amare out of foul trouble. Too many times last season was Amare in foul trouble having to guard the bigs.

They may not win 60 games but they will make the playoffs (barring injuries) and depending on who they fill out the roster with, could be better poised for the playoffs. Cause the rebounds are still there with Marion and Amare. The assists are still there with Nash. They can still run the floor. And the bulk of the points are still there. JJ will be more of a loss than QRich. QRich did nothing but jack up 3s. He only managed to get wide open shots cause opponents had to worry about Amare, Marion and Nash. Lets see what he does in New York.

JJ is good but definitely not indispensible. The Suns can replace him if they act fast. I wont be surprised if they suddenly enter the Finley sweepstakes. Finley adds experience and can also produce.

[Supergirl]

Yeah, i don't know about this. This effectively ends our shot at Finley unless he'll come for the vet min. Unlikely.

If Grant can stay healthy he's serviceable, but overall i'm not to fond of this pickup. Could end up Voshkuling it on the bench for 2yrs.

I would have like to see them get Mikki Moore and Tyronn Lue as the backups. They still have the trade exceptions so we'll see who is available at trading time.

HAHA! Mikki Moore? You know you're in dire straits when you're pining for Mikki Moore. Every team in the NBA has tried him, and all cut him. Just cause you're 7 feet tall doesn't meant you know how to play ball.

I don't think the Suns can afford Tyronn Lue.

But yeah, I feel your pain about Grant. Five years ago - even three years ago - he would have been a good pick up. But he's old and creaky now, and that's when he's at his best.

[BillsCarnage]

They may not win 60 games but they will make the playoffs (barring injuries) and depending on who they fill out the roster with, could be better poised for the playoffs. Cause the rebounds are still there with Marion and Amare. The assists are still there with Nash. They can still run the floor. And the bulk of the points are still there. JJ will be more of a loss than QRich. QRich did nothing but jack up 3s. He only managed to get wide open shots cause opponents had to worry about Amare, Marion and Nash. Lets see what he does in New York.

I've been saying they're being built for the PO's. They only need three on the fastbreak; Amare, Marion, Nash/Bell. The Spurs beat the Suns on the boards, primarily offensive rebounds. Now the Suns have three players that can avg 35-45 boards a game combined- Amare, Marion, KT.

JoJo leaving will hurt, but he and Q were successful because of the running system. Bell, Paggett, JJax and Barbosa can fill that void. Maybe not blistering 3's like last season, but they can hit 'em. And if by some freak of nature the Suns get Finley it'll be that much better.


HAHA! Mikki Moore? You know you're in dire straits when you're pining for Mikki Moore. Every team in the NBA has tried him, and all cut him. Just cause you're 7 feet tall doesn't meant you know how to play ball.

I don't think the Suns can afford Tyronn Lue.

But yeah, I feel your pain about Grant. Five years ago - even three years ago - he would have been a good pick up. But he's old and creaky now, and that's when he's at his best.

Hunter was an unproven talent too. Mikki can block a few shots. As a replacement for Hunter he would have been fine. Hell, he'd have been worth it just for his FT% vs Hunters ;-)

Lue is probably out of the question with the Grant signing since they only have the 1.1mil left. But they will have $7mil in trade exceptions and two extra first rounders to dangle come trading time.

:fro

[Marcus Bryant]

Jerome Williams makes more sense for the Suns than BGrant.

[MI21]

Now the Suns have three players that can avg 35-45 boards a game combined- Amare, Marion, KT.

What does Amare average over an 82 game season? 9rpg, less?

Marion got around 11rpg I think last season.

That leaves Thomas to get 15rpg if you want 35rpg, or 25rpg if you want 45rpg.

I think you overestimated a little bit there mate.

[picnroll]

Suns needed someone to wrestle with Yao and Shaq, even Duncan for a few minutes.

[BillsCarnage]

What does Amare average over an 82 game season? 9rpg, less?

Marion got around 11rpg I think last season.

That leaves Thomas to get 15rpg if you want 35rpg, or 25rpg if you want 45rpg.

I think you overestimated a little bit there mate.


The Suns as a team avg'd 43 a game.
Individually it was Marion-11, KT-10, Amare-9. There were several nights when Marion or Amare had @ 20 rebs. With the three of them crashing the boards together they should avg more per game as a trio.

[Mr. Body]

Now the Suns have three players that can avg 35-45 boards a game combined- Amare, Marion, KT.

15 rebounds a piece, huh? Their offensive plays will have to be variations of a tip drill.

[FromWayDowntown]

I've been saying they're being built for the PO's. They only need three on the fastbreak; Amare, Marion, Nash/Bell. The Spurs beat the Suns on the boards, primarily offensive rebounds. Now the Suns have three players that can avg 35-45 boards a game combined- Amare, Marion, KT.

JoJo leaving will hurt, but he and Q were successful because of the running system. Bell, Paggett, JJax and Barbosa can fill that void. Maybe not blistering 3's like last season, but they can hit 'em. And if by some freak of nature the Suns get Finley it'll be that much better.

I disagree. What made the Suns formidable last year was their ability to run as a group, spread the floor, drain open threes, and put up boatloads of points. Regardless of what QRich didn't do in the WCF, the Suns have lost two thoroughbreads who were vital to their regular season record and First and Second round wins.

When they tried to play like other teams (before last season) the Suns, even with Amare and Marion and a top-notch PG, were a middle-of-the-pack team, at best. Nash might upgrade their PG situation on the offensive end and Amare's improvement will help them to be better overall, but putting together a team that is more-or-less like other teams in the NBA doesn't strike me as an avenue for the Suns to move forward.

To me, at least, they're starting to look more and more like the 2002-03 Suns (8 seed) than the 2004-05 Suns (1 seed).

[Kip Fanatic]

The best pickup the Suns got so far this year is Raja Bell because he can actually defend. Brian Grant was a no show last year and never really has been what the media makes him to be. He is overrated. Thomas was good in the East before Shaq showed up. He won't be that good against Tim Duncan and Garnett. The Suns are not going to make it to the Finals. Steve Nash is getting older. Marion was shut down last year in the Western Conference Finals by Bowen.