piatkowski signs for 2 years with suns

[ducks]

piatkowski signs for 2 years
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0703suns0703.html
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 3, 2006 12:00 AM

Tim Thomas' rapid dash for cash to the Clippers may have surprised Suns fans. Phoenix's first free-agent addition of the summer should not.

The Suns snagged a shooter. Eric Piatkowski, a 6-foot-7 small forward, will spend his 13th and 14th NBA seasons in Phoenix after agreeing to a two-year, $2.4 million deal. Both years are guaranteed and at the minimum for a player of his experience. He can sign July 12.

The Suns continue to seek a veteran backup point guard. They have honed in on Lindsey Hunter, 35, now that Bobby Jackson has come to terms with New Orleans. Phoenix will have to beat Detroit for Hunter, who spent 10 of his 13 seasons there. A Hunter deal might start in the range of $1.5 million to $2 million for the first year.

Piatkowski, also 35, had career lows for games played (20), minutes per game (7.9) and three-point shooting percentage (.273) last season in Chicago. He missed 20 games with inflammation in his foot.

He ranks ninth for career three-point percentage (.399) among active players (Steve Nash is first). He might come in behind James Jones, who often fills in for Shawn Marion.

With 10 players on board for next season, the Suns want other free agents, such as Hunter and Matt Harpring, but will have to wait to see what teams with salary-cap space do.

The Suns' summer players, who begin Vegas Summer League play Friday, may have better shots at roster spots. Ex-Xavier star Romain Sato, a 6-5 off-guard, heads the list after standing out in the Italian League's second division.

Other summer Suns include former Suns reserve Maciej Lampe, former Clippers point guard Lionel Chalmers, former Washington State shooting guard Jeff Varem, former Magic and Pacers forward Britton Johnsen, former Texas wing Chris Owens, former Arizona and New Mexico guard Ruben Douglas, former Washington swingman Tre Simmons and Valley products Tommy Smith and Nick Lewis.

[mabber]

piatkowski signs for 2 years
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0703suns0703.html
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 3, 2006 12:00 AM

Tim Thomas' rapid dash for cash to the Clippers may have surprised Suns fans. Phoenix's first free-agent addition of the summer should not.

The Suns snagged a shooter. Eric Piatkowski, a 6-foot-7 small forward, will spend his 13th and 14th NBA seasons in Phoenix after agreeing to a two-year, $2.4 million deal. Both years are guaranteed and at the minimum for a player of his experience. He can sign July 12.

The Suns continue to seek a veteran backup point guard. They have honed in on Lindsey Hunter, 35, now that Bobby Jackson has come to terms with New Orleans. Phoenix will have to beat Detroit for Hunter, who spent 10 of his 13 seasons there. A Hunter deal might start in the range of $1.5 million to $2 million for the first year.

Piatkowski, also 35, had career lows for games played (20), minutes per game (7.9) and three-point shooting percentage (.273) last season in Chicago. He missed 20 games with inflammation in his foot.

He ranks ninth for career three-point percentage (.399) among active players (Steve Nash is first). He might come in behind James Jones, who often fills in for Shawn Marion.

With 10 players on board for next season, the Suns want other free agents, such as Hunter and Matt Harpring, but will have to wait to see what teams with salary-cap space do.

The Suns' summer players, who begin Vegas Summer League play Friday, may have better shots at roster spots. Ex-Xavier star Romain Sato, a 6-5 off-guard, heads the list after standing out in the Italian League's second division.

Other summer Suns include former Suns reserve Maciej Lampe, former Clippers point guard Lionel Chalmers, former Washington State shooting guard Jeff Varem, former Magic and Pacers forward Britton Johnsen, former Texas wing Chris Owens, former Arizona and New Mexico guard Ruben Douglas, former Washington swingman Tre Simmons and Valley products Tommy Smith and Nick Lewis.

Just another perimeter shooter that doesn't play any defense. Nothings changed in Phoenix. Even if Amare comes back at close to 100% it's not going to get them to the finals until they learn to play much better halfcourt defense when it matters.

[T Park]

lle looks like they signed him with.


another guy that will play sparingly in the regular season and not at all in the playoffs.


Hopefully they get Lindsey Hunter.

[polandprzem]

Maciej still in thie leauge?

[Supergirl]

Phoenix is getting older and slower and not better defensively.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

lol..hunter will re-sign in detroit..don't get your hopes up suns fans

[JMarkJohns]

No fan likes this signing. No Suns fan, anyways....

[ChumpDumper]

A shooter for the minimum?

Could do worse.

[JMarkJohns]

A shooter for the minimum?

Could do worse.

True, he could have pocketed the money like I half expected.

Still, they needed a backup PG more than another limited-PT wing.

For anyone who cares or just didn't know, Sarver is claiming that the Suns cannot spend the full MLE, for fear of the tax. But if the tax comes in at 63 million, as is rumored, the Suns will be roughly 6.7 million under thr cap in reguards to taxable payroll.

If the MLE starts at 5.4 and the Suns are 6.7 under the potential tax, then why can't he spend the full MLE again?

That's right! Because he's cheap!

After this piece of crap signing, they can no longer offer a PG like Claxton the whole MLE. They've wagered all their chips on Lindsey Hunter, who's said he'd prefer to end his career in Detroit.

I bet Marcus Williams or Kyle Lowry is looking pretty good at 1.2 million right about now.

[ChumpDumper]

They aren't really worried about the tax this season -- it's the years after when they gotta pay Diaw and Barbosa.

Remember Pike only counts a little more than half his salary against the cap.

PHX would do well to wait out the initial signing frenzy. I think there will be some decent backup PGs looking for a seat after the initial round of musical chairs.

[CubanMustGo]

Little prick always seems to light up the Spurs, tho.

[mabber]

Little prick always seems to light up the Spurs, tho.

Amazing how certain players (avg NBA players) always play well against certain teams.

[FromWayDowntown]

former Suns reserve Maciej Lampe

To think -- there was a time when draft analysts wondered why NBA teams didn't use 1st round picks on Lampe. Chad Ford's analysis pits Pat Riley's willingness to take on projects against his desire to have a more established player in subtly questioning why the Heat drafted Dwayne Wade at #5:


Ford's Take: The first big shocker of the draft. Pat Riley really wanted a player who could contribute right away. Wade can play in the backcourt with Eddie Jones. He's got a good handle and can play point at times. He's got a great first step and is a solid defender. He's one of the most mature players in the draft. The biggest issue? The Heat desperately need a good shooter in the backcourt. For all of Wade's strengths, he isn't a good long range shooter. Interesting pick. Obviously, by passing on Chris Kaman and Maciej Lampe, Riley doesn't like projects.

I also recall at least a few Spurs fans who thought the front office should have been gutted for missing on that pick.