PhxDog
07-12-2006, 02:50 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0712suns0712.html
As the NBA equivalent of letter-of-intent day hits today, the Suns find themselves full of familiarity with their latest top recruit John Salmons.
As they did last summer, the Suns are pursuing a long, multiposition player in his mid-20s out of the University of Miami in a sign-and-trade deal by using their trade exception from the Joe Johnson deal.
Like that deal with James Jones, Bryan Colangelo is involved. This time, Colangelo is the adversary's general manager. His Toronto Raptors are waiting along with the Suns on Salmons' decision between the two.
For Phoenix to get Salmons as a restricted free agent, Philadelphia would re-sign him to a five-year, $22 million contract and send him to the Suns for a second-round pick and Phoenix's $3.6 million trade exception. A sign-and-trade deal can add $100,000, allowing Salmons' deal to start at $3.7 million. That would make him Phoenix's sixth highest paid player.
It was enough for Salmons to be settled Sunday on the Suns, but he has wavered since then.
He is torn between Phoenix's contender status and the opportunity in Toronto, where Colangelo is crafting a team that will play in the Suns' image with about $15 million to work with under the salary cap. The Raptors are offering more money and potential for a starting job.
Salmons, 26, averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 25.1 minutes last season in Philadelphia, his hometown. At 6 feet 7, Salmons often slid over to point as a backup or fill-in for Allen Iverson. Salmons started 24 games and averaged 10 assists in a three-game stretch when Iverson was out in March.
That versatility is the draw for Phoenix. Salmons could fill needs for a perimeter defender and backup point in one shot. He has played point and both wings since college.
He is a decent midrange shooter at best but scores on slashes. He hit 30 percent of his three-point tries last season.
Salmons played three seasons with Jones at Miami, where both were four-year players known more for guile than athleticism. Jones stays in touch with Salmons but said they had not talked basketball.
"He's a playmaker, but he can shoot," said Jones, who has the same agent, Joel Bell, as Salmons. "In his situation the last couple years, they needed him to be a playmaker. If you ask him to score 30, he can. He's deceptive with his shot.
"He's a real playmaker. At 6-7, he's a unique guy. Boris (Diaw) is similar to him. You don't see many guys who are 6-7 or 6-8 who can handle the ball, pass the ball and always make the right plays."
Beyond Salmons, Phoenix likely would only add a couple of minimum-salary players but has no need to do so as the signing gates open. The Suns are limited to using the $5.2 million midlevel exception and minimum contracts because they are over the salary cap, which was set at $53,135,000 on Tuesday. The luxury tax threshold will be $65.4 million, $3.7 million higher than last season. The unexpectedly high bar would allow Phoenix to make its final moves, including Salmons, and avoid the dollar-for-dollar tax penalty.
The Suns already agreed to a two-year, $2.4 million deal with Eric Piatkowski, who is in the Valley and will sign Thursday.
I'd heard the Suns were interested in Salmons, but I'm shocked at the price. I thought they might offer him the same deal they offered to James Jones last year (4yrs/$11m).
As the NBA equivalent of letter-of-intent day hits today, the Suns find themselves full of familiarity with their latest top recruit John Salmons.
As they did last summer, the Suns are pursuing a long, multiposition player in his mid-20s out of the University of Miami in a sign-and-trade deal by using their trade exception from the Joe Johnson deal.
Like that deal with James Jones, Bryan Colangelo is involved. This time, Colangelo is the adversary's general manager. His Toronto Raptors are waiting along with the Suns on Salmons' decision between the two.
For Phoenix to get Salmons as a restricted free agent, Philadelphia would re-sign him to a five-year, $22 million contract and send him to the Suns for a second-round pick and Phoenix's $3.6 million trade exception. A sign-and-trade deal can add $100,000, allowing Salmons' deal to start at $3.7 million. That would make him Phoenix's sixth highest paid player.
It was enough for Salmons to be settled Sunday on the Suns, but he has wavered since then.
He is torn between Phoenix's contender status and the opportunity in Toronto, where Colangelo is crafting a team that will play in the Suns' image with about $15 million to work with under the salary cap. The Raptors are offering more money and potential for a starting job.
Salmons, 26, averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 25.1 minutes last season in Philadelphia, his hometown. At 6 feet 7, Salmons often slid over to point as a backup or fill-in for Allen Iverson. Salmons started 24 games and averaged 10 assists in a three-game stretch when Iverson was out in March.
That versatility is the draw for Phoenix. Salmons could fill needs for a perimeter defender and backup point in one shot. He has played point and both wings since college.
He is a decent midrange shooter at best but scores on slashes. He hit 30 percent of his three-point tries last season.
Salmons played three seasons with Jones at Miami, where both were four-year players known more for guile than athleticism. Jones stays in touch with Salmons but said they had not talked basketball.
"He's a playmaker, but he can shoot," said Jones, who has the same agent, Joel Bell, as Salmons. "In his situation the last couple years, they needed him to be a playmaker. If you ask him to score 30, he can. He's deceptive with his shot.
"He's a real playmaker. At 6-7, he's a unique guy. Boris (Diaw) is similar to him. You don't see many guys who are 6-7 or 6-8 who can handle the ball, pass the ball and always make the right plays."
Beyond Salmons, Phoenix likely would only add a couple of minimum-salary players but has no need to do so as the signing gates open. The Suns are limited to using the $5.2 million midlevel exception and minimum contracts because they are over the salary cap, which was set at $53,135,000 on Tuesday. The luxury tax threshold will be $65.4 million, $3.7 million higher than last season. The unexpectedly high bar would allow Phoenix to make its final moves, including Salmons, and avoid the dollar-for-dollar tax penalty.
The Suns already agreed to a two-year, $2.4 million deal with Eric Piatkowski, who is in the Valley and will sign Thursday.
I'd heard the Suns were interested in Salmons, but I'm shocked at the price. I thought they might offer him the same deal they offered to James Jones last year (4yrs/$11m).