Suns sign Barbosa to 5-year, $32M extension

[Kori Ellis]

Suns sign Barbosa to 5-year, $32M extension
By Jerry Brown, Tribune
August 3, 2006

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=70954

The Suns took another step toward completing their summer business Thursday by signing guard Leandro Barbosa to a five-year, $32 million contract extension according to NBA sources familiar with the negotiations.

Barbosa, 23, will be in Phoenix for a press conference today before rejoining the Brazilian National Team and its preparations for the upcoming World Basketball Championships. He will earn $1.679 million in 2006-07, the final year of his current contract, before the new deal kicks in beginning with the 2007-08 season.

Barbosa had a breakout season last year, playing 28 minutes a game and setting career highs with 13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 57 games. He shot 48.1 percent from the field and ranked third in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 44.4 percent.

Barbosa was even better in the playoffs, averaging 14.2 points on 47 percent shooting in 20 postseason games, including a 26-point effort in Game 7 against the Lakers and 18 in Game 7 against the Clippers.

Regarded as one of the fastest players in the league, Barbosa thrived as a backup shooting guard and will stay at that spot after the Suns signed Marcus Banks to back up Steve Nash at the point.

The Suns are trying to work out a similar extension with Boris Diaw, who was voted the NBA Most Improved Player last season. Diaw will make $1.795 million this year. Sources say the two sides are not close to a deal at this time.

[picnroll]

Without making any moves to shed salary next year the Suns have about $65 million in salary for '07 - '08. Diaw will likely want a very fat contract to sign and will make it tough for the Suns to ink unless they move a player like Marion.

[confined]

^ i dont understand what diaw's role will be anyway if amare returns to form

[exstatic]

The Suns always overpay their players because the system makes them look better than they are. On a non run-n-gun team, those number translate into 8/2/2, not even close to being worth a full MCE deal. Did anyone else even make him an offer?

It also just dawned on me that if Diaw balks at their offer, then accepts the year 5 qualifier, he will be a UFA in '08. :hat CIA Buford....

[JUUOT]

The Suns always overpay their players because the system makes them look better than they are. On a non run-n-gun team, those number translate into 8/2/2, not even close to being worth a full MCE deal. Did anyone else even make him an offer?

It also just dawned on me that if Diaw balks at their offer, then accepts the year 5 qualifier, he will be a UFA in '08. :hat CIA Buford....


I gave it before as one of the potential big move we could make in 2008

[exstatic]

I gave it before as one of the potential big move we could make in 2008
Great minds run together... :smokin

[ChumpDumper]

Diaw would be an idiot to sign an extension now.

Barbosa was smart.

[TDMVPDPOY]

maybe suns will either trade james jones+kurt thomas both expirin in 2 years for expiring contracts, or suns mite trade marion...if i were them hold this team together, see how amare is, if he doesnt panned out, show him the door.

[RC's Boss]

^ i dont understand what diaw's role will be anyway if amare returns to form
I'm really questioning just how effective he will be when he does return. If he never regains his explosiveness, will he have enough moves in his arsenal to still be effective? :nope .... Kidd returned, but he's not a big man either.

[PhxDog]

The Suns always overpay their players because the system makes them look better than they are. On a non run-n-gun team, those number translate into 8/2/2, not even close to being worth a full MCE deal. Did anyone else even make him an offer?

It also just dawned on me that if Diaw balks at their offer, then accepts the year 5 qualifier, he will be a UFA in '08. :hat CIA Buford....
Why would you want to spend big money on Diaw, though. Take him away from the Suns system, and he's an 8/4/4/ player--the french Jared Jeffries.

;)

[picnroll]

Diaw is a much more talented offensive player than Jeffries and is a player that presents significant matchup porblems, a player that is going to cost the Suns a lot to keep, more than $60 million in all likelihood.

[shaggy17]

:pctoss :pctoss Ughhhh I hope this doesnt mess them up keeping Diaw or resulting in dealing Marion. Damnit I really like the team the suns had put together and I want them to keep it in tact.

[exstatic]

Why would you want to spend big money on Diaw, though. Take him away from the Suns system, and he's an 8/4/4/ player--the french Jared Jeffries.

;)
Actually, If he were to sign in SA in '08, it would be for a starting spot at the 3. Even allowing for the differences in systems, he'd still probably put up 11/6/3. The rebounding wouldn't be as affected by system. Most of that comes on the defensive end anyway.

[Jules]

Good for him... Leandro is such an impressive player and hasn't even hit his peak yet.

[Mavs_man_41]

Sounds like a pretty good deal for phoenix. I don't think he will ever be a superstar but he is more than just a role player.

[RON ARTEST]

:pctoss :pctoss Ughhhh I hope this doesnt mess them up keeping Diaw or resulting in dealing Marion. Damnit I really like the team the suns had put together and I want them to keep it in tact.
arent you a spurs fan, why would you want them to keep thier team in tact?

[AZLouis]

From the AZ Republic..


Satisfaction is fleeting as long as Boris Diaw's situation looms. With amicable negotiations still far apart, Diaw has until Oct. 31 to sign an extension or become a restricted free agent in July.

"If it works, we'll do it," Sarver said. "If not, we won't. It's just like last year. It will all work out. If he signs, it'll work out. If we don't get him signed, it'll work out, too."

The Suns have pretty much been preaching all summer long that they weren't going to sign Diaw. They want to wait until next season. As D'Antoni said, they don't want to bid against themselves.

The Joe Johnson Fiasco taught them nothing.

With that quote above, Sarver actually believes that if they lose Diaw they'll be just fine.

If Atl can do bad/good enough to secure the #4 pick, the Suns may luck out and can draft a guy like Thaddeus Young that will make losing Diaw not as hard to swallow.

[PhxDog]

Actually, If he were to sign in SA in '08, it would be for a starting spot at the 3. Even allowing for the differences in systems, he'd still probably put up 11/6/3. The rebounding wouldn't be as affected by system. Most of that comes on the defensive end anyway.
Since Diaw was starting at center for a lot of last year, I don't see why you'd expect him to maintain his rebounding, either. (Also, Diaw's never been effective at SF, not even in Phoenix.)



Anyway, I was just amused by the other guy, because his first paragraph was about how all Suns players are massively overrated because of their inflated stats...then with barely a pause, he begins lusting after one of those overrated Suns players.

The irony was even sweeter because it was Diaw, who averaged something like 4/3/2 in his two years in Atlanta. :lol

[Pero]

The Joe Johnson Fiasco taught them nothing.


There was a fiasco? Doesn`t look that way to me.

[PhxDog]

The Joe Johnson Fiasco taught them nothing.
Actually, it tought them that if they didn't like a young player's price going into his contract year, they could get a huge bounty for him in S&T the next season.

I don't think it will work that way this time, though. With their cap situation next summer, teams won't take the Suns seriously when they threaten to match a big offer.

[picnroll]

The irony was even sweeter because it was Diaw, who averaged something like 4/3/2 in his two years in Atlanta. :lol
Kind of like a guy who played for Portland named Jermaine O'Neal.


Actually, it tought them that if they didn't like a young player's price going into his contract year, they could get a huge bounty for him in S&T the next season.

I don't think it will work that way this time, though. With their cap situation next summer, teams won't take the Suns seriously when they threaten to match a big offer.
Hawks were fools and made to look like fools not calling the Suns' and Colangelo's bluff. Now to compensate Hawks are demanding the world to do a S&T for Harrington figuring maybe someone else is as stupid as they were. Can't count on teams being as stupid as Atlanta was,Suns won't get a deal for Diaw like they did for Johnson.

[PhxDog]

Actually, JO was 4/3/0, for four years. Unlike Diaw, though, JO only received spot minutes.


A better comparison minutes-wise would be Barbosa, who put up 7/2/2 in his first two years.

[AZLouis]

Actually, it tought them that if they didn't like a young player's price going into his contract year, they could get a huge bounty for him in S&T the next season.

I don't think it will work that way this time, though. With their cap situation next summer, teams won't take the Suns seriously when they threaten to match a big offer.

If it won't work this time, why would you bring it up?

The Suns were very lucky last season when trading JJ and getting Diaw.

If Diaw leaves they have only the 1 pick left.

And we both know what the Suns have done with their picks in recent years.

[ShoogarBear]

Tony Parker and Leandro Barbosa in the same backcourt. :bang:

[T-Pain]

damnit if we only never traded him away...

[shaggy17]

arent you a spurs fan, why would you want them to keep thier team in tact?

Because I like the team they have and why not want them to keep the team together? Titles arent fun competing for if you dont have other contenders going at it as well. I also pick the Suns to not only win the west this year but to win the whole damn thing (I am going with what my gut is telling me). I am also an NBA fan as well :fro .

[Mavs_man_41]

Because I like the team they have and why not want them to keep the team together? Titles arent fun competing for if you dont have other contenders going at it as well. I also pick the Suns to not only win the west this year but to win the whole damn thing (I am going with what my gut is telling me). I am also an NBA fan as well :fro .

:wtf......the suns aren't the only other contender. Sounds like a bandwagoners excuse to me........

[shaggy17]

:wtf......the suns aren't the only other contender. Sounds like a bandwagoners excuse to me........
:rolleyes :rolleyes So just because I think the Suns have a realistic chance of winning the west and championship makes me a bandwagoner?? I am Spurs fan but I also am an NBA fan. Plus Mav fans are the last ones who should talk about badwagoning because it has been a common thing for you fans since you changed your jerseys 5 years ago!! :rolleyes They arent a lock either but you cant beat a healthy suns team in a 7 game series. Suns have the most versatile team in the league, Amare has like 7-8 months to pace himself for the playoffs, they just signed Marcus Banks, and Boris Diaw is continuing to get better, and they have the 2 time SUPERSTAR MVP Steve Nash. A suns team with any form of the 2004-2005 Amare>>>>>>>>>>This current Mavs team.

[Doug Collins]

:rolleyes :rolleyes So just because I think the Suns have a realistic chance of winning the west and championship makes me a bandwagoner?? They arent a lock either but you cant beat a healthy suns team in a 7 game series. Suns have the most versatile team in the league, Amare has like 7-8 months to pace himself for the playoffs, they just signed Marcus Banks, and Boris Diaw is continuing to get better. A suns team with any form of the 2004-2005 Amare>>>>>>>>>>This current Mavs team.

Couldn't agree more. Suns without Amare gave the Mavs a tough fight, but with an Amare that is anywhere near 90% they win a 7 game series. I've watched a lot of suns games the past couple years since my roommate was from Phoenix and I cant help but think they will be the team to beat in the coming years as long as Amare can recover from the microfracture surgery (which may or may not happen). Resigning Barbosa was huge for them and getting Marcus Banks should allow them to rest Steve more during the regular season, so he can be fresh for the playoffs.