The Phoenix Suns today signed unrestricted free agent Channing Frye to a one-year deal with a player option for a second season, the club has announced. We will add salary info tonight.
“We’re excited to welcome Channing home to Phoenix,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “We’re fortunate to add a player of his caliber to our frontcourt. Channing fits our style perfectly because of his ability to run and shoot with range, and he’s our kind of person, too – a great teammate with high character and someone who is very community-minded.”
The 6-11, 245-pound Frye is a four-year NBA veteran originally selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. Frye, who spent his first two career seasons with the Knicks (2005-07), joins his third NBA team following a two-year stint most recently with the Portland Trail Blazers (2007-09). The 26-year-old owns career averages of 8.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 278 games (94 starts).
Frye’s best statistical seasons came with consistent minutes in his first two NBA campaigns with the Knicks. Frye averaged 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 25.3 minutes in 137 games in 2005-06 and 2006-07, including a career-high 12.3 points in garnering NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2005-06.
The decorated former University of Arizona standout spent four seasons in Tucson, earning First Team All-Pac 10 honors as both a junior and senior while serving as co-captain of the Wildcats. Frye finished his career with the Wildcats ninth on the school’s all-time scoring list (1,789), third in rebounds (975), second in blocks (258) and fourth in field goals made (707). Frye won the 2005 Pac-10 Sportsmanship Award.