Phoenix Suns Blog – Page 17 – NBA Blog

Suns sign Ronnie Price for rest of season, waive Jared Sullinger and Mike Scott

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Ronnie Price for the remainder of the season. The Suns have also waived forward Mike Scott and center/forward Jared Sullinger.

Currently in his third tenure with the Suns, Price has made two appearances since signing the first of two 10-day contracts with the team on Jan. 27.

A 12th-season NBA veteran, Price played with the Suns in 2015-16 and averaged a career-best 5.3 points while appearing in a career-high 62 games. In addition to last season, he averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 assists in 36 games with Phoenix in 2011-12. For his career, the 6-2, 190-pound point guard has averaged 3.8 points and 1.8 assists in 532 games with Sacramento, Utah, Phoenix, Portland, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the NBA’s 2016-17 GM Survey, the 33-year-old floor general tied with Suns forward Jared Dudley as each received the second-most votes in response to the question, “Which active player will make the best head coach someday?”

Undrafted out of college in 2005, the Friendswood, Texas native was a four-year performer at Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University) and the first player to enter the NBA directly from that school.

Scott and Sullinger were both acquired by the Suns in deals with Atlanta and Toronto, respectively, before the trade deadline yesterday.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 14 players

Raptors trade Jared Sullinger to Suns for P.J. Tucker

The Phoenix Suns today completed a deal with the Toronto Raptors to acquire center/forward Jared Sullinger, Toronto’s second-round draft picks in 2017 and 2018, and cash considerations in exchange for forward P.J. Tucker.

“We thank P.J. for his contributions to our franchise over the past five seasons,” said Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough. “He was well respected by his teammates as someone who pushed them every day in practice, laid his heart on the line on the court and was a leader in the locker room. P.J. was also loved by the fans here in Phoenix for his relentless approach on the court and his work in our community. We appreciate all that he did for the Suns organization and wish him the best as he joins the Raptors.”

Sullinger is in his fifth NBA season, holding career averages of 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in 269 games with the Raptors and Boston Celtics. In 11 games with Toronto this season, Sullinger has averaged 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds as he underwent left foot surgery on Oct. 24, delaying his season debut until Jan. 18. Sullinger signed with Toronto this past summer after he had averaged double-digits scoring in each of the three previous seasons with the Celtics, including a career-high 13.3 points in both 2013-14 and 2014-15. The 24-year-old posted 10.3 points and a career-best 8.3 rebounds per game in a career-high 81 appearances for Boston last season.

The 21st overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by Boston, Sullinger was a consensus All-American in each of his two seasons at Ohio State University. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Sullinger led the Buckeyes to a Final Four berth in 2012.

Tucker departs the Suns after averaging 8.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 377 games (286 starts) over five seasons with the team. He initially joined the Suns on Aug. 1, 2012, signing as a free agent to return to the NBA (where he played as a rookie with the Raptors in 2006-07) after five seasons internationally. The 31-year-old is averaging 7.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and a career-high 1.5 steals (20th in NBA) in 57 games (17 starts) this season.

The only four-time winner of the Suns’ Majerle Hustle Award, Tucker ranks 14th in Suns history in steals (471), 18th in rebounds (2,228) and 20th in games played (377).

The Suns’ roster now stands at 15.

Hawks trade Mike Scott to Suns

The Atlanta Hawks today acquired the Phoenix Suns’ top-55 protected 2017 second-round pick, in exchange for Mike Scott, the draft rights to Cenk Akyol and cash considerations going to Phoenix, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

“On behalf of the Atlanta Hawks, I want to thank Mike for his contributions over the last five years,” Budenholzer said. “He will be missed by his teammates, coaches and the entire Hawks organization. We wish him the best in the future.”

Scott is in his fifth NBA season, holding career averages of 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds in 281 games, all with Atlanta. The 6-8 forward has averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18 games with the Hawks this season, scoring a season-high 11 points on Jan. 27 vs. Washington. Originally the 43rd overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft out of the University of Virginia, Scott averaged career-highs of 9.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 80 games for Atlanta in 2013-14.

Akyol was selected by the Hawks with 59th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. The 6-6 guard from Turkey currently plays for Acibadem Universitesi Istanbul of the Turkish Basketball First League and has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 20.7 minutes.

Dragan Bender undergoes ankle surgery

Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender had routine arthroscopic procedure on his right ankle yesterday (Wednesday) to remove a bone spur. The surgery was performed by Dr. Ned Amendola at Duke University Hospital. Bender is estimated to return to full basketball activity in approximately four to six weeks.

The fourth overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, Bender is averaging 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.5 blocks and 12.7 minutes in 38 games during his rookie season. On Dec. 26 at Houston, the 19-year-old tallied career-highs of 11 points, 13 rebounds and three steals to become the youngest player in Suns history to record a double-double.

Suns sign Ronnie Price to second 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Ronnie Price to a second 10-day contract.

Currently in his third tenure with the Suns, Price has not yet appeared in a game this season since initially signing a 10-day contract with the team on Jan. 27.

An 11-year NBA veteran out of Utah Valley University, Price most recently played last season with the Suns when he averaged a career-best 5.3 points while appearing in a career-high 62 games. In addition to 2015-16, he averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 assists in 36 games with Phoenix in 2011-12. For his career, the 6-2, 190-pound point guard has averaged 3.8 points and 1.8 assists in 530 games with Sacramento, Utah, Phoenix, Portland, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Suns sign Ronnie Price to 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Ronnie Price to a 10-day contract.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Price most recently played last season with the Suns when he averaged a career-best 5.3 points while appearing in a career-high 62 games. This is Price’s third tenure with the Suns as in addition to 2015-16, he averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 assists in 36 games with Phoenix in 2011-12. For his career, the 6-2, 190-pound point guard has averaged 3.8 points and 1.8 assists in 530 games with Sacramento, Utah, Phoenix, Portland, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Price will wear uniform number 14. The Suns’ roster now stands at 15

Johnny O’Bryant named D-League Player of Week

Forward/center Johnny O’Bryant III of the Northern Arizona Suns today was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 9 through Sunday, Jan. 15.

O’Bryant (6-9, 257, LSU) averaged 24.0 points and 17.0 rebounds (second in the NBA D-League) for the week as the Phoenix Suns’ NBA D-League affiliate went 2-0. He opened the week with 22 points, 17 rebounds and three steals in a 94-88 victory over the Oklahoma City Blue on Jan. 10. In his next game, O’Bryant made a season-high four three-pointers on his way to 26 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and handed out three assists in a 121-90 win against the Grand Rapids Drive on Jan. 14.

For the season, the 23-year-old O’Bryant is averaging 17.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 22 games. O’Bryant, the 36th overall pick in NBA Draft 2014 presented by State Farm, played a total of 100 games with the Milwaukee Bucks over the previous two seasons.

Other players considered for the NBA Development League Performer of the Week were Canton’s Eric Moreland, Fort Wayne’s Alex Poythress, Los Angeles’ Vander Blue, Rio Grande Valley’s Darius Morris, Santa Cruz’s Phil Pressey, Texas’ Pierre Jackson and Windy City’s Alfonzo McKinnie.

Suns waive John Jenkins

The Phoenix Suns have waived guard John Jenkins.

Jenkins has averaged 1.8 points and 3.3 minutes in four appearances this season, and averaged 5.0 points and 13.0 minutes in 22 games with the Suns in 2015-16. A 6-4 guard in his fifth NBA season, Jenkins initially joined the Suns after being claimed off of waivers on Feb. 24, 2016.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 14 players

Devin Booker ejected, then squeezes in a quick autograph signing

Usually, NBA players are reprimanded for not leaving the court in a timely manner.

Suns guard Devin Booker received nationwide praise for how he did it after receiving his first career ejection Wednesday night at Denver.

Booker was caught off guard when he was ejected for receiving his second technical foul of the game – and the season. Official Eric Lewis gave Booker and Denver power forward Kenneth Faried a double technical foul with 17.8 seconds remaining in the Nuggets’ 120-104 victory at Pepsi Center.

Booker thought he was about to shoot a free throw before being told he was being ejected after also getting a technical foul late in the second quarter from official Kevin Cutler. Booker gave the official a thumbs up as he walked off the court. As security escorted him toward an exit tunnel, Booker stopped to give a boy an autograph and fist-bumped a man.

— Arizona Republic

InsideHoops.com Quick Take: We dig it.

Suns exercise contract options on Devin Booker and T.J. Warren

The Phoenix Suns have exercised their 2017-18 options on guard Devin Booker and forward T.J. Warren.

Booker ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring this preseason, averaging 19.6 points in five appearances, including a 34-point performance at Portland on October 7. An NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in 2015-16, Booker ranked fourth among rookies with a scoring average of 13.8 points in 76 games, averaging 18.5 points over the season’s final 44 games after permanently joining the starting lineup on Jan. 8. By eclipsing 1,000 career points at an age of 19 years, 162 days old on April 9 of last season, he became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to score 1,000 points with only LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant doing so younger.

Warren started all six of the Suns’ preseason games, averaging 12.5 points on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 4.2 rebounds. In his second season with the Suns in 2015-16, Warren averaged career bests of 11.0 points and 3.1 rebounds through 47 games before a right foot fracture caused him to miss the season’s final 34 contests. By shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from behind the three-point arc last season, he was one of only three players in the league, along with Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard, to shoot at least 50 percent on field goals and 40 percent on three-pointers among those who made at least 25 threes.