Phoenix Suns Blog – Page 41 – NBA Blog

Eric Gordon wants to go to Suns, not stay with Hornets

Eric Gordon is in Las Vegas vying for one of the final spots on the U.S. national team that will play in this summer’s Olympics. He wants to go to London. But he doesn’t want to come back to New Orleans.

Gordon, a restricted free agent who has a four-year, $58 million offer sheet from the Phoenix Suns, believes they are more committed to his future than the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets acquired Gordon from the Los Angeles Clippers last season in the deal that sent point guard Chris Paul to the Clippers.

Paul didn’t want to be in New Orleans any longer, either, and Gordon suggested if the Hornets match the Suns’ offer and retain him, they’d be looking at a similar situation. The four-year offer from the Suns, a source said, includes a player option on the fourth year.

“Phoenix just showed a lot more interest, overall, and definitely in how they negotiated,” Gordon said. “I don’t know what New Orleans’ plans are for me. There are no negotiations right now.”

— Reported by Ric Bucher of ESPN.com

Goran Dragic to join Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns, moving quickly after trading face of the franchise Steve Nash, have reached terms on a contract with point guard Goran Dragic, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns have reached a verbal agreement on a four-year contract worth an estimated $34 million that Dragic has pledged to sign July 11, which is the first day contracts can be signed.

Dragic will have a player option entering the fourth year, sources said.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

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Phoenix Suns to sign Michael Beasley

The Phoenix Suns have reached a verbal commitment with free-agent forward Michael Beasley on a three-year deal worth $18 million, according to sources familiar with the deal.

Beasley can’t actually sign until July 11, which is the first day new contracts can be signed in the NBA.

Beasley chose the Suns from a group of five suitors after visiting with Suns officials on Wednesday, while Phoenix was also agreeing to trade Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal.

Beasley flew to Phoenix to meet with the Suns on Wednesday, the second time the two parties met. The Suns flew to Los Angeles to meet Beasley earlier this week.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

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Suns sign-and-trading Steve Nash to Lakers

Veteran star point guard Steve Nash is taking his talents from the Phoenix Suns and heading to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade agreement.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, “Sources told ESPN.com that the Nash, with the New York Knicks also pressing hard to complete a simiilar sign-and-trade deal, was swayed to join the Lakers after a determined push from Bryant and because the move not only keeps him in the title hunt but will allow Nash to stay in close proximity to his three children in Phoenix. Nash will receive a three-year deal in excess of $25 million, sources said, because the Suns ultimately agreed to sign-and-trade him to the Lakers, who can absorb Nash via the trade exception they created by dealing Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks in December.”

Per Elliot Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News: “Nash joins a team that was in flux last season in Mike Brown’s first year as coach. The Lakers believed they had secured their point guard of the future when they acquired Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers and dealt Derek Fisher to the Houston Rockets. But Sessions opted out of his Lakers contract for next season to become a free agent. it’s unlikely the Lakers would continue their attempts to re-sign Sessions. It was believed Nash was bound for either the Toronto Raptors or the New York Knicks or perhaps with the Dallas Mavericks to re-unite with Dirk Nowitzki. The two-time NBA most-valuable player reportedly received a three-season, $36-million offer from the Raptors. Word leaked early Wednesday that he would not take it, however.”

Per Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, “In the Nash sign-and-trade, the #Suns will get 2013 & 2015 first-round picks and 2013 & 2014 second-round picks.”

The 38-year-old Nash averaged 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 10.7 assists on 53.2% shooting last season for the Suns.

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Phoenix Suns meeting with Michael Beasley, Raymond Felton

Suns to meet with Michael Beasley, Raymond Felton

The Phoenix Suns apparently are envisioning a lineup for next season that looks something like this: Raymond Felton, Eric Gordon, Michael Beasley, Channing Frye/Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat.

That is what you would have to take from the Suns’ hope to find agreeable contract terms today with Beasley during his Valley visit. Beasley’s visit comes two days after the Suns met Beasley in Los Angeles, a day after Gordon’s commitment to sign a four-year, $58 million offer sheet and the day before Felton visits in search of his fifth team in four seasons.

Beasley, 23, is also getting interest from Detroit but wants to come to Phoenix. A source said his agent, Jeff Schwartz, feels like Suns coach Alvin Gentry would be as good of a fit for Beasley as he was for Lamar Odom, when he was an immature, inconsistent young player for Gentry’s Clippers.

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Knicks working with Suns on Steve Nash sign-and-trade

Steve Nash could be headed for a reunion with Amar’e Stoudemire as the Knicks and Phoenix Suns continue working on a sign-and-trade for the two time MVP point guard.

The proposed deal would include Iman Shumpert, a player the Knicks are reluctant to part with, as well as Toney Douglas and at least two other players. The trade is necessary in order for the Knicks to give Nash a contract comparable to the three-year, $36 million offer he received from the Toronto Raptors.

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Eric Gordon will sign Phoenix Suns offer sheet

Restricted free agent guard Eric Gordon has agreed to a four-year deal with the Phoenix Suns worth about $58 million, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The New Orleans Hornets have the right to match the deal and keep Gordon.

Gordon was in Phoenix on Tuesday, meeting with the Suns’ front office. The agreement to the offer sheet was confirmed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because free agent acquisitions can’t be revealed publicly until next week, according to NBA rules.

The Suns also have had meetings this week with forward Michael Beasley and guard Goran Dragic as they prepare for life after Steve Nash.

There have been several sign-and-trade speculations regarding Nash, who is an unrestricted free agent who seems ever more unlikely to return to Phoenix.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Suns select Kendall Marshall in 2012 Draft

The Phoenix Suns tonight selected University of North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall with the 13th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

“We are ecstatic, as happy as we were last year,” said Suns General Manager Lance Blanks. “Looking at our board and who was there at the 13th pick, that was the guy we were targeting all along. Kendall came here and had a wonderful visit. He came back, we got a second look at him, and quite frankly, Kendall represents where we are as an organization. Don’t read too far into this as far as free agency—he represents everything we want to be about, as a player and as a person. He’s a winner.”

Marshall, a 6-4, 195-pound pure point guard, was a two-year performer at North Carolina where this season he earned the 2012 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard after serving as the floor general for the nation’s second-highest scoring offense (82.0; Iona, 83.3). An unselfish and accurate passer, Marshall averaged an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) single-season record 9.8 assists, second-most in the nation, and the eighth-highest average in NCAA history overall. In doing so, he established an NCAA record for the highest assist average by a sophomore in history and a single-season ACC record for total assists (311).

An Associated Press Third-Team All-American and CBS Sports.com First Team All-America selection, Marshall earned Second-Team All-ACC honors in 2011-12 and was named Third-Team All-ACC as a freshman. The 20-year-old Marshall finished his collegiate career as the all-time assist average leader (7.96) at North Carolina’s decorated program, and as the owner of the best assist-to-turnover ratio in conference history (3.01). He led the conference in assists in both of his collegiate seasons, and became just the second Tar Heel ever to do so as a freshman.

A capable all-around player, Marshall established career averages of 7.2 points, 8.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 73 career games. He is a career 44.5 percent shooter overall, including 36.4 percent from three-point range. As a sophomore, he averaged 8.1 points, 9.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals while making 46.7 percent of his shots overall.

Suns extend qualifying offers to Robin Lopez and Aaron Brooks

The Phoenix Suns today extended qualifying offers to center Robin Lopez and guard Aaron Brooks, making both players restricted free agents, the club has announced.

Originally selected by the Suns with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft, the 7-0, 255-pound Lopez has spent all four of his professional seasons with Phoenix, compiling averages of 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 242 games (94 starts). Lopez is a career 51.7-percent shooter from the field who enjoyed his best statistical campaign in 2009-10 when he averaged career highs of 8.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.00 blocks in 51 games (31 starts) and helped lead the Suns to the Western Conference Finals.

A two-year collegiate standout at Stanford, both Robin and twin brother Brook were 2008 NBA first-round picks; Brook was selected 10th overall by the Brooklyn Nets.

The 2009-10 NBA Most Improved Player, Brooks was acquired by the Suns from the Houston Rockets at the 2011 trade deadline and appeared in 25 games with Phoenix, averaging 9.6 points and 4.2 assists in 18.9 minutes. The 6-0, 160-pound guard spent the 2011-12 season with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, leading his team to the 2012 CBA Finals and earning a berth in the league’s All-Star game.

Brooks owns career NBA averages of 12.5 points and 3.6 assists in 272 games and is a career 36.3-percent shooter from three-point range. His best statistical season came in his decorated 2009-10 campaign in which he averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 assists in 82 games.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its right of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent, the team must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal with the team for which the player last played.

Grant Hill named to Presidential Delegation to opening ceremony of 2012 Olympics

President Obama announced the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, which will include Phoenix Suns forward and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Grant Hill. First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the delegation this summer, accompanied by Olympic and Paralympic greats to attend the Opening Ceremony, meet with U.S. athletes, and encourage American children to be active in their daily lives.

The First Lady is working to turn the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games into action by getting more kids healthy and active. In May, the First Lady joined U.S. Olympians, Paralympians, and London hopefuls to announce a nationwide commitment to get more than 1.7 million American children active as part of her Let’s Move! initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation. In March, Mrs. Obama welcomed Mrs. Samantha Cameron, wife of British Prime Minister David Cameron, to the United States by hosting a mini-Olympic event for local school children and in April, Mrs. Obama spoke at the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Warrior Games.

“This summer I’ll be cheering on Team U.S.A. at the Olympic Games in London with this distinguished group of champions who truly represent the best of our country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Olympians and Paralympians are true American heroes and role models for all of us, especially our young people. And I know that this delegation will help inspire a generation of young people to get into the Olympic spirit by getting active and healthy so they can reach their fullest potential and reach their dreams.”

Members of the Delegation

– First Lady Michelle Obama

– The Honorable Louis B. Susman, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

– Ms. Brandi Chastain, 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2004), 1-time Olympic silver medalist (2000), Women’s Soccer

– Ms. Dominique Dawes, Co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Olympic gold medalist (1996), 3-time Olympic bronze medalist (1992, 1996, 2000), Women’s Gymnastics

– Mr. Gabriel Diaz de Leon, Paralympic javelin gold medalist (1992), Paralympic discus silver medalist (1992), Paralympic shot put and discus bronze medalist (1988, 1996, 2000)

– Mr. Grant Hill, Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Olympic gold medalist (1996), Men’s Basketball

– Ms. Summer Sanders, 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1992), 1-time Olympic silver medalist (1992), 1-time Olympic bronze medalist (1992), Women’s Swimming