Suns sign Chase Budinger

Suns sign Chase Budinger

The Phoenix Suns today signed forward Chase Budinger.

Budinger (pronounced BUD-in-grr), a 6-7, 215-pound veteran, is in his seventh NBA season. He played in 49 games with Indiana this season, averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 14.9 minutes and scoring in double-digits eight times, including a season-high 15 points at Philadelphia on Nov. 18.

The 27-year-old has averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 20.0 minutes in 390 career games (50 starts) with Houston (2009-12), Minnesota (2012-15) and Indiana (2015-16). Budinger has recorded 152 career double-digit scoring games, 14 with 20-plus points and two with 30-plus, including a career-high 35 points while with the Rockets at Minnesota on April 13, 2011.

Originally the 44th overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, Budinger averaged a career-best 9.8 points in 78 games with Houston in the 2010-11 season, also averaging just shy of that mark with 9.6 points while shooting 40.2 percent from three-point territory in 2011-12. The former prep volleyball star put his athleticism and leaping ability on display with a runner-up finish in the 2012 Slam Dunk contest at NBA All-Star in Orlando.

A native of Encinitas, Calif., Budinger played three years collegiately at the University of Arizona from 2006-09, earning induction into the Wildcats’ Ring of Honor in 2011. Budinger averaged 17.0 points and 5.8 rebounds over his three seasons in Tucson, including 18.0 points as a junior in 2008-09 when he was named to the All-Pac 10 First Team. With 1,697 career points, Budinger remains 11th on Arizona’s all-time scoring leaderboard and first among those to play fewer than four seasons.

Budinger will wear uniform number 10.

Timberwolves trade Chase Budinger to Pacers

Timberwolves trade Chase Budinger to Pacers

chase budinger

The Indiana Pacers announced Sunday they have acquired forward Chase Budinger from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for forward Damjan Rudez.

Budinger, 6-7, 218, has six seasons of NBA experience. He was originally drafted by Detroit in the second round (44th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft. He was traded on draft night to Houston where he played three seasons before being traded to Minnesota in 2012. He has averaged 8.5 points per game in his NBA career.

“We’re very glad to have Chase,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “He’s a guy we think will fit in our rotation. He can shoot and drive to the basket, which works with how we want to play. Damjan was a special guy. He was great to have as part of our team. He will be missed by all.”

Rudez, 29, played one season with the Pacers averaging 4.8 points on 45.2% shooting, including a 40.6% mark from the three-point line. The 6-10 Croatia native played in 68 contests, registering 15.4 minutes per game. The Pacers signed Rudez as a free agent on July 11, 2014. Prior to coming to the NBA, Rudez played parts of eight seasons internationally in Spain, Croatia and Slovenia.

Chase Budinger still working to return for Timberwolves

Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune blog on Chase Budinger, who is still out injured:

Chase Budinger still working to return for Timberwolves

Chase Budinger was back on the Target Center court Monday, taking shots.

But, at this point, that’s about all he’s doing, at least as far as basketball is concerned. Budinger, the Timberwolves forward, is still working his way back from Sept. 30 surgery on the same right knee he had work done on a season ago.

The good news is that this second procedure was not as extensive, and he should be back more quickly than he was last year. Budinger originally injured the meniscus in the knee on Nov. 10, 2012 in Chicago, and didn’t return to action until March 21, 2013. He hopes to be back more quickly this time, but no timetable has been set for his return.