Suns Trade Rumors

"Despite more comments from Goran Dragic that he will remain in Europe this season, the Suns still remain confident of their chancesto bring their second-round draft pick to Phoenix this year. The team should know for certain by the end of the week. A few weeks after telling Spanish reporters he would remain with Tau Cerimaca this season, the 22-year-old Slovenian point guard told the Web site Marca.com that he's not coming to the Suns. He said he will stay with Tau, where he has two years remaining on his contract with a buyout for $1.5 million at the end of this season. "I need to play basketball (with Tau), to train hard under the orders of (coach) Dusko Ivanovic and improve my game," ..."

"Each time Goran Dragic speaks publicly overseas, his chances of joining the Suns this season sound as distant as the voice on an international call. The Suns hope the point guard's actions ultimately speak louder than his recent words. Despite a second round of Dragic comments professing he will play this year in Europe, Dragic's camp and his Spanish club, Tau Ceramica, continue to talk about an early contract buyout that would free him to move to Phoenix. Dragic, 22, recently was leaving the offices of his past Slovenian pro club when he made comments that reporters in his native country took to mean he would play for Tau this season. The quotes, picked up and translated to Spanish for ..."

"Most of the Suns' free-agency work has dragged into August as promised. There are two Suns roster spots to fill to get to the NBA minimum of 13 players. Phoenix is no anomaly. Fifteen other NBA teams need to sign at least two more players but the Suns are in a unique holding pattern. After free-agency target Tyronn Lue went for Milwaukee's offer of an extra year and more money, the Suns' priority to add a backup point guard honed in on second-round draft pick Goran Dragic. The Suns knew it would not be easy to bring Dragic to Phoenix this year because his contract with Spanish club Tau Ceramica does not provide a buyout clause until next year. There was hope, though, for the Suns to work ..."

"Free agent forward Matt Barnes arrived in Phoenix on Monday and completed much of the physical required to clear the way for him to join the Suns. The 6-foot-7 former Golden State Warrior will finish the physical this morning and then sign a one-year contract which, according to league sources, will be for the NBA veteran minimum salary. As a player entering his sixth year in the league, Barnes will earn $998,398. The Suns are responsible for only $797,581 of that total, with the rest paid from a league fund."

"Warriors free agent forward Matt Barnes is switching to a Pacific Division rival. He said he is signing a one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns. Barnes agreed to a one-year deal for the minimum (which for him, as a sixth-year NBA player, is $926,678). He is flying to Phoenix today to take a physical examination. "I owe a lot to the Warriors organization," Barnes said via text message Sunday night. "They gave my career a chance. The fans were great. Could be the best fans in sports. But I just don't understand what went wrong.""

"The Suns put a shot of adrenaline into their team and what had been a sleepy free-agency period by signing ex-Golden State small forward Matt Barnes to a one-year contract. The sixth-year NBA veteran signed for the league’s veteran minimum contract ($1.2 million, about $400,000 of which is paid by league funds) and will immediately step into the rotation as either a starter or bench player on the wing. He will be in Phoenix to take his physical on Monday morning and is expected to finalize his deal afterward."

"Free-agent forward Matt Barnes is scheduled to arrive in Phoenix Monday, expecting to sign a one-year veteran's minimum deal with the Suns after completing a physical. Barnes, 28, spent the past two seasons in a mostly reserve role with the Golden State Warriors. He collected a career-best 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in the 2006-07 season. Last season, he averaged 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game."

"The Suns need to sign three players to reach the 13-man roster minimum. The priority was to land a veteran point guard before signing a wing and a big man. Phoenix will pursue Sam Cassell, Damon Stoudamire or Jason Williams to be its backup point and Carlos Arroyo if he fell to minimum-contract status. Shaun Livingston, a 22-year-old former No. 4 pick, could be brought in if he checks out with the medical staff. He may be a year away from returning to full strength after tearing four left knee ligaments and dislocating his patella in February 2007."

"Veteran point guard Tyronn Lue said Sunday that he has a physical examination scheduled with the Heat at 5 a.m. Monday and that he expects to receive an offer from the team if there are no red flags. Lue, who was slowed by a strained calf last season, said he then would decide among the Heat, Phoenix and Boston but wasn't sure which he would choose. But a Heat spokesman cautioned Sunday that no offer to Lue is imminent."

"Veteran NBA point guard Tyronn Lue said Sunday he is scheduled to take a physical with the Heat this morning and is hopeful of receiving a contract offer from the team shortly thereafter. In South Florida for Zo's Summer Groove, Lue said before the charity game that he has narrowed his free-agent choices to the Heat, Celtics and Suns. Lue said the decision would be difficult because of his friendship with Boston's Kevin Garnett and Phoenix's Shaquille O'Neal, his former Lakers championship teammate. However, Lue also gushed about the possibility of playing alongside Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion."

"Brent Barry is off the Phoenix Suns radar. Darius Miles and Devin Brown are on the periphery. And Tyronn Lue remains the favorite to be Steve Nash's backup at point guard. As he was last March, the 36-year-old Barry showed interest in signing with the Suns - even though they could only offer him the $1.262 veteran minimum salary. But all indications now are that Barry will wind up in Houston, where the Rockets can offer him their bi-annual exception of $1.9 million. The Suns weren't in a position to match or beat the offer. If they fill their remaining roster spots with rookie Robin Lopez and nothing other than veteran minimum contracts, their payroll will be $76.1 million for the ..."

"Disarmed of money to offer or much of a 2008 playoff pedigree, the Suns appear to still have recruiting wherewithal with free agency target Tyronn Lue saying that he believes he will sign with the Suns. "I think we're going to get it done in Phoenix," Lue said Wednesday. Signing Lue, 31, would fill Phoenix's free agency priority. Suns General Manager Steve Kerr has said he wanted a veteran point guard to back up Steve Nash and start for him about 12 times to rest Nash, 34."

"The Suns aren't going to bowl over any players with money, so moving into an attractive point guard's top three choices on Day 2 of free-agency contact is promising. Tyronn Lue, a 10-year NBA veteran, said Wednesday that the Suns, the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks are his favorites. Boston might not make a big offer, either. Lue finished last season with Dallas, for which he played two minutes during the playoffs. Lue would start some games with the Suns to rest starter Steve Nash."

"With draft pick Goran Dragic a long shot to arrive this year, Kerr called a backup point guard his "No. 1 priority" going into July. The Suns not only want to limit Steve Nash to 30-32 minutes a game, they want to rest him for as many as 10 games during the season, such as in back-to-back situations. That means looking hard at veteran Tyronn Lue, a player with championship experience whom the Suns chased in March before losing out to Dallas. The much-traveled Anthony Johnson is another realistic point possibility - with fingers crossed that Chris Duhon isn't lured elsewhere with a mid-level deal."

"The NBA free-agency contact window will open at 9 p.m. Monday Arizona time, and the Suns will make the obligatory calls of interest for certain free agents. And then wait . . . and wait . . . and wait. For the Suns and many teams facing a luxury tax, it will take more than an eight-day moratorium for free agency to play out. Teams can sign free agents starting July 9, but the Suns will wait for a trickle-down effect before filling their roster."

"The buyout clause with his team in Spain comes next year. If he and his agent, Bill Duffy (who is also Nash's agent), try to work a buyout this year, it could cost the player about 1 million euros (more than $1.5 million) even after the Suns kick in the $500,000 allowable to help. "We're going to try. We'll do what we can," Griffin said. "This year, we can only do what we can do. It's a lot of money, and the exchange rate doesn't help. Maybe it takes a year." Even if Dragic comes this year, the Suns will still target a veteran to back up Steve Nash as the first priority of their summer shopping. That's especially true now that Robin Lopez is set to play behind Shaquille O'Neal in ..."

"Most of the talk revolves around point guard T.J. Ford. Depending on who you believe Ford is going to be a member of the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers or possibly the New York Knicks by week's end. Obviously not even Ford could manage to juggle the kind of workload playing for three different teams would represent, so someone is just wrong here. ESPN has the former Texas Longhorns standout headed to Phoenix along with the Raptors' first-round pick (No. 17) for forward Boris Diaw. The Indianapolis Star, meanwhile, is suggesting Ford, centre Rasho Nesterovic, possibly that No. 17 pick and another unnamed player will be joining the Pacers later this week in exchange for forward ..."

"The stakes in the T.J. Ford stakes have been raised considerably. The Raptors, according to league sources, have had discussions with the Indiana Pacers about a trade for veteran centre Jermaine O'Neal, adding a major name and major salary obligation to potential transactions ahead of Thursday's NBA draft. The deal would include Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, another player to satisfy salary cap needs and, perhaps, Toronto's 17th pick in the draft for O'Neal, a 29-year-old centre with two years and almost $44 million (all figures U.S.) left on his contract...According to sources, the Raptors are still talking to the Phoenix Suns about a deal centred around Ford and Boris Diaw and there are ..."

"Do it.Can I make it any clearer? It was reported today that the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors are working on a deal that would send Jermaine O'Neal north for point guard T.J. Ford, post player Rasho Nesterovic, the No..17 pick in the draft and some other odds and ends to make the deal work. Do it. Do it.The Raptors, who have been shopping Ford because of a desire to make Jose Calderon their starting point guard, have been speaking to several teams about a deal. That includes the Phoenix Suns, who might be interested in trading Boris Diaw.The Pacers, and team president Larry Bird, cannot let that happen."

"The rest of the revamped Suns coaching staff around new head coach Terry Porter likely will have a familiar look. Suns lead assistant Alvin Gentry is expected to keep that role and work a fifth season on Phoenix's coaching staff, which likely will include Suns fan favorite Dan Majerle, former All-Star center and head coach Bill Cartwright and Porter colleague Igor Kokoskov."

"Since the season ended, any Suns deal figured to include Leandro Barbosa or Boris Diaw. Consideration for such moves has accelerated and cooled in recent weeks but remains a possibility with Phoenix looking to move up in Thursday's draft order or acquire another first-round pick to go with its No. 15 selection. With Barbosa, the talks of most substance have been with Portland and New York. A Portland deal would have sent 21-year-old swingman Martell Webster, next week's No. 13 pick and another piece for Barbosa. Webster, who is 6 feet 7, averaged 10.7 points and hit 39 percent of his 3-pointers as a starter last season while improving his defense and rebounding. He missed the ..."

"The Phoenix Suns have put Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw on the table in attempts to either move up in the draft or secure another veteran to play alongside Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal. Small forwards on the market include Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets, Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks, Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats and Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons."

"The calendar and the weather may suggest otherwise, but the NBA climate has the feel of February. Much like the frenzy and wild speculation that serve as a prelude to the league's trade deadline, caution must be observed and logic exercised. With so many teams looking to improve and so many names being bandied about, it wouldn't surprise any one if one or two roster-altering moves are completed, perhaps more. Until the NBA final runs its course, no deal will be announced in an environment where there's no shortage of possibilities, some that appear to have merit."

"The Bulls are determined to get a coach out of Phoenix. After being rejected by former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni and changing course with Valley resident Doug Collins, Chicago shocked the NBA by ending its seven-week search for a new head coach with plans to give Suns Assistant General Manager Vinny Del Negro the job. Del Negro, who has not coached and switched from broadcasting to the Suns front office in 2006, is expected to accept the Bulls' two-year, $4 million offer to be their coach today."

"The Bulls plan to name either Dwayne Casey, Vinny Del Negro or Chuck Person as their next coach, with the announcement expected this week, a source said Sunday. With a coaching staff finally in place after a search of more than seven weeks, the Bulls also are expected to announce soon the scheduled visits of Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley. Both are under consideration for selection with the first pick in the draft June 26, and both will make two-day visits beginning next week."

"On April 17, the day he fired Jim Boylan, general manager John Paxson said he preferred but wouldn't mandate previous coaching experience for his hire as the next Bulls coach. Weighing that very issue will come into play as, barring a surprise, Paxson will offer the job to former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey or Suns assistant general manager Vinny Del Negro. Those two, plus a longer shot in Kings assistant coach Chuck Person, expected to know Paxson's decision late Sunday or sometime Monday."

"Suns Assistant General Manager Vinny Del Negro is considered a favorite to land the Chicago Bulls' head-coaching job. Del Negro interviewed with the Bulls on Thursday and Friday in Chicago. He continued having talks with the Bulls throughout Saturday, when Chicago executives also talked with representatives of the job's other finalists, Sacramento Kings assistant Chuck Person and former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey."

"Chuck Person, Dwane Casey and Vinny Del Negro have been told a decision on the Bulls' coaching job is imminent, according to sources close to all three candidates. Those three interviewed last week—Person and Casey for the second time—as general manager John Paxson prepared for what he likely sensed was inevitable: the mutual decision of Doug Collins and Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to end Collins' candidacy. Sources said the Bulls talked with Del Negro on Saturday, and there were some indications the Suns' assistant general manager had emerged as the front-runner despite owning no previous coaching experience...The Bulls have given no indications they will wait for Celtics assistant Tom ..."

"Kerr, Griffin and Porter will decide the rest of the staff this week. Dan D'Antoni and Phil Weber will join D'Antoni in New York, but it is possible that assistant Alvin Gentry, who had a year remaining on his contract, could stay on the staff."

"Sources have said that Detroit Pistons lead assistant Terry Porter has been Suns General Manager Steve Kerr's favorite. Chicago did not pursue Porter but was denied permission to talk to Detroit assistant Michael Curry, who is expected to get the Pistons job. Porter may interview for the Detroit job Monday. The Pistons are expected to name a coach soon thereafter."

"Detroit assistant coach and close friend Terry Porter is still believed to be Kerr's No. 1 choice. Kerr admitted that Porter's previous head coaching experience in Milwaukee "helps, for sure," and "I don't think anybody can know what it's like to be a head coach in the NBA until they actually have been one." But Kerr quickly pointed out that the other three candidates: San Antonio's Mike Budenholzer, Utah's Tyrone Corbin and Houston's Elston Turner all have significant experience as assistants. Kerr played for Budenholzer for four seasons in San Antonio and with Corbin in Phoenix."

"With draft workouts starting Wednesday, the Suns saw two college freshmen and a 37-year-old. Retired guard Allan Houston was not part of the draft workout, but he might be part of the Suns' plans. Houston has been a recent regular for workouts at US Airways Center. Houston, who retired in 2005 because of knee problems, visited Suns forward and former teammate Grant Hill in April to see what the Suns' acclaimed athletic trainers did for him and others with tough health histories."

"By the end of next week, the Suns are expecting to be able to fill in the blank: Phoenix head coach ___________. Speaking at length for the first time since the coaching search began May 12, Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said interviews are "probably completed." The finalists are believed to be Detroit Pistons assistant Terry Porter, Houston Rockets lead assistant Elston Turner and Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin, with insiders believing Kerr is leaning toward Porter."

"The Suns’ coaching search is winding to a close after Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer had his formal interview with general manager Steve Kerr on Tuesday in Phoenix. The meeting wasn’t nearly as long as Detroit assistant Terry Porter’s second interview on Monday. Kerr was back home in San Diego in time to take in the Cubs-Padres game Tuesday night. He said he doesn’t have any more interviews scheduled and there are no “surprise” candidates beyond the known finalists — Budenholzer, Porter, Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin and Houston assistant Elston Turner."

"The Suns' head-coaching search is nearing a conclusion, with indications that it will end with a choice that General Manager Steve Kerr long has had in mind. Each NBA general manager keeps a list of coaches he would consider hiring should a vacancy arise. Two sources say that Detroit Pistons lead assistant coach Terry Porter has been at the top of Kerr's list for a while and that Porter's position strengthened with the addition of center Shaquille O'Neal in February. Although San Antonio Spurs lead assistant Mike Budenholzer interviewed Tuesday in Phoenix, the finalists are considered to be Porter, Houston Rockets lead assistant Elston Turner and Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin."

"Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer got his long-anticipated job interview with the Phoenix Suns. Budenholzer flew to Phoenix on Tuesday to meet with Suns general manager Steve Kerr and other officials about that team's head-coaching vacancy. He emerged from the all-day interview session upbeat but with little clue as to whether his coaching future lay in the desert."

"Los Angeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw told the Orange County Register Monday that he’s been informed by Suns general manager Steve Kerr that he’s no longer a candidate for their head coaching position – and in the process pushed Terry Porter to the head of the class. In saying he was eliminated, Shaw went one step further than that, saying Kerr told him “He wanted to have a coach that had experience in terms of being a head coach.” If Shaw is correct, that would also eliminate Utah’s Tyrone Corbin and Houston’s Elston Turner from the Suns’ coaching derby as well as San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer – who arrives in Phoenix today for his first talk with the Suns. And it would leave ..."

"Detroit Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter will have a second interview with the Suns on Monday, and San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer should get his first chance to speak with Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr and vice president David Griffin on Tuesday. Porter’s Pistons were eliminated from the playoffs Friday by the Celtics, while the Spurs were knocked out Thursday by the Lakers. Porter had an initial interview with the Suns on May 15, prior to the Eastern Conference finals."

"The conclusions of the NBA conference finals have afforded the Suns a chance to have second interviews with Detroit Pistons lead assistant coach Terry Porter and a first visit with San Antonio Spurs lead assistant Mike Budenholzer this week. Porter is coming to Phoenix early this week. Suns General Manager Steve Kerr and Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin met with Porter in Detroit on May 15, when the Pistons had a break between playoff rounds. "I'm thankful I'm in the second-round process," Porter told reporters in Detroit before leaving town. "Go down there and do the best that I can do, and see how it plays out.""

"Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter said he expects to meet for a second interview with the Phoenix Suns potentially this week. The second interview is definitely coming, it's just a matter of when. Porter said the Suns would first reach out to team president Joe Dumars."

"He has a home in Roseville and a job in Houston, and now Elston Turner also has an opportunity somewhere near NBA heaven. A longtime assistant to Rick Adelman with the Kings and this season with the Rockets, Turner has quietly advanced from early-stages candidate to replace Mike D'Antoni on the Phoenix Suns' sideline to serious contender for one of the premier jobs in the game. Phoenix officials refused comment, but sources reported the Suns were very impressed with Turner during a May 21 interview and will schedule a second meeting."

"Brian Shaw draws rave reviews for his potential as a NBA head coach. One big endorsement from inside the Suns' walls can't hurt now as he stands as a candidate to be the next Suns head coach. "I think he would be a great head coach," Shaquille O'Neal wrote in an e-mail about his ex-Magic and Lakers teammate. "B-Shaw taught me how to be a leader and win championships." The Suns interviewed Shaw, a current Lakers assistant, last week after Los Angeles had eliminated Utah and before the San Antonio series."

"Suns president Steve Kerr said yesterday he still won't release the contracts of assistant coaches Phil Weber or Alvin Gentry, postponing Mike D'Antoni's chance of assembling his staff. Yesterday, D'Antoni agent Warren LeGarie spoke with Kerr about the issue. LeGarie also represents Weber, a Long Island native eager to join the Knicks, and Gentry. At this juncture, D'Antoni envisions his three bench coaches as holdover Herb Williams, Weber and his brother Dan D'Antoni. A source said if Gentry doesn't come, D'Antoni will search for a player-development coach."

"There was an obvious reason Suns Assistant General Manager Vinny Del Negro had not been sitting in on interviews with candidates in Phoenix's head coaching search: He is a candidate, too. Del Negro interviewed Thursday for the job with his office partners, Suns General Manager Steve Kerr and Suns Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. Knowing that Kerr's "mentality is to go with someone experienced with a veteran team," Del Negro said he would be interested in starting his coaching career as an assistant."

"One man's breakdown of the known Phoenix Suns coaching candidates, in the order they've been interviewed by general manager Steve Kerr: Mark Jackson - If the Suns were looking for a "180 degree" flip in philosophy, Jackson might have a better chance. But his total lack of coaching experience combined with Phoenix's penchant toward staying the course leaves him as a runner-up. Terry Porter - Lots of pluses. One of the few names in the running with NBA head coaching experience, he is close with Kerr and has gone deep in into the playoffs as a player and assistant coach in Detroit..."

"After hearing Suns broadcast analysts Tom Chambers, Eddie Johnson and Dan Majerle expound on the team all season, many fans were interested in the team giving one of them a chance to coach. The Suns likely won't hire a head coach who has no bench experience, but one of the former Suns and fan favorites could be an assistant on the new staff. Chambers met with Suns General Manager Steve Kerr last week, and Johnson did so Wednesday."

"Elston Turner doesn't have any experience coaching the Phoenix Suns. But he has plenty when it comes to guiding teams that play a lot like the Suns. Before following Rick Adelman to Houston last year, Turner was an assistant in Sacramento, where the high-octane Kings ran an up-tempo offense, ran a lot of plays off the elbow and never met a 3-point shot it didn't like...Turner had his interview with Suns general manager Steve Kerr Wednesday and all indications are the discussions went well and will keep the 48-year-old Turner on the 'A' list of head coaching candidates...League sources said two names that had been kicked around over the last week, New Orleans coach and former ASU star Byron ..."

"The Suns and Bulls still share interests in who coaches their teams next. They are the only NBA teams searching for a coach, and both have plans to interview ex-Suns and current Jazz assistants Tyrone Corbin and Jeff Hornacek this week. The Suns and Bulls interviewed ABC analyst Mark Jackson, and the Suns could be planning to interview two more candidates that Chicago has lined up - Los Angeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw and Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau. Suns General Manager Steve Kerr and Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin interviewed Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner on Wednesday and will interview Hornacek today and Corbin on Friday. Hornacek will ..."

"Jeff Hornacek’s retired jersey hangs in Salt Lake City, but his heart and his family are in Phoenix, where he was one of the most popular players in franchise history until he was sacrificed to bring Charles Barkley to Arizona. Hornacek is hoping to be a Sun again and will talk with general manager Steve Kerr this week about the prospect of joining the new coaching staff, likely as an assistant. After waiting for his children to be old enough to be away from home, Hornacek spent last season as a special assistant with the Jazz, working closely with Andrei Kirilenko."

"Hornacek will be interviewed this week by the Suns for a head- or assistant-coach job. He always figured to join the profession while growing up as a high school coach's son...The Suns are set to interview Houston Rockets top assistant Elston Turner Wednesday and Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin on Friday. The Suns also are expected to visit with San Antonio Spurs lead assistant Mike Budenholzer, but arranging an interview is tricky with the Spurs alive in the playoffs."