http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=70954 "The Suns took another step toward completing their summer business Thursday, agreeing in principle on a five-year contract extension with guard Leandro Barbosa. According to NBA sources familiar with the negotiations, the deal will be worth about $32 million and lock up Barbosa, 23, until the 2011-12 season."
IMO, this is good for us. For one, this is another long term contract that is going to make it hard for the Suns to add quality depth. They've already been shipping out draft picks the last couple years so that they wouldn't have to add anymore salary. They're going to have to extend Diaw now so that they won't have to pay the huge bucks next offseason. Stoudemire's max deal begins this year and they're going to be teetering on the brink of luxury tax land. It's pretty obvious that this is going to be Marions last year in Phoenix.
well barbosa definately made a few extra million based on his playoff performance, but he was solid for the suns all year long, it must be nice to be 23 and a multi-millonaire, im 24 poor as hell trying to finish up school.
Now how are they going to re-sign Borris Diaw? I smell a trade - Suns will likely trade Diaw or Matrix since Saver has hinted that he is not interested in going over the LT threshold.
most probably they are going to trade marion next year in order to get sth. Only if it is attractive enough (ie draft picks + decent players)
That is possible but doubt it because it going to be had to move Kurt without getting some junk money back. It is not smart to move him especially since his salary comes off next season unlike Marion. Diaw has to be resigned this summer of they will lose him next summeer when he becomes a RFA because teams will offer him more money than the Suns will be willing to pay. If they do not re-sign Diaw this summer to a contract extention, consider him gone unless Saver changes his mind and decides to go over the luxury Tax mark. Sign Banks made little sense and still makes little sense financially IMHO because I would have preffered drafting a cheaper rookie with only 2 years guaranteed especially since you are re-signing Barbossa. That is now their problem.
James Jones only cost them a 2nd round pick last year. If they're after a salary dump Rybo (expiring contract)+pick would work if they choose to accept. Jones isn't a critical member of their squad, he's still inconsistent, but has potential. Rybo for Jones would also nearly shave 2mil off their books this season.
I think they'd rather just have our TE. Though how many more SF-types do we need on the team. I don't see adding JJ to T-mac, Battier, and Novak as being much of an aquisition.
The Suns backcourt looks solid, Barbosa, Banks, Bell and Nash all through 09. Banks and Barbosa should really extend the life/effectiveness of Nash as well. I think they have to see where Amare is before they decide what to do with Marion and Diaw. I think they will try to dump Thomas for a TE or to a team under the cap. They have extra picks to do so. Also, Diaw being restricted is not a bad deal whether another team tries to outbid them or not. Remember what they got from Joe Johnson.
How do the Suns trade Marion, with his $15MM+ contract, in order to reduce salary? Only a few teams have enough money under the cap to make a legal trade without giving the Suns nearly equal salary in return.
Well first off since trades only have to be within 125% + 100K in terms of salary, you can "trade down" in salary, so a $15 million player can be traded for a package of $12 million contracts. And secondly if some of those contracts are expiring then that's even more savings since Marion's contract runs for three more years. If they're serious about trading Marion, then they'll probably start the season to see what Amare, Diaw and Thomas can give their front court, and then move Marion before the deadline if the other guys can hold the fort without him. Or he could be dealt for a cheaper replacement along with some expiring contracts to make it legal. Just thinking outloud, I could see him being sent to Sacto for Corliss (who is expiring) and either Shareef or Kenny Thomas. That would keep them under the LT, without a huge downgrade to their PF position. Marion and Artest at the forward position would be pretty nuts for the Kings, so I could see a deal like that happening, even if they are in the same division.
Marion is a very high calibur player with the potential for a 30+ point scorer (D'Antoni said it himself). He is one of the few plaers in the league actually worthy of his big contract. So finding a home for him would not be a problem, as almost any team could use his freakish rebounding, shot blocking, and stealing skills. Finding cheaper parts to replace him is the tough part because Marion is so multi-faceted. I think its highly likely that the Suns will trade Marion for expiring contracts plus some premier draft picks to the 2007 NBA Draft, where they might get a chance to land a player like Durant, who can almost do everything that Marion can.
