http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0702suns0702.html


The Arizona Republic
Jul. 2, 2006 12:00 AM


The NBA free-agency gods have struck back hard on the Suns since they snuck Steve Nash out of Dallas on the first day of 2004's negotiations.

A year after a priority on signing Joe Johnson saw talks quickly sour, the Suns had their hopes of retaining Tim Thomas dashed Saturday quicker than you can say "cha-ching."

As the first wave of free-agency talks went from late Friday to early Saturday, Thomas pounced on an offer with the Los Angeles Clippers. advertisement




Thomas will sign a four-year, $24.2 million contract with Phoenix's Pacific Division foe. The Clippers used their entire midlevel exception, which starts deals at $5.4 million.

Phoenix was offering a three-year contract worth about $12 million. The Suns had traded two first-round picks Wednesday in part to be able to re-sign Thomas, a Suns playoff star who averaged 11.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in the regular season and 15.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in the postseason.

"If we got too far out there, we were going to jeopardize our nucleus of guys for the future," said Suns coach and General Manager Mike D'Antoni, whose team's payroll will spike sharply for the 2007-08 season if Phoenix signs Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa to contract extensions.

Thomas was the Clippers' second choice. Vladimir Radmanovic agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Lakers for $31 million over five years, the same terms the Clippers bid for him to stay. When Radmanovic chose more playing time down the hall, the Clippers turned their focus to Thomas.

The Suns' offer would have put them $1 million over the luxury tax threshold.

"We had to be cognizant of keeping a championship team together for the future and the overall depth that it takes," said David Griffin, Suns vice president of basketball operations. "We chose depth to one player that ties us up in a negative way long term. . . . For sustaining a championship model, this was the best decision for us and him apparently."

Phoenix's other work went much better. The Suns had promising talks with two 35-year-olds: Lindsey Hunter, a combo guard for Detroit the past three seasons, and Eric Piatkowski, a solid career shooter who played for Chicago the past two years.

Phoenix also has interest in swingmen Matt Harpring and Jumaine Jones. Both just had strong seasons that might keep their prices out of reach.

Nikoloz Tskitishvili was waived and picked up by Portland on Friday. Eddie House opted for free agency Friday, but both he and the Suns say he may return. Without them and Thomas, Phoenix has nine players under contract. That will give the members of Phoenix's Vegas Summer League team, especially Romain Sato, better shots at roster spots. The Suns hold a free-agent camp this week before the summer team, including Amar?Stoudemire, leaves for a Friday opener in Las Vegas.

Stoudemire's return is a major reason why Phoenix was unwilling to pay more for Thomas. The Suns feel they are strong in the frontcourt with Stoudemire, Diaw, Kurt Thomas and part-time power forward Shawn Marion.

Tim Thomas, who has a Los Angeles home, did not return a call for comment Saturday.

"I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm not going to make as much money as I can," Thomas said when he last left US Airways Center four weeks ago. "But at the same time, just knowing what's at stake here and what's here to reach that goal, it would be almost (ridiculous) to try to go somewhere else and get paid and have a setback as far as winning."

Lindsay's a free agent?

Lindsay's a free agent?
yes..

And that's very strange. I thought Lindsey was definately going to come back or retire. I hope he doesn't know something we don't (regarding ben, etc).

BTW, anyone notice that all of our defense-first players look like they've got a foot out the door after only a year under Flip? That is troubling.

That's a good point OR maybe Joe really trusts Will Blalock or has a target with the MLE.

they may be interested in him, but i personally have a feeling detroit is his last stop. he will either retire or re-sign for another year in detroit.

once he's done, he'll retire to a front office / coaching position.

but that's JMO

That's probably most probable. The Suns are way to athletic for Hunter although hed bo so freaking valuable for the Suns in the playoffs.

That's probably most probable. The Suns are way to athletic for Hunter although hed bo so freaking valuable for the Suns in the playoffs.

kind of...the Suns will never stop anyone, they'll just out score people. Trying to score with Lindsey on the court is 4 on 5. Not sure how that'd work for them over the long haul.

Lindsey and his wife both have storefront businesses here. I just don't see them leaving, especially since he wouldn't get much more $ anywhere else.

I have to think that Phoenix has enough speed-demony defensive toughness with Barbosa where Lindsey wouldn't get much play.

I don't think that report in the Arizona paper is accurate at all.

all it says is they have interest in him. even IF we assume that is true, it doesn't mean hunter has any interest in THEM.

Det News (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060703/SPORTS0102/607030342/1127)


Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have met with Lindsey Hunter and apparently offered him their bi-annual exception, which would pay him $3 million over the next two seasons. Hunter, who is leaning toward returning for a 14th season, has said he wants to finish his career with the Pistons.

How many guys are the Suns going to sign?

As many as they can, I would suspect.

I love teams like the suns. LOL. They cant play defense worth a lick, and then go out and sign 1 player knowen for defense and think they're improved. LMAO

Some tool that is filling in for Chris Myers on Fox Sports Radio (Bruce Jacobs?) just uttered a phrase that I never thought I'd ever hear.

He said that the Suns are still in "the Lindsey Hunter sweepstakes".

Some tool that is filling in for Chris Myers on Fox Sports Radio (Bruce Jacobs?) just uttered a phrase that I never thought I'd ever hear.

He said that the Suns are still in "the Lindsey Hunter sweepstakes".


LOL!

Lindsey re-signs
The Pistons got their first commitment of the free agency period from Lindsey Hunter, who will sign a two-year deal worth about $4.5 million. He can't sign the deal until July 12.

Oh, it gets better for Hunter.

When his contract is up, Hunter will also be given a position within the organization, primarily assisting president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars.

"That's what makes this all really special, an opportunity to work with Joe when my playing days are over," Hunter said. "I'm looking forward to playing, but I'm also looking forward to what lies ahead for me when I'm done playing, too."

Hunter said the Phoenix Suns showed a lot of interest, but his desire was to return to Detroit.

"This is where I wanted to be," Hunter said. "I wasn't real thrilled with the idea of moving my family, so this worked out great."

In all likelihood, Hunter will be Chauncey Billups' backup at the point, with the third point guard possibly being rookie Will Blalock or second-yeard guard Alex Acker, who is a shooting guard who got most of his practice last season primarily at the point guard position.

So, we're giving Hunter $2,350,000 per for the next 2 years?

That's $4.5mil that could have been saved.

He ain't worth it. The vet minimum should have been enough.

I wonder if Joe will groom Lindsey to take his job? I doubt Joe plans on being GM forever.

So, we're giving Hunter $2,350,000 per for the next 2 years?

That's $4.5mil that could have been saved.

He ain't worth it. The vet minimum should have been enough.

I wonder if Joe will groom Lindsey to take his job? I doubt Joe plans on being GM forever.

If we do not sign Billups next year, Lindsey will have a lottery pick to work with.

4.5 fucking million? That's retarded.

I wonder who we can sign with the BAE?

If Hunter is worth $2,250,000 a season then who the fuck is gonna sign for $1,800,000?

No, the BAE comes with a 2-year contract.

I don't even want us to use it now. Save our cap room for when we need to resign Chauncey. I can't believe that we signed Lindsay for 2 years. Hell if we knew he was going to join us anyway, we should have frontloaded his contract for a little more wiggle room next year. There are so many things we are doing right now that don't make sense.

lets hope Lindsey retires after next year...fact is we coulnd get a serious upgrade over Lindsey so we still need him next year...we were suppossed to spend the MLE for a quality backup 1-3, now we spend it on a Center and we' ll have to rely on Delfino and some LLE scrub we can sign...Jumaine Jones anyone?

Jumaine Jones wouldn't be a bad option with the BAE.

He can play SOME minutes, but not take enough at SF/SG that Delfino once again is nailed to the bench.

OR

Delfino could play some minutes at PG?

Anything is possible this off-season.

I don't begrudge 10th-man type money for Lindsey.

The more I think about this the more puzzling it is.

Has anyone been able to figure out why we gave Lindsey such a big contract? What's more puzzling is the fact that they already announced that he's going to join the front office. Why not just give him the vet's minimum and then give him a larger salary/bonus when he joins the front office after he retires?

Weird.

The more I think about this the more puzzling it is.

Has anyone been able to figure out why we gave Lindsey such a big contract? What's more puzzling is the fact that they already announced that he's going to join the front office. Why not just give him the vet's minimum and then give him a larger salary/bonus when he joins the front office after he retires?
That's against the rules, though hard to enforce.

The more I think about this the more puzzling it is.

Has anyone been able to figure out why we gave Lindsey such a big contract?


Or why we gave him a contract at all.

Lindsey got what he got because Phoenix was making a pass at him.

And because once again the accountants are fucking stupid.

If they did their home work and came close to correctly projecting the luxury tax or cap figures all this shit wouldn't be happening. (they were out by more than $2.5 million on both counts)

We would not have rushed out to sign Nazr 24 hours after Ben bolted.

And we would have had more money to spend in free agency if they used their fucking heads.

Lindsey is/was a "wait until we get some other shit done" kind of deal.

For this front office he was the #2 priority after getting Nazr signed!

Um, WTF?

For the last 2 weeks the entire front office has done a piss poor job of handling everything!

The Pistons are the only reason why Lindsey's useless ass even has a job.