Banks to sign with Suns for 5 years, $21 million - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

jacktruth · 07-19-2006, 12:30 PM

I thought this was a decent pickup by the Suns, and a lucky break for Banks.

Banks to sign with Suns for 5 years, $21 million

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 19, 2006 12:00 AM

Marcus Banks and his family threw a surprise birthday party for his mother Saturday under the guise that she had to attend a meeting with a prospective NBA team.

He topped that surprise this week when the Las Vegas native firmed up plans to play closer to home with the Suns. Banks, who arrived in the Valley on Tuesday night, came to terms with the Suns on a five-year contract worth about $21 million. The deal could be official as soon as Thursday.

"We're honored to be with the Suns and a hop, skip and a jump away," his father, Arthur, said. "We really feel like it's an ideal fit with the Suns' style. Marcus is so ecstatic about it."

After nabbing only Eric Piatkowski in the first week of free agency, the Suns took care of their summer priority to find point guard relief for Steve Nash. Banks, 24, addresses what Phoenix tried to get earlier this month in Lindsey Hunter and then some.

With a strong 6-foot-2 frame, Banks is a noted defender but is far better offensively than Hunter and keeps the Suns younger.

Able to back up or team with Nash, Banks may challenge Leandro Barbosa as the team's quickest penetrator.

Any character concerns were wiped out by checks and a Monday dinner Banks had with coach Mike D'Antoni. Banks plays in Las Vegas in the summers with Shawn Marion, another former Runnin' Rebel.

"It could be really effective," Banks' agent, Michael Higgins, said. "He really likes D'Antoni. He told me he'd be thrilled just to learn from Steve Nash."

Banks was a backup for 2 1/2 seasons in Boston before being traded last season to Minnesota

Banks' addition would give the Suns 11 players under contract and make the possibility of Eddie House's return doubtful.

dirno2000 · 07-19-2006, 12:45 PM

Good signing for the Suns. You now have to wonder if Barbosa is in their long term plans.

V2M · 07-19-2006, 12:45 PM

Marcus Banks #3 | Point Guard | Minnesota Timberwolves
Roster:
Height: 6-2 Weight: 200
Born: Nov 19, 1981 - Las Vegas, Nevada
College: UNLV
Draft: 2003 - 1st round (13th pick) by the Memphis Grizzlies

Year Team G Min M A Pct M A Pct M A Pct Off Def Tot Ast TO Stl Blk PF PPG
2005-06 MIN 40 30.7 4.7 9.7 47.9 0.4 1.1 36.4 2.3 2.9 77.8 0.5 2.4 2.9 4.7 2.4 1.2 0.3 3.1 12.0
Career 220 18.3 2.3 5.4 42.7 0.3 1.0 33.7 1.5 2.0 76.6 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.5 1.5 0.9 0.2 2.2 6.5

Banks defends well, can penetrate and pass or finish. He also shoots the 3 at a decent clip.

I think, overall it's a very good acquisition by the Suns. They're locking up a young, solid PG (a key hole for them!) for the next several years at a fairly low price!!

V2M · 07-19-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

Good signing for the Suns. You now have to wonder if Barbosa is in their long term plans.

They could keep him as a combo guard. Given Nash's back problems, I think they'll keep both Barbosa and Banks for as long as possible.

Nash/Banks
Bell/Barbosa
Marion
Amare
Boris Diaw/Kurt Thomas

That's a very solid eight-man rotation for the playoffs.

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-19-2006, 12:54 PM

Nice pickup for the Suns.

HexNBA · 07-19-2006, 12:59 PM

Yeah definitely good pickup, he seems like a pretty decent player

dirno2000 · 07-19-2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V2M

They could keep him as a combo guard. Given Nash's back problems, I think they'll keep both Barbosa and Banks for as long as possible.

Nash/Banks
Bell/Barbosa
Marion
Amare
Boris Diaw/Kurt Thomas

That's a very solid eight-man rotation for the playoffs.

The problem is that without Diaw, Banks or Barbosa they have about $57MM on the books for 2007/2008 and an owner that doesn't want to pay the tax. Banks will make close to $4MM in his second year so now they're at ~$61MM and they haven't even extended Diaw yet. Next year's tax level is $65MM so if you figure that it'll go up by a couple of million, Diaw could (and barring any other moves, probably will) put them over the tax threshold.

The only way to keep Barbosa is to trade for an expiring contract this summer but that weakens the team next year.

spreedom · 07-19-2006, 02:51 PM

Banks is about as good a backup for Nash as there is on the market.. so that's a pretty good signing. He can score and dish. Not bad.

V2M · 07-19-2006, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

The problem is that without Diaw, Banks or Barbosa they have about $57MM on the books for 2007/2008 and an owner that doesn't want to pay the tax. Banks will make close to $4MM in his second year so now they're at ~$61MM and they haven't even extended Diaw yet. Next year's tax level is $65MM so if you figure that it'll go up by a couple of million, Diaw could (and barring any other moves, probably will) put them over the tax threshold.

The only way to keep Barbosa is to trade for an expiring contract this summer but that weakens the team next year.

I agree that their cap situation looks quite bad, but the way the West is playing out, I believe they're thinking (not me!) they are in for a nice dynastic run with the core that they have. If they keep getting deep into the playoffs and may be win a ring or two along the way, the owner may actually not care so much about paying a few mil in LT.

MavKikiNYC · 07-19-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V2M

I agree that their cap situation looks quite bad, but the way the West is playing out, I believe they're thinking (not me!) they are in for a nice dynastic run with the core that they have. If they keep getting deep into the playoffs and may be win a ring or two along the way, the owner may actually not care so much about paying a few mil in LT.

Deep into the playoffs? A ring or two?!!

They don't appear to have any depth at all outside the backcourt, let alone quality depth. And I don't think that Amare's health is anywhere near the sure thing some people seem to be taking as a given.

Given Nash's style of balls-to-the-wall play, the frequency with which Marion plays against much bigger players and ends up worn out, and the fact that KThomas is old and coming off an injury, dynasty should not be on the tip of anyone's tongue in Phoenix.

V2M · 07-19-2006, 08:34 PM

Sorry... DP

ocelot_ark · 07-19-2006, 08:57 PM

Well...damn. I was holding out hope we might swing a deal for him.

V2M · 07-19-2006, 10:14 PM

Well they have already been 2 WC Finals... that's quite deep into the playoffs, don't you think!

As for the ring, if Miami, could win it when there were 3 or 4 markedly better teams than them (Detroit, SA, Dallas, PHX, etc.), it just shows how diluted the league is and every good team out there could feel like with a break or two, this could be their year!

Moreover, I used a suppositive "if" to explain why the Suns' owner could justify keeping Barbosa even at the cost of a few extra million in LT.

Finally, outside of the Amare's knees (which is a big if and only time will tell how they'll turn out!), Suns seem to have very few concerns. Their guard situation with Nash/Bell/Barbosa/Banks is as good as any in the league. Marion/Amare/Diaw/KT also would rank among the best in the league among big men.

Of course, their defense & rebounding is suspect... but their offense is just too good to always give them a chance!

Dtownsfinest · 07-19-2006, 11:11 PM

I didn't even know Banks was a free agent. I'd honestly rather have him than Mike James. Did he not want to go back to Minnie or what? Worked out great for him. Got probably the best deal out there on the market and at the same time he gets to play near his home. Couldn't have worked out better. Not even sure why the Suns went after Hunter over Banks in the first place. He's going to have fun in Phoenix.

Tokey41 · 07-20-2006, 12:03 AM

i like the kid and he will do awesome in phoenix backing up the mvp