Report: Suns don't let Barbosa go, give extension

[V2M]

Report: Suns don't let Barbosa go, give extension
ESPN.com news services

Leandro Barbosa
Point Guard
Phoenix Suns

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
57 13.1 2.6 2.8 .481 .755

With backup point guard Leandro Barbosa facing free agency in 2007, the Phoenix Suns signed Marcus Banks this offseason as insurance. It looks like they won't have to rely on the policy.

The East Valley Tribune -- citing NBA sources close to the negotiations -- reported Thursday that the Suns and Barbosa have agreed to a five-year, $32 million extension.

The 23-year-old will be in Phoenix Friday for a press conference announcing the deal and then will join the Brazilian national team, which is participating in the World Basketball Championships.

Last season, Barbosa averaged a career-high 13.1 points per game and shot 44 percent from the 3-point line, good for third in the league. He put up 14.2 points per game in the playoffs.

Guards to give Suns franchise player Steve Nash a breather are vital in Phoenix's high-octane offense. Barbosa may even move over to shooting guard on occasion, opening a spot on the floor for Banks to run the point for the second team.

[Flacolaco]

Yawn.

Can't win playing their style. It's not going to change. Yawn Yawn Yawn

[nah-vit-ski]

.............Well it's better than throwing $60 mil at Nene'

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Who cares who they sign. The player will do better because of Nash, not play any defense because of the style of play, and play probably every position but the one they actually were intended for.

[Drbio]

Glad to hear they have shot all their financial resources.

[chumdawg]

Good job by Phoenix. They nabbed him for much less than we had to pay Daniels a couple years back--and Barbosa is far the superior player.

[u2sarajevo]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Good job by Phoenix. They nabbed him for much less than we had to pay Daniels a couple years back--and Barbosa is far the superior player.

I'm not too confident that your man Nellie would agree with you.....

[The Crippler]

that is a really fair deal for Phoenix. Good price for a pretty darn good player.

[AxdemxO]

Barbosa is not better that Daniels....come on...he's a good player though in that system

[StackAttack]

Barbosa was nuts in Brazil before entering the league.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

I'm not too confident that your man Nellie would agree with you.....

There are only so many Nellies, U2. Only so many Nellies...

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Barsosa is faster and more athletic than Daniels. Daniels are more a sneeky magician with the ball. Barbosa is lightening quick with a better jump shot. Different players is all. I'm sure if you put Daniels on that team, then he would be a 15 pt 4 rb 3 assist guy more like he would have been here under Nellies runnin and gunnin.

[chumdawg]

Who do you think would be quicker, going baseline to baseline: Barbosa or Barbaro?

I mean, before Barbaro was injured and all.

[EricaLubarsky]

6.4mill isnt bad for a center. You gotta pay big for fowards and centers.

[V2M]

Originally Posted by Drbio

Glad to hear they have shot all their financial resources.

Exactly.

With Amare & Marion maxed out, Nash at near Max... then Marcus, Barbosa, Bell and KT near the $5-6m/yr range, it'd be interesting to see how they pay Diaw. Already, this year, they gave up their 1st round picks 'cuz of their financial inflexiblity.

[dirno2000]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Good job by Phoenix. They nabbed him for much less than we had to pay Daniels a couple years back--and Barbosa is far the superior player.

Define much less. Daniels signed a 6 year deal at the full MLE. Barbosa signed a 5 year deal (the max allowable) for a number that should be pretty close to the full MLE in 2007.

I think what this means is that they're going to have to shed some salary at some point. If you assume that Diaw makes $9MM in 2007-2008 (not too much of a stretch) Sarver will be on the hook for about $76MM that year.

That's why this contract suprised me. The money isn't bad in today's NBA but you have to put first things first and lock up Diaw before you do anything else.

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by dirno2000

Define much less. Daniels signed a 6 year deal at the full MLE. Barbosa signed a 5 year deal (the max allowable) for a number that should be pretty close to the full MLE in 2007.

I think what this means is that they're going to have to shed some salary at some point. If you assume that Diaw makes $9MM in 2007-2008 (not too much of a stretch) Sarver will be on the hook for about $76MM that year.

That's why this contract suprised me. The money isn't bad in today's NBA but you have to put first things first and lock up Diaw before you do anything else.

I think this is just one more sign that the suns are toast. This gives them less flexability than they already had, which they are going to need because of the amare situation.

[nashtymavsfan13]

I gotta go Barbosa > Quisy, and I like Quisy a lot. Solid signing for a solid player.

[aexchange]

marion is a goner this year.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Good lord, the West is wide open. With the Spurs aging fast, and the Suns in financial chaos, the Western conference is just there for the taking. It seems to me that the 2006-2007 Mavericks are a big fish in a little pond.

[nashtymavsfan13]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Good lord, the West is wide open. With the Spurs aging fast, and the Suns in financial chaos, the Western conference is just there for the taking. It seems to me that the 2006-2007 Mavericks are a big fish in a little pond.

That's what I'm thinking too. I still think it's between us, the Spurs, and the Suns. Neither the Spurs nor the Suns got a whole lot better, while we did. I really really like our title chances. Plus in the East, Shaq is getting older and the Pistons lost Ben and the Cavs still don't have a good enough supporting cast, I really think we can do it.