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July 7, 2008 - 10:35PM
Suns again trying to lure Barry to Phoenix
Jerry Brown, Tribune
Still looking for a short-term solution to their lack of shooters, the Suns are taking a second shot at coaxing Brent Barry to Phoenix.
But much like his most particular prowess — Barry is one of the top 3-point shooters around — the chances of getting him are a long shot.
Sources confirmed a San Antonio Express-News report that Barry, who turned down his player option (at the veteran’s minimum of $1.262 million) with the Spurs on July 1, has had discussions with the Suns.
Barry, 36, was slowed by a calf injury last season and was traded to Seattle in the Kurt Thomas trade. But after being cut by the Sonics and choosing to return to the Spurs over the Suns in March, Barry was effective in the playoffs — especially against Los Angeles in the Western Conference finals — and might have increased his value in the free agent market.
The Express-News said Barry is also being courted by the Lakers (a backup plan if Sasha Vujacic doesn’t return), and that the Houston Rockets are prepared to offer him their $1.9 million biannual exception, which the Suns have already used on Grant Hill.
It seems unlikely Barry would walk away from a minimum contract with the Spurs to sign an identical deal with the Suns, but Phoenix does have some bench playing time to offer, and perhaps more if Hill has injury problems.
Phoenix has also inquired about Portland forward Darius Miles. Miles missed all of the last two seasons with a right knee injury that required microfracture surgery an independent doctor ruled as career-ending. He is still owed more than $27 million by the Blazers, although it doesn’t count against their salary cap unless he returns to the NBA and plays at least 10 games in either of the next two seasons.
The Boston Globe reported Miles, 26, had an “impressive” workout with the Celtics last week. Any team that signs Miles would be without him for the first 10 games as he serves a suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
On the point guard front, the Suns still feel they have a strong shot at landing veteran Tyronn Lue, who has expressed a strong interest in playing for the Suns.
One of the teams Lue was considering, Dallas, has resigned Juan Jose Barea to back up Jason Kidd.
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