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Bucks sign Lue; Suns’ point guard options narrow
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The Suns struck out on their first wave of free-agent point guard targets.
Tyronn Lue has agreed to a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, Lue's agent, Andy Miller, told the Suns on Wednesday.
Lue will make $3.9 million - the same total Anthony Johnson, another Phoenix target, took from Orlando on Tuesday. Both teams used their $1.9 million biennial exception, something the Suns don't have after signing Grant Hill to a two-year deal last summer.
Suns struggling to find a backup point guard
Now, Phoenix will have to troll deeper into the free-agent pool - or broker a trade - to find a backup for Steve Nash.
The other alternative is if second-round pick Goran Dragic can buy his way out of his contract in Europe and second-year player D.J. Strawberry shows enough improvement at the point to warrant more playing time at the position.
Free-agent options include former Sun Sam Cassell, who was bought out by the Clippers late last season and signed with Boston in time to help the Celtics to a championship. Like Johnson and Lue, Cassell is likely looking for more than the veteran's minimum contract that is all the Suns have to offer - although the number of job openings around the league is quickly shrinking.
Another available point guard with a championship ring is Jason Williams, who was the starter on the 2005-06 Miami Heat title team. Williams is close friends with ex-Heat teammate Shaquille O'Neal - the two were neighbors in Orlando, and O'Neal pushed for him to be included in the blockbuster, 13-player trade between Miami and Memphis in August 2005.
The Suns are also keeping tabs on ex-Clipper Shaun Livingston, who hasn't played since suffering a horrific left knee injury in February 2007. He was cleared to resume basketball activities last month but is still not ready to play. As a result, the Suns wouldn't sign Livingston with the expectation that he back up Nash, but more as a deeper bench player as he continues his comeback.
There is a possibility that ex-Sun Stephon Marbury might have his contract bought out by the New York Knicks, who signed Anthony Roberson on Wednesday. But it doesn't appear the Suns have much interest in Marbury, who is due $20 million from the Knicks this season.
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