Phoenix Suns News

“I’m tired of hearing my name in trades. I love my fans in Phoenix, but I think it’s time for me to move on.” - Shawn Marion

Shawn Marion wants to be traded.

What a shocking development.

In case you missed it, you can insert sarcasm into that last sentence.

After years of rumors, Shawn is finally fed up and one can hardly blame him. Shawn Marion finally asked for a trade after all the time has spent deflecting questions about his future with Phoenix. Marion, who has been a staple of message board and rumor mill lore for the past few seasons, has come to the realization that he may not be in the long term plans of the Phoenix Suns.

“I’m tired of hearing my name in trades,” Marion said by phone from his Chicago home Tuesday night. “I love my fans in Phoenix but I think it’s time for me to move on.”

In what should be a not so shocking development, Marion has certainly sent shock waves through Suns fans everywhere.

Time will tell what Marion will say when he speaks to the Phoenix media, if he shows up to Training Camp, and if these statements were made for a reason. If history says anything, even if he isn’t traded, Shawn will be at training camp. We’re talking about that kind of guy.

For a team looking to get their first title after years of Celtics, MJ’s, Injuries, Bad Calls, and Crooked Refs, this is hardly the way you want to start a new season.

Eight-year veteran Brian Skinner and the Suns agreed to terms Monday on a one-year veteran’s minimum deal, half of which is guaranteed. If Skinner remains on the team when opening day rosters are set Oct. 29, his $1.1 million salary will be fully guaranteed.

Skinner, 31, was the best of the big man prospects the Suns considered because he can offer Phoenix rebounding and defense with enough speed to play at the Suns’ pace. Initial plans would be to have a platoon backup center system with Skinner and returnee Sean Marks, who played three games for Phoenix last season. Skinner is accepting of the part-time role and had Phoenix atop his wish list because he wanted to play for a title contender after missing the playoffs last season, when he had 44 starts for Milwaukee.

“This is an opportunity to be on the inside looking out,” Skinner said after his Thursday workout for Phoenix.

Skinner, 6 feet 9 and 265 pounds, has played for six teams in eight NBA seasons with career averages of 5.1 points and 5.0 rebounds.

From the AZ Republic

The Suns and Utah Jazz tossed around the idea of a trade sending Shawn Marion to Utah for Andrei Kirilenko last month but they did not move pass the stage of talks and the discussion of swapping versatile forwards has been tabled for weeks.

Marion is eligible for a contract extension this summer but the chances of that appear doubtful. Marion could opt out of his contract after the coming season.

Taking on Kirilenko, who is coming off his career’s worst season, would only delay the Suns’ financial peril. Kirilenko, 26, will be paid $63.1 million over the next four seasons.

Grant Hill signed a two-year, $3.8 million contract, including a player option for 2008-09.

Between Detroit, San Antonio, Orlando, and Phoenix, the choice was clear for Grant Hill.

“I just thought it was a good fit,” Hill told the Orlando Sentinel. “I took a look at a lot of teams and the Suns were just at that next level. The Suns, it just seemed like they wanted me.

“I like their style of play and they have a real shot at winning a championship. It was just very appealing.”

Hill picked Phoenix over Detroit, San Antonio, Orlando, Miami and Dallas. His agent, Lon Babby, said the chance to contribute to a championship topped Hill’s wish list and was a mix of good fortune for Phoenix, whose luxury tax situation limited what it could do on the free agent market this summer.

“The opportunity described to him is consistent with what he’s looking for,” Babby said. “He’s not someone looking for anything granted to him but more that he’d have the opportunity to start.

“He’s a special guy. He’s a great basketball player but his personal qualities are even more important.”

Nash, who put in a recruiting call to Hill this week, stands to benefit as much as anyone after two long seasons of increased minutes and playmaking reliance. With Hill, Nash will have fewer burdens to create. When Nash is out, he can rest longer because Hill, Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa are all playmakers.

“In Detroit, I played him really at point guard,” said TNT analyst Doug Collins, who, like Suns assistant Alvin Gentry, was a head coach of Hill’s in Detroit. “Now you can sit Steve down and you don’t have to worry about rushing him back.

“This is a great signing for the Suns. You can’t ask for a more professional teammate than Grant. He’s got a lot left in the tank. The style of play is really going to be good for him.”

The Draft is tonight at 4pm

Suns center Amaré Stoudemire still is not going anywhere.

If the Suns’ hopes to trade into the top 10 of today’s NBA draft don’t improve, the most action fans might see today is the Suns picking at Nos. 24 and/or 29 and trying to move Kurt Thomas’ expiring contract.

Here is a list of rumors to keep an eye on:

- There have been whispers the Phoenix Suns and Bucks have discussed a trade proposal that would have the Bucks sending the No. 6 pick and Bobby Simmons to Phoenix for Shawn Marion

- Kurt Thomas to the Charlotte Bobcats along with a draft pick. It would erase Thomas’ $8.1 million player option from the books and get the Suns within shouting distance of wiggling under the league’s dollar-for-dollar luxury-tax threshold.

- And of course the Super deal: KG to the Suns, Stoudemire to the Hawks, two 1st rounders to Minnesota. This is the most far-fetched, but still would be the biggest story.

“We’ve never spoken with Atlanta about Amaré,” Suns GM Steve Kerr said Wednesday night, when he also called Stoudemire to assure him all rumors were bogus. “We have no idea why anybody would speculate on that.”

Garnett to Phoenix suddenly seems like a long shot

ClubSuns.com will bring you the latest on all of these developing stories.