Another update

[F-Dog]

http://http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/97856#

The Suns watched free agent big man Brian Skinner work out Thursday at US Airways Center and he and Uruguayan Esteban Batista have vaulted to the top of the list beside veteran Vitaly Potapenko as the team narrows down the search for a big man to bolster their roster.

One or two of them could be signed or invited to training camp, which begins next Tuesday in Tucson. But all three players have either worked out for, or are in communication with, other teams looking for reserve help.

The 31-year-old Skinner, who started 44 games for the Bucks last season and averaged 5.1 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes, is a physical defender but is limited offensively.

Batista, 24, played well for his country in the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas and is also a banger (both are about 6-foot-9) but won’t provide the shooting Phoenix lost when it shipped Kurt Thomas to Seattle in a cost-cutting move during the summer.

The closest they will come to Thomas among the candidates is Potapenko, 32, who impressed the Suns during a visit last week but is the least physical and mobile.

The Suns have also not given up on taking a look at ex-Chicago Bull Michael Sweetney, who was expected in last week before the visit was cancelled. No final determination has been made.

With only 12 players presently under contract, the Suns will invite journeyman shooting guard Richie Frahm and former Indiana Pacer Rawle Marshall to training camp along with the winner of the big-man derby. Marshall and Frahm worked out with Skinner, veteran Maurice Taylor and former Iowa forward Doug Thomas on Thursday.

Frahm, 30, spent three years in the NBA with Seattle, Portland, Minnesota and Houston before playing last season with Benetton Treviso in Italy. He is 6-5 and known for his shooting.

Marshall, 25, played 40 games and made two starts for Indiana last season, averaging 2.5 points and just over nine minutes.

The last of the Suns regulars will be trickling into town over the next week. Raja Bell is expected this weekend. Boris Diaw and Shawn Marion are expected to arrive early next week.

Reading between the lines, it seems the Skinner/Batista workout didn't go very well.

 

[slinslin]

Reading between the lines everyone except Marion (and probably Bell) was working out in Phoenix for quite some time already. Although Bell did have that injury to his excuse I guess.

Hill, Amare, Nash, Tucker, Strawberry, Banks and Barbosa played in informal workouts while Diaw played in Euro until a week ago.

 

[Griffin]

Reading between the lines everyone except Marion (and probably Bell) was working out in Phoenix for quite some time already. Although Bell did have that injury to his excuse I guess.

Hill, Amare, Nash, Tucker, Strawberry, Banks and Barbosa played in informal workouts while Diaw played in Euro until a week ago.

Yes, but I don't think anyone is actually required to report until the start of October. So even if Marion is one of the last to join in, he we still be early by about a week.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

http://http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/97856#


Reading between the lines, it seems the Skinner/Batista workout didn't go very well.

reading between the lines......its time to trade Marion.

 

[Mainstreet]

http://http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/97856#


Reading between the lines, it seems the Skinner/Batista workout didn't go very well.

I'm not sure but I think the Suns should have signed Skinner to a guaranteed contract already. However, after reading the first sentence of the article it appears they are right there with Potapenko.

 

[elindholm]

I'm not sure but I think the Suns should have signed Skinner to a guaranteed contract already. However, after reading the first sentence of the article it appears they are right there with Potapenko.

Okay, well we'd better get started then:

Is it "poe-tah-PEN-koe" or "poe-TAH-pen-koe"? I've heard both.

On second thought, let's call the whole thing off...

 

[sunsfn]

http://http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/97856#


Reading between the lines, it seems the Skinner/Batista workout didn't go very well.

From what I have read, Batista did not come in for a work out.
They have knowledge from scouting him and are basing their decision on that.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Batista flew in last night according to uraguay media, and will be here for a 2-3 day workout

 

[fordronken]

Okay, well we'd better get started then:

Is it "poe-tah-PEN-koe" or "poe-TAH-pen-koe"? I've heard both.

Let's just hope we never have to get to that point with him.

 

[azirish]

Batista flew in last night according to uraguay media, and will be here for a 2-3 day workout

Coro reports that this rumor is false. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0921suns0922.html

A report out of Uruguay that said Batista, 24, would visit Phoenix was wrong, but the Suns saw enough of him at the recent FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, where he averaged 20.8 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.