KT Article/Suns Bringing in Varem

[The Commish]

Healthy Thomas eager to return

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 20, 2006 12:00 AM

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There is more than one anxiously anticipated comeback of a Suns big man.

Kurt Thomas expects to return to Phoenix today, looking more like the interior anchor who went out with a foot stress fracture just as the Suns were at their best in late February.

Thomas confirmed he is back to the playing shape (about 245 pounds) that he was in before the injury, which kept him inactive for the final two months of the regular season and out of the rotation upon being activated in the playoffs.

"I don't feel any pain," said Thomas, who spends his summers in Dallas. "I'm really looking forward to being back with the team.

"I just want to come back and play. I missed the game. I'm excited to get back on the floor. I'm feeling great and healthy and I'm playing on a great team with great guys."

Shawn Marion joined the Suns' informal workouts Tuesday and Jumaine Jones played for the first time since suffering a second-degree ankle sprain this summer. Steve Nash, Amaré Stoudemire, Eric Piatkowski, Marcus Banks and Sean Marks also have been playing.

Varem to join Suns

Former Washington State standout Jeff Varem is expected to join the Suns' preseason roster on a non-guaranteed deal. Varem, a sturdy 6 feet 6, played small and power forward on Phoenix's summer league team after a pro season in France.

The 23-year-old's versatility to guard three positions makes him a fit to be the Suns' 14th and final player in camp.

"Jeff has definitely earned the right to take this step with us," Suns Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said. "He played extremely well in the summer league."

Varem's addition is pending travel visa approval because he is a native of Nigeria.

That's your MVP

Who was that shorthaired guy in the crisp gray suit and sneakers speaking at a private university Monday? Your two-time Most Valuable Player?

Steve Nash had his number 11 retired at Santa Clara on Monday and gave the university's convocation keynote speech, which began with "MVP" chants and Nash saying, "You'll have to excuse me. I spent some time at the Hut (the popular local bar) last night. I'm a little dehydrated."

He delivered a 10-minute speech (without notes) imploring students to be interested in the world and helping kids, things he does without boast.

"I urge you to really get involved, to be balanced, to do well in school and make as many friends as possible," Nash told students.
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[Nash]

what exactly stops this guy Dantoni from bringing in a good big guy as insurance for KT, Amare?
Is it Burke?!

 

[carey]

what exactly stops this guy Dantoni from bringing in a good big guy as insurance for KT, Amare?

I would say lack of "good big guys."

 

[The Commish]

I would say lack of "good big guys."

This combined with the fact that D'Antoni just doesn't really like to play big guys. I would still rather bring in 'Kandi than this kid simply for the insurance purposes. We initially brought in Steven Hunter just to be a stiff off the bench and he turned out to be useful in the playoffs because of his shot blocking skills. We need one more guy like that if we want to make a run at the title even if we have no plans of playing him. After all, you never really know what is going to happen when the season rolls around.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

This combined with the fact that D'Antoni just doesn't really like to play big guys. I would still rather bring in 'Kandi than this kid simply for the insurance purposes. We initially brought in Steven Hunter just to be a stiff off the bench and he turned out to be useful in the playoffs because of his shot blocking skills. We need one more guy like that if we want to make a run at the title even if we have no plans of playing him. After all, you never really know what is going to happen when the season rolls around.

But why bring him in if he ain't gonna play? That would just frustrate the fans who want the Suns to be a post up type team. IMO Kandiman is a hiddeous player BTW, if he was an good he would have a place in the NBA by now.

 

[Espo]

The Charlotte newspapers are claiming that the Suns are still interested in a sign and trade for Ely.

 

[The Commish]

But why bring him in if he ain't gonna play? That would just frustrate the fans who want the Suns to be a post up type team. IMO Kandiman is a hiddeous player BTW, if he was an good he would have a place in the NBA by now.

Well Varem isn't gonna play either. I just like 'Kandi because he is an option if our front court health becomes an issue.

 

[SO91]

What makes people think 'Kandi can step in and contribute in the event one of our bigs goes down? I doubt he's in the shape necessary to stay on the court with this team. I understand that it would be a bargain if he played for the minimum, but it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence form my part when I've heard him described as the 'human ebola virus'

 

[Errntknght]

Varem is listed as 6'6" and 245 lbs on the summer league roster... I have to admit I wish he was taller but 245 is a nice figure. I tried to find the summer league box scores or player stats to get a hint of what kind of rebounder he is but no luck. I'm pretty sure he wasn't outstanding because I'd most likely remember that.

I've no inclination at all to have Olowokandi on the team - I'd rather have Marks. In fact, if Burke got into decent physical condition I'd rather have him than the Kandiman.

 

[Chaplin]

He looks short but stout. A 6'6" guy at 245lbs is a pretty wide body. I wonder if he can run with our style?

I have a picture of the Wash State team he was on, but it's huge, and I'm too lazy to resize it and post.

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm guessing Varem is a classic "camp fodder" guy. He played for Pau last season but did not produce particularly impressive stats:

http://www.24sec.net/stats/player.asp?id=139

One odd thing is that he played guard at Washington state even though he's listed at 240 pounds. Perhaps he's quicker than you'd expect for a guy his size.

The article mentioned that KT is back to the 245 size he was when he was injured. (NBA.com lists him at 235, which is about a decade out of date). What was not mentioned was that he was not in great condition when he started last season.

 

[Ollie]

Varem is definitively camp fodder. He had a few big games during last year's french league (astoningshly against the top teams) but was unimpressive and somewhat disappointing (especially during euroleague, as George noted). Played roughly 20mns per game, producing 5,5pts/3,7rbds and rotating at position 2,3 and 4.

 

[Scot1]

Hmm.... 7 rebounds per game and 20 mpg means .35 rpm, well ahead of our best rebounders KT and Marion--see George's post on another thread. Of course the leagues are different, but if he could maintain that, he'd be helpful.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

That's 3.7rpg, not 7rpg. So, his rpm is effectively half your calculation....

 

[F-Dog]

Varem seemed like a decent player in summer league, but then so did Lampe.

I'm slightly disappointed the Suns weren't able to entice Steven Smith, but I guess there's no point in using that spot to develop role players as long as the likes of Tim Thomas and Jumaine Jones are lining up to sign for the minimum.

 

[George O'Brien]

I would not discount the possibility of a late camp/early season deal. There are a lot of teams that are holding off on roster decisions until they get a chance to see their players in action. That may include the Suns who want to find out if Marks will do better in an up tempo system.

 

[Gaddabout]

what exactly stops this guy Dantoni from bringing in a good big guy as insurance for KT, Amare?

Supernatural forces prevented the Suns from acquiring a good big guy for any kind of reason for over 30 years. D'Antoni is just caught up in the vortex of God's sovereignty.

In a parallel evil universe, the evil Suns can't find a point guard or a one-dimensional shooter. And the evil Dennis Johnson was traded for two six packs of Sam Adams and a box of Red's cigars.

 

[The Commish]

Supernatural forces prevented the Suns from acquiring a good big guy for any kind of reason for over 30 years. D'Antoni is just caught up in the vortex of God's sovereignty.

In a parallel evil universe, the evil Suns can't find a point guard or a one-dimensional shooter. And the evil Dennis Johnson was traded for two six packs of Sam Adams and a box of Red's cigars.

Classic

 

[JCSunsfan]

Supernatural forces prevented the Suns from acquiring a good big guy for any kind of reason for over 30 years. D'Antoni is just caught up in the vortex of God's sovereignty.

In a parallel evil universe, the evil Suns can't find a point guard or a one-dimensional shooter. And the evil Dennis Johnson was traded for two six packs of Sam Adams and a box of Red's cigars.

This is so true. We have lost potential franchise centers to:

1. Coin flips (Instead of Kareem, we get Neal Walk--who ended up being a decent player but no where close to Kareem)
2. Deliberate tank jobs (We end up with Armon Gilliam instead of David Robinson)
3. Drug scandals (James Edwards was rally starting to look decent in 1987)
4. Plane crashes (Nick Vanos nw flight 255)
5. Wendy's, McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell etc (Oliver Miller, what a waste of talent)

Yet the Suns historical list of pgs is quite impressive.
1. Dennis Johnson
2. Kevin Johnson
3. Jason Kidd
4. Stephon Marbury
5. Steve Nash

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This is so true. We have lost potential franchise centers to:

1. Coin flips (Instead of Kareem, we get Neal Walk--who ended up being a decent player but no where close to Kareem)
2. Deliberate tank jobs (We end up with Armon Gilliam instead of David Robinson)
3. Drug scandals (James Edwards was rally starting to look decent in 1987)
4. Plane crashes (Nick Vanos nw flight 255)
5. Wendy's, McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell etc (Oliver Miller, what a waste of talent)

Yet the Suns historical list of pgs is quite impressive.
1. Dennis Johnson
2. Kevin Johnson
3. Jason Kidd
4. Stephon Marbury
5. Steve Nash

we've also had a rich history of very good white two guards:

kyle macy
paul westphal
jeff hornacek
dan majerle
danny ainge
rex chapman

 

[Gaddabout]

we've also had a rich history of very good white two guards:

kyle macy
paul westphal
jeff hornacek
dan majerle
danny ainge
rex chapman

We didn't call them the Vanilla Suns for nothing!

 

[fordronken]

Yet the Suns historical list of pgs is quite impressive.
1. Dennis Johnson
2. Kevin Johnson
3. Jason Kidd
4. Stephon Marbury
5. Steve Nash

I'm not a Marbury hater by any stretch of the imagination, but honestly...does Marbury belong on that list?

 

[Nash]

I'm not a Marbury hater by any stretch of the imagination, but honestly...does Marbury belong on that list?

Exactly my thoughts. Maybe Sam Cassell instead?

 

[green machine]

I'm not a Marbury hater by any stretch of the imagination, but honestly...does Marbury belong on that list?

Yes he does. He didn't lead the Suns anywhere, but Marbury was certainly a good player while here, and has been a good player throughout his career.

Cassell's Suns career lasted all of like 35 games.