Lue believes he will sign with Suns

[LV-Suns]

Lue believes he will sign with Suns

43 comments by Paul Coro - Jul. 9, 2008 09:36 PM
The Arizona Republic


Disarmed of money to offer or much of a 2008 playoff pedigree, the Suns appear to still have recruiting wherewithal with free agency target Tyronn Lue saying that he believes he will sign with the Suns.


"I think we're going to get it done in Phoenix," Lue said Wednesday.
Signing Lue, 31, would fill Phoenix's free agency priority. Suns General Manager Steve Kerr has said he wanted a veteran point guard to back up Steve Nash and start for him about 12 times to rest Nash, 34.

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Lue played his first three NBA seasons with Suns center Shaquille O'Neal on the Lakers, including the 2000 and 2001 champions. He went onto be a part-time starter for Washington, Orlando, Houston and Atlanta before he was dealt in the Mike Bibby trade to Sacramento in February.


Lue never played for the Kings before they waived him. Phoenix pursued Lue but he said last week that he chose Dallas in March because he feared former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni would only use seven players. Once Dallas re-signed J.J. Barea this week, Lue's group of preferred teams was down to Boston and Phoenix.


Lue, 6 feet and 175 pounds, has averaged 8.9 points and 3.3 assists per game (to 1.25 turnovers) in his career with a 38.9 percent 3-point percentage. He may not be known as a creator but he runs a stable point, is quick and defends well.


The Suns plan to use Leandro Barbosa exclusively as an off-guard, leaving D.J. Strawberry's combo guard game as the only other option at point unless second-round pick Goran Dragic is let out of his Tau Ceramica contract.


Because of its luxury tax forecast, Phoenix planned to limit itself to offering any free agent a one-year minimum contract. As a 10-year pro, Lue would make $1.26 million on a one-year deal but only about $800,000 of that will count on the Suns' payroll for salary cap and luxury tax purposes. A league fund offsets the remainder on one-year contracts.


Until this year, Lue had not been on a playoff team since 2001, when he shadowed Allen Iverson in the NBA Finals. He wanted a postseason chance when he picked Dallas over Phoenix in March, prompting O'Neal to tell Lue, "How are you going to say no to me?"
Lue had to be dismayed when his role vanished in the playoffs. He played two postseason minutes with Dallas keeping Jason Kidd and Jason Terry at the point.


Plus, there is the idea of saying no to O'Neal twice.


"He took me under his wing and did a lot for me and financially too," Lue said about O'Neal last week. "He always kept me confident and that was big for me. He gave me the confidence to play my game."


Lue also talked about leaning toward Phoenix last week, saying, "I feel really good about the Suns. I want to go to a winning team and a good organization. They have both those things."
With first-round draft pick Robin Lopez and Lue, the Suns would have 11 players under contract for 2008-09. The league roster minimum is 13.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/07/09/20080709suns0710.html

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Yeah heard we offered him a contract on ktar. Im sure he will hold his breath til no one offers him better then come here. Anything that keeps barbs at the 2 is A-OK with me. Im sure he will play a bit of point still anyway.

Now on to the wing and big backups.

 

[Irish]

I can't see Boston killing themselves to get him, so I think this is pretty much a done deal.

Lue's 2.64 assist to turnover ratio is impressive due to it being based on avoiding turnovers. For example, Barbosa has a ratio of 1.76 and Marcus Banks has a ratio of 1.65. Jason Kidd makes a lot of tough assists which give him a ratio of 2.1. Nash has a ratio of 3.0.

 

[Sunsman43]

YES!!!!

There is a God. They just said:

"The Suns plan to use Leandro Barbosa exclusively as an off-guard"

 

[HooverDam]

I hope they can get this deal done, Lue would probably be the best back up PG the Suns have had in the Nash era.

 

[Joe Mama]

On top of waiting for something better to come around I think he will also wait a little bit to see what happens with Dragic.

Joe

 

[dodie53]

welcome Lue

 

[Louis]

A terrific signing if it happens. Especially with the Euro guy potentially playing after this season.

 

[WuRaider]

, would rather have a crippled Livingston or Anthony Beetlejuice Johnson

 

[scoutmasterdave]

Why is it that every time I see "Livingston" I seriously think it's Randy Livingston? Perhaps I'm still traumatized.

 

[BC867]

Anything that keeps barbs at the 2 is A-OK with me.

Yes, but not if it means a small backcourt of Nash and Barbosa at the end of each close game.

Barbosa not at Point Guard -- great. Barbosa keeping a big 2-Guard who can play defense on the bench -- not great.

 

[Irish]

Leandro needs to learn footwork and positioning, but he has the length and quickness to be a decent defender. I'm not ready to write him off.

Offensively Leandro is much better off the ball. He lacks the vision and insticnts of PG. More important, he lacks the mid range game.

Lue is samller, but IMHO his game is better suited to the Suns offensive style.

 

[Andrew]

If we get him, I like this pickup.

 

[mojorizen7]

Leandro needs to learn footwork and positioning, but he has the length and quickness to be a decent defender. I'm not ready to write him off.

Offensively Leandro is much better off the ball. He lacks the vision and insticnts of PG. More important, he lacks the mid range game.

The physical tools are there. We will learn alot about Barbs this year.
Will he be simply a 3 pt specialist with speed? .......or can he become a complete player? We'll see.

 

[Splinters81]

The physical tools are there. We will learn alot about Barbs this year.
Will he be simply a 3 pt specialist with speed? .......or can he become a complete player? We'll see.

I am curious to see how he does after losing coach Dan D. Wasn't he Barbosas mentor?

 

[mojorizen7]

I am curious to see how he does after losing coach Dan D. Wasn't he Barbosas mentor?

Yes. I think the plan from Mike & Dan was to get around to teaching Barbosa some defense in or around 2012.

 

[scXfreakX]

It will definitely be a solid signing. We need an experienced backup and someone who can give Nash a rest. Lue isn't a superstar, but he knows how to play and can keep it together while Nash rests.

 

[Mainstreet]

It will definitely be a solid signing. We need an experienced backup and someone who can give Nash a rest. Lue isn't a superstar, but he knows how to play and can keep it together while Nash rests.

How long has it been since the Suns have had an adequate backup PG? I'm thinking it has to be at least 5 or more years back. Although JJ played some PG this was not his true position.

Why has it taken the Suns more than 4 years to find a backup PG for Nash? And I am certainly not talking about Banks.

 

[sunsallday]

Cough*dantoni*cough

 

[Irish]

How long has it been since the Suns have had an adequate backup PG?

1997-98: Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson, and Steve Nash.

 

[Sunsman43]

1997-98: Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson, and Steve Nash.

Hmm. Interesting. So......

1998: KIDD + KJ + NASH

2008: NASH + LUE + DRAGIC


See the pattern?

-Nash today is the Kidd of yesterday.
-Lue today is the KJ of yesterday.
-Dragic today is the Nash of yesterday.

10 years from now, you will be seeing Dragic all over the place - putting up all-star numbers and talking about winning a title before retiring, just as we are with Nash today.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I hope you mean by position only, because KJ is, was, and will be light years ahead of anything lue or dragic can and will do.

 

[Sunsman43]

I hope you mean by position only, because KJ is, was, and will be light years ahead of anything lue or dragic can and will do.

Nowhere above do I compare Kevin Johnson to Goran Dragic. Read carefully.

What I mean to do - and perhaps it is explained poorly - is the pecking order of the point guards from 1998 and 2008.

1998 vs. 2008:
younger Kidd is to Nash (starters)
veteran Kevin is to Lue (backups)
rookie Nash is to Dragic (developers)


Does this make better sense? Are u relieved now that you found Kevin Johnson is not being compared to Lue and Dragic? From your post, it appeared you were offended or something.

 

[Bufalay]

Nowhere above do I compare Kevin Johnson to Goran Dragic. Read carefully.

What I mean to do - and perhaps it is explained poorly - is the pecking order of the point guards from 1998 and 2008.

1998 vs. 2008:
younger Kidd is to Nash (starters)
veteran Kevin is to Lue (backups)
rookie Nash is to Dragic (developers)


Does this make better sense? Are u relieved now that you found Kevin Johnson is not being compared to Lue and Dragic? From your post, it appeared you were offended or something.

stupid. every team has a pecking order like that if you're going to be so broad about it.

 

[Joe Mama]

Nowhere above do I compare Kevin Johnson to Goran Dragic. Read carefully.

What I mean to do - and perhaps it is explained poorly - is the pecking order of the point guards from 1998 and 2008.

1998 vs. 2008:
younger Kidd is to Nash (starters)
veteran Kevin is to Lue (backups)
rookie Nash is to Dragic (developers)


Does this make better sense? Are u relieved now that you found Kevin Johnson is not being compared to Lue and Dragic? From your post, it appeared you were offended or something.

If you aren't comparing the players what's the point? Half the teams out there have a starter, a veteran backup, and a young, developing point guard. It seems to me the only reason to bring up Jason Kidd-Kevin Johnson-Steve Nash is to make some sort of comparison which would be quite frankly ridiculous.

Joe Mama