Spurs' Barry opts to become free agent

[Irish]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/07/01/20080701barry.html

Spurs' Barry opts to become free agent

4 commentsJul. 1, 2008 03:52 PM
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO - Spurs guard Brent Barry opted out of his contract and became a free agent on Tuesday.
Barry was part of a February trade with Seattle that sent him, center Francisco Elson and a 2009 first-round draft pick to the SuperSonics in exchange for forward Kurt Thomas. Barry, 36, re-signed with the Spurs in March after considering taking an offer from the Suns.

Barry, a career .407 3-point shooter, averaged 7.1 points in 31 games with the Spurs last season and 5.2 points during the playoffs.

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Jacque Vaughn, 33, who has backed up point guard Tony Parker, exercised his option, meaning he'll be under contract with the Spurs through next season. Free agents who were with the Spurs last season include forward Robert Horry, who will turn 38 in August and last week told a Houston television station that he wants to play a 17th season, 35-year-old guard Michael Finley and Thomas, who is also 35.

Do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kerr said he was looking for a backup PG and a three point shooter. Barry has experience as a combo PG (played with Ray Allen) and at 6'7" is big enough to deal with big PG's. From his standpoing, he can expect to get more minutes with the Suns backing up Nash than as a third string wing with the Spurs looking to get younger.

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

Damn, I hope he comes back to the Spurs. We can't afford to let him go.

 

[Greg Popovich]

Rumor has it that Rockets will get in a bidding war with SA for Brent.

If they offer MLE for Barry, he may be gone.

If Suns offer MLE, he may go there.

If both teams offer substantially the same amount of money, I think the Suns get Barry.

This would be a huge loss for SA and hope Brent Barry returns, but I am pessimistic about this. Brent needs to get as much money as possible since he has about 2 years left to play and needs to help set up his family financially as much as possible.

 

[Mr Bottomtooth]

I love Barry and all, but if a team offers him the MLE, they're damn foolish.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

We wont offer Barry anything near the MLE.

 

[Irish]

Hoopshype has Houstaon at $68 million before dealing with Landry. Somehow a full MLE seems a bit high.

 

[scXfreakX]

.....This would be a huge loss for SA and hope Brent Barry returns, but I am pessimistic about this. Brent needs to get as much money as possible since he has about 2 years left to play and needs to help set up his family financially as much as possible.

I think his family is fine in terms of money.

 

[Rab]

The MLE? You've got to be kidding me. Barry is just about done.

 

[Irish]

The MLE? You've got to be kidding me. Barry is just about done.

If Barry can play some PG (he's done it before) to back up Nash while waiting for Dragic to be ready, he could be a big plus for the Suns

In the Laker series, he averaged 9.4 ppg on 48.4% shooting and 47.8% for three in 20.4 minutes per game. During the regular season he averaged 7.1 ppg on 48.1% and 42.9% for three.

I'm not sure he can give extensive minutes at the point, but he knows what to do. In his last three years with the Sonics he averaged over 5 assists per game

 

[Folster]

Pass. He used us to make it look like the San Antonio trade to Seattle was legit.

 

[Irish]

Pass. He used us to make it look like the San Antonio trade to Seattle was legit.

Here is a guy who has hit us with daggars for years. I don't care if hie decided to return to the Spurs. If he can help the Suns, I'd like to have him. Take a look at our other options at backup point guard.

 

[asudevil83]

Here is a guy who has hit us with daggars for years. I don't care if hie decided to return to the Spurs. If he can help the Suns, I'd like to have him. Take a look at our other options at backup point guard.

but for anything more that the vet min, it would be completely nonsensical

 

[elindholm]

Barry can't play anymore. A few years ago he would have been great.

 

[mojorizen7]

I love Barry and all, but if a team offers him the MLE, they're damn foolish.

 

[Bigdez22]

but for anything more that the vet min, it would be completely nonsensical

 

[Sunsman43]

Brent Barry should learn from his brother Jon: Retire.

 

[Irish]

The Suns need a veteran PG who spell Nash until Dragic and Strawberry are ready to step up and they need another three point shooter. If you get this from one guy, then the Suns can save a salary.

 

[Folster]

Brent Barry looked old and slow in the playoffs. Pop only put him in because Ginobli and Finley sucked in the Lakers series and nothing else was working. The only thing he did was stand behind the three point line and chuck threes. I know he makes them, but he is such a liability on the defensive end. We have enough defensive liabilities as it is. We could get the same production from Allan Houston. Personally, I'd rather give the minutes to one of our youngsters.

 

[dodie53]

get him for the veteran minimum

 

[Bigdez22]

The Suns need a veteran PG who spell Nash until Dragic and Strawberry are ready to step up and they need another three point shooter. If you get this from one guy, then the Suns can save a salary.

The more I think about it......The more I think this would be the smart thing to do. I Would like to sign three guys(PG,wing,big man), but I know this is not going to happen.

Berry and Hill could hold down the pg spot for 25 min a game. I hope the Suns bring in someone new for a big man vet min. I would take Kwame Brown over Marks and Skinner. A bench of Berry,LB,Diaw/Hill,Lopez and a vet big sounds good to me.


I am ready for the abuse I am bound to receive for saying I want Kwame Brown.

 

[leclerc]

I believe Kwame Brown has issues I'd like to keep out of Phoenix. Seems he's always in someone's doghouse. Just another underachieving sensitive big if you ask me.

I'm not so sure I want Brent Barry. True he can shoot and has experience and size but don't we want a real point guard to back up Nash? Is he that much more of a pg than say Gordan Giricek? OK I'm exaggerating but I don't see this move solve our needs.

We could always use another shooter though. I'd be happy to take him for the minimum if we can't resign Gordan, and he's a million times better than Pike (and Alan Houston).

I still hope we get a real point guard.

 

[Irish]

Coro seems to think that the Suns are looking at Lue. He's not a real point guard either, but he can shoot and is very quick.

Nothing will happen for a while as everybody will try to get more money.

 

[BC867]

I don't want to see Brent Barry as a Sun.

Even if his Dad is a throw-in to teach Shaq how to shoot free throws underhanded, and make them over 90% of the time.

Why not just skip the middle man and have Rick counsel Shaq on foul shooting?

 

[formerphoenix suns]

Getting Barry would be a horrible choice in my opinion.

Maybe we can have Shaq's buddy Lue or one of the (former) Sonics slew of point guards. Barry is old & done - see Lakers/Spurs series.

We all might be missing something too... w/ D'Antoni gone and Terry Porter running the show, maybe Leandro Barbosa can be the PG. Is it really that crazy?

We also have D.J. Strawberry, who, if allowed to play, might show himself as a quality backup for Steve Nash.

 

[shazaam6]

I don't want to see Brent Barry as a Sun.

Even if his Dad is a throw-in to teach Shaq how to shoot free throws underhanded, and make them over 90% of the time.

Why not just skip the middle man and have Rick counsel Shaq on foul shooting?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCLf3ltMsMI Rick Barry already offered



it could be worse


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wQq9YWZ568&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vekeExMo1d0&feature=related