Suns express interest in Malone

[az1965]

Team expresses interest in Malone

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 26, 2005 12:00 AM

NEW YORK - The commitment of the Suns to winning now showed last week with more than the trade for Jim Jackson.

Suns Chairman Jerry Colangelo told KTAR-AM that the Suns talked to Karl Malone's agent, Dwight Manley, last week. Manley told Colangelo and reporters that Malone is leaning toward retirement and will make a final decision in the next week or two.

Asked about the organization's contact with Malone, Suns President and General Manger Bryan Colangelo said: "We are doing everything we can to turn every stone to find a player and take advantage of this opportunity. That might reinforce what we're doing." advertisement

Leandro Barbosa will return to the active roster for Friday's game at Boston, the last game of Smush Parker's 10-day contract. If Parker is not retained, Phoenix will have an open spot on the active roster.


All-Star stuff

Mike D'Antoni's shot at coaching the West All-Stars will be decided after the games played Feb. 6. The West leader at that time will coach the Feb. 20 game.

Phoenix is pushing for Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and Amaré Stoudemire to be chosen. Stoudemire's chances would be helped greatly if the West coaches consider him a center.

"Arguably, he's had the most impact at his position," Bryan Colangelo said.


Free throws

• Nash missed a free throw in the fourth quarter for the first time this season. It was his first miss since Dec. 26. He is shooting 91 percent at the line.

• Maybe Stephon Marbury shot 5 for 17 because he was short on sleep. He brought Stephon Jr., born Saturday, home from a hospital Monday. Marbury also has two daughters.

 

[devilalum]

If Malone does come back I think Phx would feed his ego more than SA. In SA he'd just be riding Duncan's coattails, they've already won before so doing it again wouldn't be that big a deal.

I guarentee all of us Malone haters would change our tune if he got us the title.

I'll say it now, "If he comes here and we win it all I will be a huge Malone fan"

 

[Joe Mama]

If Malone does come back I think Phx would feed his ego more than SA. In SA he'd just be riding Duncan's coattails, they've already won before so doing it again wouldn't be that big a deal.

I guarentee all of us Malone haters would change our tune if he got us the title.

I'll say it now, "If he comes here and we win it all I will be a huge Malone fan"

I will feel like we've sold our souls to the devil. I don't think he's going to come here, but if he did I would have to live with it. There's no way I could boycott this Phoenix Suns team. I've said that I would do that in the past, but I knew I was lying to myself.

At least I've softened a little with regards to my hatred for Karl Malone. He used to be far and away my least favorite player in the NBA. Now there are several others I hate more than him.

I also agree that if he came to the Phoenix Suns and won a championship it would be a bigger credit to his legacy than if he joined a San Antonio team that has already won several championships and is everyone's favorite to win another. Also, if he is leaning towards retirement at this point he might be more willing to join a team like Phoenix where he would probably only play about 15 minutes per game.

This would be a tough one to swallow, but I think I could do it because I think it would really help this team (Cheesebeef, KoC, does that get me a 15% raise?). Then again it feels like cheating or sleeping with someone's wife to get a better job. I would definitely have to take a shower after every game.

Joe Mama

 

[scotsman13]

I guarentee all of us Malone haters would change our tune if he got us the title.

i am a malone hater. if he came here i would still hate him. as a player i think that he is a thug and has never done anything that would show me that he is any differant from that. now if he won us a championship, i would still hate him because he is a a crybaby thug.

 

[jibikao]

Let's be honest, almost every team has a thug-type player.

While I don't like the physical aspect of the game (may cause injuries), Suns is being labeled as a VERY SOFT team.

Adding Malone will make us tough - physically. Mentally I think we are great if Nash is playing. I mean we took 30+ 3pt!!! That needs a lot of confidence and mental toughness to take that many 3pt.


Well, if Malone can helps get to the Ring, he'll defintely Retire Happy. If Malone wins a Ring as a Spurs, that's kinda lame because Spurs would probably win it without him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

While I don't like the physical aspect of the game (may cause injuries), Suns is being labeled as a VERY SOFT team.

.

I'm curious, who is saying this? If its anyone outside of San Antonio, they're full of crap.

This is a quote from another thread. Its Dave Cowans (no softie himself) talking about the Suns. No mention of softness there.

The Suns look like they're having an awful lot of fun and they’re really hungry, like they want to prove something. There's a certain nastiness to them on the court. If they're for real, they should be able to carry this throughout the season and the playoffs. Will they have a dip? Sure, every team has one at one time or another over the course of the season.

 

[elindholm]

As most of you know, I've never been a Malone hater. I've defended him on this board many times.

However, I don't think he'll come to the Suns, and I don't even think he'd be a particularly good fit. I've watched him a lot the past couple of seasons, and you'd be surprised how inconsistent his spot-up 18-footer has become.

 

[jibikao]

I'm curious, who is saying this? If its anyone outside of San Antonio, they're full of crap.

This is a quote from another thread. Its Dave Cowans (no softie himself) talking about the Suns. No mention of softness there.

The Suns look like they're having an awful lot of fun and they’re really hungry, like they want to prove something. There's a certain nastiness to them on the court. If they're for real, they should be able to carry this throughout the season and the playoffs. Will they have a dip? Sure, every team has one at one time or another over the course of the season.

Defensively, you don't think we are soft? You think we are tough?? We don't box out, we let the opponents step into our paints to grab boards, we don't foul them when we should and we are undersized. You call this "tough"??

Being soft defensively doesn't mean we suck. In games against Utah, Pacers, and Pistons, you think we were really aggressive defensively?

We are definitely nasty offensively!.

 

[devilalum]

Tell you the best reason for the Suns to get Malone. Aside from the fact that he might help the Suns, if he went to SA he'd help them even more.

He'd probably fit into their slow physical pace a lot better than he'd fit here. By getting Malone the Suns could be keeping their worst enemy from getting him.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Tell you the best reason for the Suns to get Malone. Aside from the fact that he might help the Suns, if he went to SA he'd help them even more.

He'd probably fit into their slow physical pace a lot better than he'd fit here. By getting Malone the Suns could be keeping their worst enemy from getting him.

I defintiely agree with this, which is why I hope he retires.

I actually think we pulled the trigger on the JJack deal not only because he will help us a good amount, but also because the Spurs and Mavs were rumored to be the biggest competition for him.