Suns Have Extended Barbosa

[jbeecham]

I think they overpaid by a couple million simply because I can't see LB ever being more than a bench player. I would've been happier with 5yrs $23-26 million. Here's how his contract will break down:

5.24
5.76
6.34
6.97
7.67

I don't remember what Raja signed for, but it was something close to 5yrs $25 million and he's the starting SG.

 

[Chaplin]

Fans have such a specific window--in their mind a guy is worth only a specific amount. If they sign him for more, they are overpaying and are desperate. If they offer him less, they are cheap.

We'd always love for us to spend less for quality. But if we were going to overpay for him, we certainly didn't go that far over. I suppose only the Diaw signing will show whether Sarver is cheap or not, right? The LB signing has nothing to do with that aspect of the owner, I assume.

 

[jbeecham]

Fans have such a specific window--in their mind a guy is worth only a specific amount. If they sign him for more, they are overpaying and are desperate. If they offer him less, they are cheap.

For me, I consider it overspending if your backup SG makes more money than your better starting SG (whose an actual shooting guard, not a tweener). I like Barbosa, he brings a lot of good qualities to the team with his speed, penetration & creativity on offense. I just can't see him develop into a starting quality SG at 6'3 and he's making more money than Bell.

 

[Shazam]

Is Raja Bell gonna be okay with this?

 

[Joe Mama]

Bell is a pro. I'm sure he realizes that the Phoenix Suns are paying a lot for Barbosa's potential.

Chap, there is a pretty specific salary window for each player IMO. I don't think we always have it correctly identified, but I do think it exists. Now, even if the team over pays it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a bad signing. The same goes for offering too little.

Joe

 

[SactownSunsFan]

If Barbosa can ever improve his defense, he'd be more than capable as a starter at SG. He's already a mismatch on offense for just about any player he goes up against. He's too quick to play him up close, and too accurate a 3-point shooter to play too far off him. He's got the long arms and quickness to be a good defender, he just needs the will to get there.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Barbosa can ever improve his defense, he'd be more than capable as a starter at SG. He's already a mismatch on offense for just about any player he goes up against. He's too quick to play him up close, and too accurate a 3-point shooter to play too far off him. He's got the long arms and quickness to be a good defender, he just needs the will to get there.

I agree totally, but I still think Barbosa's future may lie at PG. I think the Suns realize he can play SG now, but he still has the potential to play PG in a year or two. I think LB is a bright young man but the language barrier has held him back. In a couple of years, I predict LB will have a better grasp of the nuances of the NBA and he will be able to make the transition to PG where he was originally projected to play.

Actually, I think LB and Diaw are very similar in one aspect... they are rising young stars. Anyway, I see LB as starter material whether he starts or not. Can anyone remember a 6th man by the name of John Havlicek. I'm not comparing the two players other than to say a 6th man can have a tremendous impact in the game... sometimes more so than the starters. IMO, I think we are getting caught up in who starts. LB will get his minutes and I think he will make at the very least an excellent combo guard in the future.

 

[The Commish]

Even if you guys don't think he is worth the money, some other teams might. His contract low enough to where he could be a valuable asset for trade down the road (if they chose to). Anyways I like LB and think he's a good player, perhaps not worth $32million, but still a good player with upside. I won't complain about his contract unless if affects our ability to sign Diaw. This signing though does indicate to me that Shawn Marion will be gone next summer (assuming Diaw gets resigned, which I think he will).

 

[fordronken]

Barbosa is a perfect combo guard off the bench. In the playoffs it is crucial to have an "instant offense" kind of player who can give your team a spark. I think Barbosa will turn into a really, really good one. I'd say that's worth the midlevel. And he's going to get a decent amount better too.

 

[nowagimp]

I dont like the Signing at all, I agree with another poster that is way too much for someone that will never be a starter on this team....LB has had 2 big time knee problems and he looks like he is about to cry everytime something happens where he needs to step up. Im the only poster here I guess that thought he should make less than Banks. Wait til you see the two, and whom gets more playing time. This is a joke and MIKE buckled under pressure to sign someone.

Diaw is a starter and they didnt seriously try to sign him, Mike D Strike TWO.

Not Drafting anyone strike one
Signing LB for way to much and not offerring Diaw anything worth Strike TWO.

Barbosa was the one of the top 3pt shooters in the NBA last year at 44.4%. He also shot 48% FG's overall at 13.1 ppg. You may be underestimating the value of the spacing provided by a guy who shoots the three that accurately and creates speed mismatches, much like Banks. He is also a very effective penetrator who only needs to learn to see the floor better and improve his decision making. Teams deal with Banks by letting him shoot outside(35% from 3), fearing the drive where he finishes very well. You cant do that with Leo, it will hurrt alot more, hence he has a bigger impact on spacing, helps the suns offense when he doesnt even shoot or dish. I think both will be key playmakers for the suns if amare is not at 90%. If you look at leo's stats, 13.1ppg, 48%fgs, 44.4% from 3, he IS a MLE player off the bench or not.

 

[Muggum]

Ultimately, Barbosa will replace Nash as the starting PG. If we keep Diaw, our PG, whoever it is after Nash, will always have the luxury of playing without the ball now and then(Diaw can run the offense from the high post). Barbosa should do fine.

M

 

[JS22]

I'm interested in seeing what Banks can do.

Banks And Barbosa as the future, maybe?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i think it's a tad bit high, but i'm excited about the signing. honestly, i thought the team was committed to signing diaw, but less enthused about signing barbs. i still think the team will get diaw under contract, so the barbs signing along with the banks signing are gravy. i like barbs a great deal. as has been mentioned ad nauseum, his 3 pt shooting and speed are awesome and in the playoffs he started to show a bit of a pull-up that i hadn't seen in his repatoire (sp?) prior. he's young and will only improve. will he ever be a starter for us? likely not. but he'll always be a terrific part of a three guard (now four guard) rotation!

 

[dbUNIT16]

I'm glad we got the Barbosa deal done, but agree with many of you, that if this deal is supposed to suffice for the potential loss of Diaw, this organization's new management has once again failed. They need to prove they are serious about winning and that they still have the power the previous regime had to get the deals done.

I really think most people, as well as the organization underestimate the value of Diaw. He was unstoppable in the playoffs. In fact, I was frustrated that they would get away from going to him so often when the oppenents had no answers for him. He is also an insurance policy on Amare. Amare's not going to be the Amare of old right away, but a good Amare, and improving Diaw are STILL UNSTOPPABLE. Diaw will only learn and feed of Amare's agression. I cannot wait to see those two on the floor together, those are two viable inside scorers that can also knock down the jump shot and play the pick-and roll perfectly. Dallas could not stop Diaw, let them try to stop an improved Diaw + Amare! Scary!

Also, I think we are great in the backcourt, probably the best in the league. MVP Nash, who will get more rest, combined with Speed, Speed, and Speed, in Barbosa and Banks. Then we have the shooting and D of Bell. The only thing I wish we had was one more solid shooter. I guess we'll have to settle for Piatowski or hope that JJ can become consistant.

 

[Chaplin]

Leave it to fans to say that signing Barbosa to an extension is a precursor to losing Diaw. Unbelievable.

 

[F-Dog]

I know F-Dog won't believe this, but this was an extremely easy deal to do. The Suns were convinced Leandro would get an MLE offer next summer and Leandro was convinced he would not get an above the MLE offer next summer.

You're right, I don't believe it. Even if that's how Barbosa reads the market (and the market can change quite a bit in 12 months), a player (and his agent) usually have to be convinced an offer is fair before he'll accept, regardless of what else is available.

There are players on the market right now who know for a fact they won't get more than the MLE without a S&T--Bonzi Wells, Drew Gooden, even Al Harrington. I don't see any of those players making other people's lives easy.

 

[F-Dog]

Leave it to fans to say that signing Barbosa to an extension is a precursor to losing Diaw. Unbelievable.

I think the precursor to losing Diaw is Diaw holding out for a huge extension.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Leave it to fans to say that signing Barbosa to an extension is a precursor to losing Diaw. Unbelievable.

leave it to you to completely change what people are saying - everyone who who has mentioned Diaw in the Barbs discussion has said IF - whereas you have changed that into a definite - par for the course.

 

[SunsTzu]

leave it to you to completely change what people are saying - everyone who who has mentioned Diaw in the Barbs discussion has said IF - whereas you have changed that into a definite - par for the course.

I don't see how Barbosa's deal impacts Diaw's. I really doubt the Suns would extend LB at the expense of Diaw and the "IF" seems highly unlikely to me.

 

[Chaplin]

leave it to you to completely change what people are saying - everyone who who has mentioned Diaw in the Barbs discussion has said IF - whereas you have changed that into a definite - par for the course.

Wrong. Again. Picking a fight. Again.

The poster before my post turned signing Barbosa into a rant about underestimating and in turn not paying Diaw.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't see how Barbosa's deal impacts Diaw's. I really doubt the Suns would extend LB at the expense of Diaw and the "IF" seems highly unlikely to me.

Exactly.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Wrong. Again. Picking a fight. Again.

The poster before my post turned signing Barbosa into a rant about underestimating and in turn not paying Diaw.

I'm picking a fight? I'm not the one who just distorted people's opinions and then put the "you're crazy" sign next to the distortion. Yeah - that's not inflammatory behavior. But yeah, I'm picking the fight - sorry if I'm defending an idea that you distorted to make look ridiculous. But hey, you're the Angel who never does anything wrong so...

 

[Cheesebeef]

Leave it to fans to say that signing Barbosa to an extension is a precursor to losing Diaw. Unbelievable.

chap - are you NOT saying that fans are idiots here (all while distorting what they are saying)?

 

[Chaplin]

chap - are you NOT saying that fans are idiots here (all while distorting what they are saying)?

No. Just you.

(Settle down, cheese, I'm just joking)

Here's the idea--in my opinion there are 2 facts:

1) Signing Diaw to an extension is and always has been the top priority for the Suns (the length of time it's taking to do it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone)

2) The signing of Barbosa to an extension has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not they sign Diaw to an extension

That's it. The signing of LB doesn't mean that we value Diaw less or even more. They have nothing to do with each other. Don't you agree?

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm generally pretty optomistic about the Suns getting a deal done with Diaw, but remain convinced that it won't happen without a fair amount of face time with the Suns management. They have to convince him they really want him while saying they can't give him Nene money. Nor will anyone else.