Suns Sign Brian Grant

[PakistaniRambo]

Discuss...article is on azcentral.com

Suns sign Brian Grant

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 16, 2005 12:00 AM [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Veteran power forward Brian Grant has agreed to terms to join the Phoenix Suns, according to his agent.

Grant, 33, will tie up loose ends of the deal Tuesday but will not be able to sign with Phoenix until he clears waivers Wednesday afternoon. Grant accepted a deal for the Suns' largest available sum, a $1.67 million biannual exception, and will have a player option for a second year in the contract.

Grant turned down "much more" lucrative offers elsewhere to be in Phoenix.

"It's a great franchise, no doubt about it, with the best record last year, a great point guard and a need (for a big man)," Bartelstein said. "We think it's a terrific fit."

Grant has played 11 seasons in the NBA with Sacramento, Portland and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent an injury-riddled year last season. At 6 feet 9 and 254 pounds, Grant is known for his defensive and rebounding prowess with career averages of 10.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He only had eight starts last year, down from 76 in 2003-2004, and had career lows in scoring (3.8) and rebounding (3.7) averages.[/font]
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[Diamondback Jay]

Grant turned down "much more" lucrative offers elsewhere to be in Phoenix.

For some reason, I'm not buying that.. But hey.. I could be/probably am wrong.

Grant has played 11 seasons in the NBA with Sacramento, Portland and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent an injury-riddled year last season. At 6 feet 9 and 254 pounds, Grant is known for his defensive and rebounding prowess with career averages of 10.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He only had eight starts last year, down from 76 in 2003-2004, and had career lows in scoring (3.8) and rebounding (3.7) averages.

For the 1.7 million dollar exception, I think it's a solid pickup.. Grant definately brings some attitude and could be a valuable asset off the bench for either KT or Amare.

 

[Chaz]

Nice veteran bench player.

Can board and hit an open jumper.

I like it.

 

[KloD]

ok...here we go.

 

[elindholm]

Discuss...article is on azcentral.com

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I'm happy about the signing, although I confess I'm a little surprised that the Suns didn't go after Jerome Williams instead, since he is known to be healthy. Still, Grant has always been one of my most admired players. He never should have been given a maximum contract and couldn't live up to those expectations, but he is a great character guy who does a lot of things well.

If he can stay healthy, he'll be a steal.

 

[djohnson]

Forget about Finley coming back now. Suns must have found out for sure that he plans on signing with Miami. Grant's a good guy with brittle knees. I'm sure there is a trade in the works to get a starting 2 guard, especially with the MLE that we will be getting from the Hawks.

 

[KloD]

Discuss...article is on azcentral.com

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I'm happy about the signing, although I confess I'm a little surprised that the Suns didn't go after Jerome Williams instead, since he is known to be healthy. Still, Grant has always been one of my most admired players. He never should have been given a maximum contract and couldn't live up to those expectations, but he is a great character guy who does a lot of things well.

If he can stay healthy, he'll be a steal.

Isn't azcentral.com a news source? I don't recall having to reg?

 

[PakistaniRambo]

Forget about Finley coming back now. Suns must have found out for sure that he plans on signing with Miami. Grant's a good guy with brittle knees. I'm sure there is a trade in the works to get a starting 2 guard, especially with the MLE that we will be getting from the Hawks.

we're getting a trade exception from them. I think we used about 3 mill of our MLE on bell, so we still have around 1.5-2 mill left for someone else..maybe finley. correct me if im mistakened guys.

edit -- but if we do get finley somehow, i wouldnt be surprised to see JJax put together in a package for another backup Forward. i'm still hoping we pick up Wilcox or maybe even Gooden.

 

[elindholm]

Isn't azcentral.com a news source? I don't recall having to reg?

Oops, I must have them confused with that other site message board with a similar name. Sorry.

 

[devilalum]

Nice

This will definitely add some depth to the bench. I like that we've added some grizzled vets.

 

[Gaddabout]

The thing I like about this is Grant can play the five when healthy. He's actually better at center than power forward. The the LLE, given the choice, I will take a HEALTHY Grant over any available center out there. The problems I see (and my rationale for putting concerns aside):

1) This is guaranteed money. If he's not 100 percent, it's not money the Suns can use on someone else. With a player option, it's possible he could be a $1.7 million DL anchor for the next two years. Still, if they can milk 15 or more productive minutes out of him next season, he's a steal and we might be more worried about whether we can resign him next year.

2) It still doesn't address the Tim Duncan problem. My guess is it's not a problem you could solve with $10 million, much less $1.7 million, but it's probably the best you could do with that much money. Both Grant and KT are solid on-ball defenders (if not shot blockers) that will make Duncan work a little. It will also make him play defense if they knock down open shots when Amare's driving and dishing.

3) The Suns continue to get older. I've never been too concerned with this. Amare is the youth of this organization and the centerpiece. It's pointless to surround him with other young players if they don't get you the ring. It appears they are wanting to find ways to make Amare as successful as possible -- all the pieces fit around him, not him fitting in as a piece.

 

[SirStefan32]

Great move.

 

[arthurracoon]

 

[coloradosun]

I guess you have to a grizzled veteran to know the importance of being a part of a quality franchise.

Young punks who think that they are going able to be the cornerstone of a franchise don't have the wisdom. JJ will be signing with a team that wants to win a championship after his contract with the Hawks runs out, guarenteed.

 

[devilalum]

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[Gaddabout]

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I think the ayes have it on this one.

 

[SweetD]

great price for a good player. Not a great player but he is better than Voskul if he can stay healthy and play few minutes.

 

[coloradosun]

What is a "biannual exception", never heard of it. It implies that we can use it twice a year.

 

[Chaz]

What is a "biannual exemption", never heard of it. It implies that we can use it twice a year.

Actually it's every two years. Same thing as the LLE.

 

[PhxGametime]

I knew if I started pimping Finley, the Suns would sign Brian Grant

I remember when he was with the Kings and how much I liked him there, depending on health, he should be able to help Team.


So are the Suns, set?

 

[devilalum]

I knew if I started pimping Finley, the Suns would sign Brian Grant

I remember when he was with the Kings and how much I liked him there, depending on health, he should be able to help Team.


So are the Suns, set?

When Grant entered the draft I remember the SUns had a lot of interest and had him in a couple of times.

I guess the Suns finally got their guy. Didin't the Suns also have a lot of interest in Diaw the year he was drafted?

 

[Evil Ash]

I knew if I started pimping Finley, the Suns would sign Brian Grant

I remember when he was with the Kings and how much I liked him there, depending on health, he should be able to help Team.


So are the Suns, set?

Probably are still going to look for a shooter w/ one of the trade exemptions. Possibly adding a backup a PG and/or another big man w/ vet minimum contracts but those seem to be lower on the priority scale

Love the signing of Grant

 

[JCSunsfan]

From the beginning of the season last year.

Jim Jackson replaces Q
Bell replaces JJ
Kurt Thomas replaces Hunter
Grant replaces Voshkul
Tischer replaces Bo (I'll count Bo, he came early in the year)

and we add

Diaw
Burke
possibly Finley

we lose

Zarko
Casey
Lampe
Vroman

 

[coloradosun]

Actually it's every two years. Same thing as the LLE.

My mistake, I was mixing it up with semi-annual.

 

[coloradosun]

From the beginning of the season last year.

Jim Jackson replaces Q
Bell replaces JJ
Kurt Thomas replaces Hunter
Grant replaces Voshkul
Tischer replaces Bo (I'll count Bo, he came early in the year)

and we add

Diaw
Burke
possibly Finley

we lose

Zarko
Casey
Lampe
Vroman

I would edit your initial replacement list.

Bell and Diaw replace JJ (joint venture)
Burke will replace Bo

Then for developemental

Dijon replaces Zarko
Graham replaces Casey
Tischer replaces Lampe