Voluntary Workouts

[Chaplin]

Just an FYI, I don't think we're completely sure just who is attending the workouts so far, but the Republic said that both Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant joined yesterday.

I believe there was an article posted earlier that said that Nash, Bell and a few others were already there.

 

[George O'Brien]

Just an FYI, I don't think we're completely sure just who is attending the workouts so far, but the Republic said that both Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant joined yesterday.

I believe there was an article posted earlier that said that Nash, Bell and a few others were already there.

Suns.com

Informal Gathering

Current Suns players have continued to file in to participate in informal workouts this week. New big men Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant made their first appearances in the last couple of days, and Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, Pat Burke and James Jones have also hit the practice court hardwood to prepare for training camp, which begins on Oct. 3.

The only roster players yet to hit the Valley all have good excuses. Shawn Marion has just returned from a European vacation. Jimmy Jackson is still recovering from his trip to South Africa, where he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders outreach program, and Boris Diaw is still competing for his home country France in the European Championships, which wrap up this weekend.

 

[zett]

starbury has also joined in on the workouts.

 

[SweetD]

What about Amare?

 

[Chaplin]

starbury has also joined in on the workouts.

??

 

[panfolk]

it's on suns.com. He's just working out with the team as a summer thing.

 

[Chaplin]

it's on suns.com. He's just working out with the team as a summer thing.

That's pretty cool.

Marbury participating in AWA informal workouts
A Piece of the Past is Present

By Steven J. Koek, Suns.com
Posted: Sept. 21, 2005

Stephon Marbury brought the ball up the America West Arena practice court, dribbled around an Amaré Stoudemire pick before getting it back to STAT, who threw down a vicious slam.

A severe case of déjà vu is occurring this week as the former Suns point guard is in the Valley while preparing for his second full season with the Knicks. The All-Star playmaker is affiliated with the Phoenix-based National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and is participating in informal workouts.

Marbury spent two-and-a-half seasons in a Suns uniform before being traded to New York midway through the 2003-04 season.

“I love Phoenix,” Marbury said. “Phoenix was good to me. When I came to Phoenix, I think I really got my life together and I got my career together. I still have a place here. I love coming back here. The people are great and the Suns are a great organization.”

The two-time All-Star holds no grudges against Phoenix for trading him and is happy to be able to return to the Valley and play some pick-up ball with Stoudemire, whom “Starbury” pegged for greatness even before his Rookie-of-the-Year season in 2002-03.

“Amaré is phenomenal,” Marbury said. “Everybody got mad when I said he was better than Kevin Garnett. I said that from the beginning and everybody thought I was being arrogant and didn’t know what I was talking about. But I was playing with somebody that I knew had the potential to be one of the best players to ever play.”

Informal Gathering

Current Suns players have continued to file in to participate in informal workouts this week. New big men Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant made their first appearances in the last couple of days, and Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, Pat Burke and James Jones have also hit the practice court hardwood to prepare for training camp, which begins on Oct. 3.

The only roster players yet to hit the Valley all have good excuses. Shawn Marion has just returned from a European vacation. Jimmy Jackson is still recovering from his trip to South Africa, where he participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders outreach program, and Boris Diaw is still competing for his home country France in the European Championships, which wrap up this weekend.

 

[zett]

Amare and steph ran the pick and roll so Amare is there too

 

[mathbzh]

Good news the team will be ready to kick some ass when the season will start

 

[George O'Brien]

What about Amare?

Actually, Amare was reported to be at the workouts (when he wasn't doing TV shows ) since Nash got here.

I'm very glad that KT and Grant are here. They have a lot to learn.

 

[arthurracoon]

Amare is there too

 

[fordronken]

Since when is a European vacation a valid excuse? That's like saying I had a good excuse for being late getting back to work because I was at lunch. That being said, if there's anybody I'm not really worried about missing time at informal workouts it's Marion and, for that matter, Jim Jackson.

Anyway...it looks like these are the guys that showed up so far:

For Sure
Steve Nash
Amare Stoudemire
Kurt Thomas
Brian Grant
James Jones
Eddie House
Pat Burke
Raja Bell
Leandro Barbosa

Maybe
Lucas Tischer
Dijon Thompson

No
Boris Diaw
Shawn Marion
Jim Jackson

Non-Suns
Stephon Marbury
Anthony Lever

 

[George O'Brien]

At this point, the younger guys need more time leanring the Suns fast break than Marion and Jackson.

BTW, is is just me or is it curious that Marbury had to wait a year and half after leaving to learn to run the pick and roll with Amare?

 

[elindholm]

Amare and steph ran the pick and roll so Amare is there too

Wait, I thought the party line here was that Marbury refused to pass Stoudemire the ball?

 

[SweetD]

Lets get these new guys in a start running them so they can play our style game the whole season!

 

[Dustbuster]

At this point, the younger guys need more time leanring the Suns fast break than Marion and Jackson.

BTW, is is just me or is it curious that Marbury had to wait a year and half after leaving to learn to run the pick and roll with Amare?

Two summers from now I guess it will be JJ here for voluntaries, and he will be running the pick and roll with Amare then. Better late than never?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Actually, Amare was reported to be at the workouts (when he wasn't doing TV shows ) since Nash got here.

I think he came a couple days after workouts started (Nash was here the day of). He was in LA doing work for the video game stuff.

Anyways, it is nice to see people getting in town. I said last summer that we would get off to a hot start since the new faces were getting familiar with each other so soon. Glad to see they are taking the same approach again!

 

[fordronken]

Update

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=48740

For Sure
Steve Nash
Amare Stoudemire
Kurt Thomas
Brian Grant
James Jones
Eddie House
Pat Burke
Raja Bell
Leandro Barbosa
Dijon Thompson
Lucas Tischer

No
Boris Diaw
Shawn Marion
Jim Jackson

Non-Suns
Stephon Marbury
Anthony Lever
Jake Tsakalidis

 

[elindholm]

Jake Tsakalidis

Seriously? Well, he fits under the trade exception, and the Suns could use another big body...

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Jake Tsakalidis

Seriously? Well, he fits under the trade exception, and the Suns could use another big body...

I dont know if you are kidding, but thats a move i fully endorse. Can never have enough big bodies.....

 

[elindholm]

I dont know if you are kidding

I don't know whether I am either, to be honest. I thought that the Suns gave up on Tsakalidis too soon, but on the other hand, he sure hasn't shown much in Memphis either. He has fairly good hands for someone his size and is an adequate free-throw shooter (66% career), but his lack of mobility has hampered him since he first came to the league. I think it's safe to say that he'll never be more than a bit player in the NBA, but he's probably among the best big men available for the money the Suns have to spend.

It might depend on whether management is convinced that the backup PG situation is under control.

 

[zett]

Since when is a European vacation a valid excuse? That's like saying I had a good excuse for being late getting back to work because I was at lunch. That being said, if there's anybody I'm not really worried about missing time at informal workouts it's Marion and, for that matter, Jim Jackson.

It's Valid because lunch is an hour long and these informal workouts start 25 min after lunch starts! these are not mandatory workouts, they are voluntary. No matter how much you make, players are allowed to take vacations

 

[fordronken]

I don't know whether I am either, to be honest. I thought that the Suns gave up on Tsakalidis too soon, but on the other hand, he sure hasn't shown much in Memphis either. He has fairly good hands for someone his size and is an adequate free-throw shooter (66% career), but his lack of mobility has hampered him since he first came to the league. I think it's safe to say that he'll never be more than a bit player in the NBA, but he's probably among the best big men available for the money the Suns have to spend.

It might depend on whether management is convinced that the backup PG situation is under control.

I don't want to use the exception on him, only because D'Antoni would never play him. He's slow and can't really hit much of a jump shot.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I dont know if you are kidding

I don't know whether I am either, to be honest. I thought that the Suns gave up on Tsakalidis too soon, but on the other hand, he sure hasn't shown much in Memphis either. He has fairly good hands for someone his size and is an adequate free-throw shooter (66% career), but his lack of mobility has hampered him since he first came to the league. I think it's safe to say that he'll never be more than a bit player in the NBA, but he's probably among the best big men available for the money the Suns have to spend.

It might depend on whether management is convinced that the backup PG situation is under control.

I wouldn't mind having him on the end of the bench. He could be totally immobile and alter drives to the middle just because of his size--he showed some flashes.

 

[jbeecham]

The only time Jake would be useful is when we play against Yao Ming & Shaq. It woule be nice to have someone over 7ft on the roster, but he'd probably hinder us more than he'd help if he played. We'd constantly be playing 4-on-5 on offense until Jake got up the court and he'd be calling to be taken out of the game after about 6 possessions because of all the running.