Suns extend Barbosa's contract
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Suns sign Barbosa to 5-year, $32M extension
By Jerry Brown, Tribune
August 3, 2006
The Suns took another step toward completing their summer business Thursday, agreeing in principle on a five-year contract extension with guard Leandro Barbosa.
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According to NBA sources familiar with the negotiations, the deal will be worth about $32 million and lock up Barbosa, 23, until the 2011-12 season.
Barbosa will be in Phoenix today to take a physical before the contract is officially agreed upon, then he will rejoin the Brazilian national team as it prepares for the upcoming world basketball championships. Barbosa will earn $1.679 million this upcoming season, the final year of his current contract, before the new deal kicks in beginning with the 2007-08 season.
Barbosa had a breakout season in 2005-06, playing nearly 28 minutes a game and setting career highs with 13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 57 games. He shot 48.1 percent from the field and ranked third in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 44.4 percent. Barbosa was even better in the playoffs, averaging 14.2 points on 47 percent shooting in 20 postseason games, including a 26-point effort in Game 7 against the Lakers and 18 points in Game 7 against the Clippers.
One of the fastest players in the league, Barbosa moved from point guard to shooting guard and thrived in the new role. He will stay at that spot after the Suns signed Marcus Banks last month to back up Steve Nash at point guard.
The Suns are trying to work out a similar extension with Boris Diaw, who was voted the NBA Most Improved Player last season. Diaw will make $1.795 million this year.
Sources say the two sides are not close to a deal at this time, leading to the possibility that Diaw could play out his contract and become a free agent next summer — with Phoenix reserving the right to match any offer made by another team.
Such a scenario would mirror the Joe Johnson situation from last summer, which resulted in a trade that sent Johnson to Atlanta for Diaw and two first-round draft picks.
Suns sign Barbosa to 5-year, $32M extension
By Jerry Brown, Tribune
August 3, 2006
The Suns took another step toward completing their summer business Thursday, agreeing in principle on a five-year contract extension with guard Leandro Barbosa.
Related Links
Sports
Phoenix Suns / NBA
According to NBA sources familiar with the negotiations, the deal will be worth about $32 million and lock up Barbosa, 23, until the 2011-12 season.
Barbosa will be in Phoenix today to take a physical before the contract is officially agreed upon, then he will rejoin the Brazilian national team as it prepares for the upcoming world basketball championships. Barbosa will earn $1.679 million this upcoming season, the final year of his current contract, before the new deal kicks in beginning with the 2007-08 season.
Barbosa had a breakout season in 2005-06, playing nearly 28 minutes a game and setting career highs with 13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 57 games. He shot 48.1 percent from the field and ranked third in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 44.4 percent. Barbosa was even better in the playoffs, averaging 14.2 points on 47 percent shooting in 20 postseason games, including a 26-point effort in Game 7 against the Lakers and 18 points in Game 7 against the Clippers.
One of the fastest players in the league, Barbosa moved from point guard to shooting guard and thrived in the new role. He will stay at that spot after the Suns signed Marcus Banks last month to back up Steve Nash at point guard.
The Suns are trying to work out a similar extension with Boris Diaw, who was voted the NBA Most Improved Player last season. Diaw will make $1.795 million this year.
Sources say the two sides are not close to a deal at this time, leading to the possibility that Diaw could play out his contract and become a free agent next summer — with Phoenix reserving the right to match any offer made by another team.
Such a scenario would mirror the Joe Johnson situation from last summer, which resulted in a trade that sent Johnson to Atlanta for Diaw and two first-round draft picks.
