Rockmeister
All-Star
Suns' Kerr says trade for Garnett hard to do
Huge contract a major sticking point for deal
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0623suns0623.html
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 23, 2007 12:00 AM
The Suns often mention how any move they make this summer would be to improve them. Friday's topics confirm that.
Suns General Manager Steve Kerr acknowledged that he has been talking this week with Minnesota about acquiring Kevin Garnett but labeled it "tough" to pull off.
David Griffin, the Suns' senior vice president of basketball operations, talked about the chances that the team could trade into the draft's coveted top 12.
A Garnett deal remained a difficult proposition because of Garnett's contract. He will make $22 million in each of the next two seasons, has an early termination clause next summer and the trade kicker actually is all figured into the coming season, making his 2007-08 salary $28.5 million unless he declined a portion to make a trade work.
Player salaries must be within 125 percent, plus $100,000, to execute a trade.
"It's tough because of the contract," Kerr said of Garnett. "We're listening to everything, and we're trying to see what would be possible in that regard. The only way we would do it is if we could make our team better and do it in a financially viable way. So that's what we're exploring. We're exploring a lot of other stuff, too."
Kerr said the espn.com report saying Garnett was "hoping" to go to Phoenix if he had to be traded made the deal "a little more plausible."
"To get a guy like that, you have to give up an awful lot," Kerr said. "We have to weigh whether we can even make it work financially and whether it would make us better."
Because Minnesota is not interested in Shawn Marion - and Marion is disinterested in Boston - there is no three-team option.
Amaré Stoudemire's name comes up but there is an unwillingness to trade a 24-year-old, first team All-NBA center, although Kerr said nobody is untradeable.
"It would take an awful lot for that to happen," Kerr said. "We love the guy."
Kerr said he has talked to eight to 10 teams about deals. Some must be connected to Phoenix moving up in the draft, possibly with a package of this year's 24th and 29th picks and the pick the Suns get from Atlanta next year. The inclination to move up was confirmed when Florida power forward Joakim Noah, a likely top 10 pick, told Atlanta reporters that he is working out for Phoenix next week.
Phoenix could be the site of a closed multiteam workout for top prospects such as Noah next week, a league source said.
The Suns had designs on that group until the draft lottery went against the odds and denied Phoenix from acquiring Atlanta's pick, which could have given the Suns the No. 4, 5, 6 or 7 pick. Noah, Florida teammate Corey Brewer and Chinese star Yi Jianlian even attended Suns playoff games.
"Our chances are actually better to move significantly up than to move into the teens," Griffin said.
"Three through 10 is certainly a good group and you'd be happy with any of them. If somebody was willing to give you a top 10 pick, you'd probably take it being happy with whoever is there."
Phoenix worked out Italian 6-foot-5 guard Marco Belinelli on Friday. Griffin said Belinelli, 21, is a pure shooter who could hit 40 percent from three-point range in the NBA and play at Phoenix's pace. He used to be a stopper before his scoring role took off. Belinelli, who has no buyout issue, said he needs to be more physical in the NBA.
"I want to play like Kobe Bryant because he's my favorite player but we'll see in about one short year," Belinelli said.
Colorado State power forward Jason Smith and point guards Petteri Koponen of Finland, Gabe Pruitt of Southern Cal and Aaron Brooks of Oregon are slated for a return visit Tuesday.
Huge contract a major sticking point for deal
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0623suns0623.html
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 23, 2007 12:00 AM
The Suns often mention how any move they make this summer would be to improve them. Friday's topics confirm that.
Suns General Manager Steve Kerr acknowledged that he has been talking this week with Minnesota about acquiring Kevin Garnett but labeled it "tough" to pull off.
David Griffin, the Suns' senior vice president of basketball operations, talked about the chances that the team could trade into the draft's coveted top 12.
A Garnett deal remained a difficult proposition because of Garnett's contract. He will make $22 million in each of the next two seasons, has an early termination clause next summer and the trade kicker actually is all figured into the coming season, making his 2007-08 salary $28.5 million unless he declined a portion to make a trade work.
Player salaries must be within 125 percent, plus $100,000, to execute a trade.
"It's tough because of the contract," Kerr said of Garnett. "We're listening to everything, and we're trying to see what would be possible in that regard. The only way we would do it is if we could make our team better and do it in a financially viable way. So that's what we're exploring. We're exploring a lot of other stuff, too."
Kerr said the espn.com report saying Garnett was "hoping" to go to Phoenix if he had to be traded made the deal "a little more plausible."
"To get a guy like that, you have to give up an awful lot," Kerr said. "We have to weigh whether we can even make it work financially and whether it would make us better."
Because Minnesota is not interested in Shawn Marion - and Marion is disinterested in Boston - there is no three-team option.
Amaré Stoudemire's name comes up but there is an unwillingness to trade a 24-year-old, first team All-NBA center, although Kerr said nobody is untradeable.
"It would take an awful lot for that to happen," Kerr said. "We love the guy."
Kerr said he has talked to eight to 10 teams about deals. Some must be connected to Phoenix moving up in the draft, possibly with a package of this year's 24th and 29th picks and the pick the Suns get from Atlanta next year. The inclination to move up was confirmed when Florida power forward Joakim Noah, a likely top 10 pick, told Atlanta reporters that he is working out for Phoenix next week.
Phoenix could be the site of a closed multiteam workout for top prospects such as Noah next week, a league source said.
The Suns had designs on that group until the draft lottery went against the odds and denied Phoenix from acquiring Atlanta's pick, which could have given the Suns the No. 4, 5, 6 or 7 pick. Noah, Florida teammate Corey Brewer and Chinese star Yi Jianlian even attended Suns playoff games.
"Our chances are actually better to move significantly up than to move into the teens," Griffin said.
"Three through 10 is certainly a good group and you'd be happy with any of them. If somebody was willing to give you a top 10 pick, you'd probably take it being happy with whoever is there."
Phoenix worked out Italian 6-foot-5 guard Marco Belinelli on Friday. Griffin said Belinelli, 21, is a pure shooter who could hit 40 percent from three-point range in the NBA and play at Phoenix's pace. He used to be a stopper before his scoring role took off. Belinelli, who has no buyout issue, said he needs to be more physical in the NBA.
"I want to play like Kobe Bryant because he's my favorite player but we'll see in about one short year," Belinelli said.
Colorado State power forward Jason Smith and point guards Petteri Koponen of Finland, Gabe Pruitt of Southern Cal and Aaron Brooks of Oregon are slated for a return visit Tuesday.
