Roster Moves Completed (?)

The Suns are in the process of signing Jumaine Jones, a swingman type player who played for the Charlotte Bobcats last year.
His signing completes the roster with 13 players.
Other than the fact that the moves brings a headbanded player to the Suns, it is a good move. Jones is a decent outside shooter and a good defender. He will definately help off the bench and can start in case of an injury to someone.
Here's the roster as it stands now:

Starters:
NASH
BELL
STAT
DIAW
MATRIX

Bench:
Barbosa
K. Thomas
Banks
James Jones
Jumaine Jones
Piatkowski
Burke

Inactive List:
Sean Marks

I'm not sure if this is going to be the roster when the season opens in November. The Jumaine Jones signing is interesting in terms of where it leaves James Jones' status. I like James Jones, but his inconsistancy hurt the Suns last year, and he really was a non factor in the playoffs when he was counted on due to the Raja Bell injury.
I don't know this for sure, and I haven't heard it in the media or from any inside sources, but I have a feeling that James Jones may be traded.
If the Suns can get a couple of future high draft picks that may be a good move. After all, Nash won't last forever. Although we do have Banks and Barbosa, I don't know if either of them are the PG for the future.

Feel free to send me comments or emails on anything regarding the Suns, this signing, or anything else!

Barbosa Signs...Stat Sits

The past week brought some good news and some bad news to Suns fans.
First, the good...
The Suns were able to lock up guard Leandro Barbosa for five more years (his rookie contract was due to expire after this upcoming season) for the relatively low price of $33 million. That sounds like a ton but if Barbosa continues to progress like he did last year, it will look like a bargain when he would have been due for free agency next summer. After all, Francisco Elson, a bench warmer from the Nuggets got a 2 yr / $6 million contract from the Spurs.
Next, the Suns are looking to get a multi year deal done for Boris Diaw, the reigning NBA Most Improved Player.

Now...the bad.
Amare Stoudemire's rehab is not to the point where he had hoped it would be at this point. After a cautiously optimistic performance in the Summer League, Amare was left off the Team USA roster for the upcoming World Championships. USA Basketball officials said that Amare looked stiff and tentative when working out and scrimmaging this summer. It will be important to the Suns championship chances that he is near 100% for the season. Luckily, there are about 2 1/2 months until opening night, and Amare can continue to rehab.

2006-2007 Schedule Released

The 2006-07 NBA schedule was released today. The Suns play 33 games on national TV, which I think is the most of any team.
The season begins in LA against the Rapers on Haloween. The home opener is November 1 against the real team in LA, the Clippers. It will be interesting to see the reception Tim Thomas gets in Phoenix.
Some other highlights of the schedule include:
Suns vs. World Champion Miami Heat Dec 13 @ Miami, and Jan 5 @ Phx.
Suns vs. Dallas in a rematch of the 2006 West Finals November 9th at US Airways Center.
Cleveland and LeBron James comes to town on January 11.
Kobe and the Rapers don't make their first appearance in the Valley until March 4. That game will be fun, as the chant of KOBE SUCKS will be alive and well.

The regular season ends on April 17 with the Clippers coming to town again.

I can't wait until the season starts and it's only August!

Depth Chart:

PG: Steve Nash, Marcus Banks
SG: Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, James Jones
C: Amare Stoudemire. Kurt Thomas, Pat Burke
SF: Shawn Marion, Eric Piatkowski
PF: Boris Diaw, Sean Marks