Bell going to the Suns

Guard Raja Bell told ESPN.com's Marc Stein on Friday that he's planning to join the Suns later this month, as soon as NBA free agents are allowed to formally sign new contracts.

"We're still negotiating the terms and everything, but that's where I intend to sign," Bell said Friday afternoon.

Even though no contracts can be officially signed until July 22, teams were allowed to commence negotiations with free agents as of 12:01 a.m. Friday morning. Knowing that Bell is bound to attract considerable interest from teams looking for a quality defender who's also underrated as a shot-maker, Phoenix was apparently quick to offer Bell a multi-year deal.

Bell, 28, averaged 11.6 points in two seasons with the Jazz to augment his reputation for sticky perimeter defense.

The Suns began the free-agent period with two top priorities -- re-signing restricted free agent Joe Johnson and signing All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire to a contract extension.

Bell would be the second major addition to a team that won 62 games last season, following this week's trade of Quentin Richardson to New York for veteran forward Kurt Thomas.

The Suns also struck quickly in free agency last July, reaching a verbal agreement to lure eventual league MVP Steve Nash from Dallas to the desert on the first day of negotiations. Nash and Bell are pals from their season together as Mavericks teammates.

"Raja Bell intends to sign a contract with the Suns when the moratorium ends," his agent, Herb Rudoy, told ESPN Insider Chad Ford. "Raja really wanted to play with Steve Nash and saw a great opportunity to do just that."

Suns GM Bryan Colangelo declined comment on the story, citing league policy that prohibits NBA teams from commenting on free-agent negotiations during the moratorium.

Looks like the Suns got a pretty good player. Bell can shoot the ball pretty well and he is also a good defender. Sort of like a "less offence but more defence" version of Q.

Link

Bell, 28, averaged 11.6 points in two seasons with the Jazz

I like that signing but i had no idea he was such an all around player.

Nice move by the Suns, increases their depth nicely.

Great move by Phoenix, they continue to make moves that will definitely help the little things that they need to improve on.

Great move by Phoenix, they continue to make moves that will definitely help the little things that they need to improve on.

Agree they still need a true center though

Thomas is still small to handle other wests bigs.......I'm not so sure about that trade

Nice move. I wonder if they'll still pursue Finley should they sign Bell as expected. If not, I'd like to see Chicago make him a reasonable offer.

Solid pickup by the Suns. They are doing well filling in needs and its something that will benefit the orginisation.

Good signing, I'm a big fan of Bell and think that Suns will profit greatly from having him of the bench.

Could he replace Quentin in the starting lineup, with Thomas, Barbosa and others coming off the bench?

I would still like to see Finley sign with the suns, cause he can play some 3 as he's pretty strong for a 2. Then Jim Jackson could alternate b/w 2 and 3. But phoenix still need a big man and a backup point for Nash. I don't think Dantoni likes using barbosa.

Assume that Suns did sign Finley. Suns should be a better team than last season. Lets check out the starting lineup:

C - Kurt T
PF - Amare S
SF - Shawn M
SG - Joe J
PG - Steve N

Bench - Finley, Jackson to play SG/SF
- Hunter to play PF/C
- Barbosa to play PG

Suns now have the option to play big and small lineup because of the addition of Kurt Thomas. If play big, used above lineup. If small, Amare at 5, Shawn at 4 and Finley at 3, Joe at 2 and Steve at 1. Assume Barbosa is too inconsistent, Joe will likely again to play some PG just like last season.

Assume that Suns play Spurs again, Amare can now focus on stopping Duncan (Remember that big block on Duncan in Game 4) and Kurt will defend Nazr. Marion now don't need to worry defend big man like Duncan as he can now stop Ginobili from hitting clutch shot. I like Suns chances to make a big upset to the defending Champ Spurs in the 2006 season.

Amare will play C.

That would probably mean a starting lineup of...

C: Amare
F: Marion
F: Finley
G: JJ
G: Nash

...with the acquisitions of Thomas and Bell strengthening the bench. Seems like a great plan to me.

Nice move. I wonder if they'll still pursue Finley should they sign Bell as expected. If not, I'd like to see Chicago make him a reasonable offer.

I don't think Finley is Scott Skiles' type of player, and he certainly would not fit well in Chicago's slow tempo game and defensiveminded-ness. I believe it'll be a waste of his skills to sign with the Bulls.

The Suns are the perfect choice for his playing style and his title aspirations, along with Miami and the open looks Shaq provides.

He's more accustomed to playing in an up-tempo offense, but I don't know where Finley got the reputation as a poor defender. If anyone on the Mavericks' roster the past few years is at least a decent defender, it's Finley.

I thought they couldn't sign Finley anymore because they went for Bell...if they can, Spurs-Suns should be a great match-up next year

The Suns just keep getting better and fucking better.
Say Finley signs with them and Payton will prob want to aswell giving the Suns a whole starting 5...on their bench!
Why cant Cleveland do something for once!!!!

Cleveland has 27 million dollars to shell out in the offseason. I'm sure they just won't let that money sit there.......

I think Suns probably would not sign Finley because of his injury problem. Else it is pretty expensive salary cap to keep a bunch of talent players, especially that Suns already signed Thomas and Bell. As for Amare, he will play PF in 2006 season because Marion has all kinds of trouble defending other PF in the west like Duncan, KG, Dirk, K.Martin. Marion is only 6-7 and he is a better fit to play in SF. If Marion play PF again, then the Suns has absolutely no chances of defeating the Spurs. Marion could not guard Duncan, so let Amare handle Duncan. This means that Thomas will start at C in the new season.

Marion could not guard Duncan, so let Amare handle Duncan. This means that Thomas will start at C in the new season.

I'm assuming you missed that big article about how they intended to make Amare a "point center" for next season. Also, Kurt Thomas is like 6'8 or 6'9. He won't play C.

Cleveland has 27 million dollars to shell out in the offseason. I'm sure they just won't let that money sit there.......

If they want to re-sign Ilgauskas and make a serious bid for Redd, that's going to take up nearly all of that cap space. But since I don't think the Cavs will be able to both given Ilgauskas doesn't seem willing to settle for anything less than $10 million, they could make a run at Finley.

I'm assuming you missed that big article about how they intended to make Amare a "point center" for next season. Also, Kurt Thomas is like 6'8 or 6'9. He won't play C.

Kurt Thomas has always played C when he was with the Knicks so he can play C for the Suns. As for Amare a "point center" for next season, I think now it has been changed to "point forward". If Marion start at PF again for next season, I doubt the Suns will lose to the Spurs again in the West Finals. Suns should learned their mistake why did they lose to the Spurs last season. WHY!!! Matchup problems. Suns is smaller the Spurs. Spurs always out rebound the Suns. Look at the PF matchup Marion VS Duncan. Who dominate from there? Of course Duncan. But If you let Amare guard Duncan, Amare can play good defence against Duncan. Kurt will then guard Nazr. Marion is only 6-7, how could he possibly play PF if Suns play Spurs again? I am sure Suns fans don't want to see Spurs 4-1 over Suns in the 2006 playoffs.

You're making no sense... didn't you read any of the articles concerning this trade? The Suns actually came out and said it was good because now with Thomas at PF they can shift Marion and he can run the break alot more. You're stating your own personal opinion as facts, when the actual team concerned have come out and already said what they plan to do with the team.

Here...

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/8604968

Thomas, 32 and a 10-year veteran, ranked sixth in the NBA in rebounds at 10.4 per game last season while often playing center for the undersized Knicks. He averaged 11.5 points per game, and his ability to shoot from the outside fits into the Suns' system.

Thomas' presence will allow Amare Stoudemire to slide more often into his natural power forward role and have Thomas defend the opponent's best offensive inside player.

"We pledged to Amare after the season we were going to go out and get someone to help inside, and this is certainly going to do that," Colangelo said.

Shawn Marion could shift back to small forward and would not have to guard the bigger, more physical power forwards, as he did last season.

Just because you play one position on offence (Kurt Thomas at PF, Amare at C) doesn't mean you have to play the same positions on D... that's where this comes in. It says Amare can shift more often to PF on D and will allow Kurt to defend the opposing teams best inside player... then it also says his outside shooting will help, which suggests Thomas moves to PF on offense and Amare back to C.

Amare can play good defence against Duncan. Kurt will then guard Nazr.

Whereas the article says Kurt will be used to guard the opposing teams best inside player... which isn't Nazr Mohammed.

Also, you're saying Kurt will start at C because Amare can guard Duncan? Why would he spend the entire season playing C just for a matchup against 1 player? I'm guessing you don't really play much basketball, because it's immensely common for a player to match up on an opposing player who plays a different position to them. T-Mac guarding Dirk in the play-offs is a good example.

good signing

a lot of bulls fans (well at least over @realgm) were hoping to get his guy