Press Release - The Phoenix Suns today acquired Minnesota forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili, who played for current Suns Head Coach Mike D’Antoni for Italian club Benetton Treviso in 2001-02, in exchange for the club’s 2006 second-round draft pick.
“If there is an ideal coach and ideal system for Skita to do well, it’s here in Phoenix with Mike D’Antoni,” Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo said.
In his only season with D’Antoni as an 18-year-old, Tskitishvili, now 22, averaged 6.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and shot over 73-percent on two-point field goal attempts in 11 games with Benetton Treviso. Shortly thereafter, the Nuggets selected the early entry candidate in the first round (5th overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft, four picks before the Suns chose Amaré Stoudemire with the ninth overall pick. The Republic of Georgia native also played two professional seasons in Slovenia with KK Slovan from 1999-2001.
Tskitishvili, a 7-0, 225-pound forward, has averaged 3.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 11.6 minutes per game in 160 career games over four NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets , Golden State Warriors and most recently the Minnesota Timberwolves , where he saw limited action in five games in 2005-06.
Last season Tskitishvili appeared in 35 games (1.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, 6.2 minutes) split between Denver and Golden State. He was traded by the Nuggets to Golden State on Feb. 24, 2005 along with Rodney White in exchange for Eduardo Najera, Luis Flores and a future first-round pick (from Dallas in 2007).
Tskitishvili signed as a free agent with the Timberwolves on August 9, 2005 after averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game in two contests for the Timberwolves’ entry in the 2005 Minnesota Summer League. He posted 25 points and 10 rebounds in 17 minutes vs. Milwaukee on July 15, but played just nine minutes on July 16 vs. New York before breaking the third metacarpal in his right hand.
The Suns roster now stands at 14. Tskitishvili will wear No. 15
Source: Real GM wiretap
Well, I wish Skita the best of luck in Phoenix. Perhaps the Timberwolves made this trade to free up a roster spot for another move coming? I don't know. Skita was really becomming a distraction with his playing time bickering. I hope he does well in Phoenix, though.
Another misleading thread title... but ah well, I wish Skita the best. I think Jae's looking forward to him doing well.
