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Phoenix clears salary with Voskuhl trade to Charlotte
July 27, 2005
PHOENIX (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade center Jake Voskuhl to the Charlotte Bobcats for a conditional second-round draft pick, Voskuhl's agent said Wednesday.
The Suns made the move to clear salary in their bid to re-sign guard Joe Johnson.
``I think this is a great opportunity for Jake,'' agent Mark Bartlestein said. ``He'll get to play a lot of minutes on a young, growing team.''
Voskuhl will make $2 million next season, money the Suns can now use to try to re-sign Johnson, a critical part of the Phoenix team that won 62 games last season.
Suns president Bryan Colangelo said he could not comment until the new collective bargaining agreement with players is finished. The free-agent signing period has been delayed twice and is expected to begin next week, possibly Monday or Tuesday.
The Atlanta Hawks reportedly are ready to offer Johnson, a restricted free agent, the maximum five-year, $70 million contract he can get under the new bargaining agreement. If Johnson signs the offer, the Suns have seven days to match it.
Voskuhl, who played collegiately at Connecticut, averaged 2.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 38 games last season. He played four seasons with the Suns. His best was 2003-04, when he averaged 6.6 points and 5.2 rebounds.