INTREPID

Suns’ Plan B if Hornets match offer sheet

Jul 12, 2012, 7:13 PM | Updated: 11:19 pm

July 12, 2012: Suns’ options after Eric Gordon

As team president of basketball operations Lon Babby
mentioned Wednesday, “We’re not sitting on our hands
hoping.”

The Suns would like nothing more than to see the Hornets
not match the offer sheet signed by Eric Gordon, allowing
him to relocate to Phoenix. The reality, however, is that
by Saturday—if not sooner, Gordon will once again have a
New Orleans address.

“We have a big expression in our office that says ‘hope is
not a plan,;” continued Babby.

“We’re hoping that they don’t match. We’re hoping that he
comes to Phoenix. That’s again, what he wants. We hope
his wishes our accommodated. But if they decide to match,
we’ll move on and react accordingly.”

Plan B for the Suns includes OJ Mayo, who is scheduled for
a visit Friday. Mayo averaged 12.6 points per game in his
fourth season in Memphis. He’s a career 37.5% 3-point
shooter.

Other free agent options at shooting guard:
Shannon Brown
Randy Foye
Courtney Lee
Jodie Meeks

Brown is the more familiar name having scored a career-
high 11 points per game in his first season as a Sun.

But the other names are intriguing too.

Foye is a six-year veteran, Lee spent the last two years
in Houston where he was teammates with soon-to-be Sun
Goran Dragic and Meeks became the odd man out in
Philadelphia after the Sixers signed Nick Young and traded
for Dorell Wright.

All are above average shooters from beyond the arc.

Suns free agent Grant Hill was spotted Thursday working
out at US Airways Center. He told NBA TV recently he has
“a desire to play” but has yet to commit to returning for
what would be a 19th NBA season.

The Suns continue to look at growing the player
development side of their basketball operations. Former
player Ira Newble is helping out with the club’s summer
league team and may become a permanent addition.

Newble played eight years in the NBA with stops in San
Antonio, Atlanta, Cleveland, Seattle and the Los Angeles
Lakers. He most recently was an assistant coach with the
Canton Charge, the Cavaliers-owned team in the NBA D-
League.

Intrepid

Craig Grialou

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Suns’ Plan B if Hornets match offer sheet