March 2001 Phoenix Suns Wiretap

Trade talk doesn't worry Gugliotta

Nov 30, 2001 11:03 AM

According to the Arizona Republic, Suns forward Tom Gugliotta is used to hearing the buzz of trade rumors.  They're probably inevitable when a player making $10.1 million this season is averaging 7.1 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Gugliotta has two more seasons after this one on his contract. And he's got a 15 percent trade kicker attached to his contract, meaning that if he were traded today, his new team would have to cut a check to him for about $4.5 million within 30 days after the trade.

The kicker also makes his salary-cap number higher, and thus more difficult for another team to fit. And it means the team that trades for him must give up more to match the number.

Those issues, and the fact that he has a reconstructed knee, make Gugliotta a very difficult player to trade.

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Jake takes lead in Suns' win

Nov 27, 2001 12:16 PM

Suns coach Scott Skiles decided to give Tsakalidis his first start of the season for defensive purposes on Utah star Karl Malone. It paid immediate benefits on both ends of the floor, according to Bob Young of the Arizona Republic.

Tsakalidis scored seven points in the first 6:30 of the game, and his defense against Malone early and especially late in the game was a key to the outcome.

"Jake was the only guy we had who did a good job on him," Skiles said. "I was waiting to bring him back (late in the game) because I didn't want him to foul out. He ended up being all right. He didn't fall for all of Karl's shot fakes."

Tags: Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, NBA

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Suns try to trade Gugliotta

Nov 20, 2001 10:56 AM

John Gambadoro rants in the Arizona Republic: The Phoenix Suns acquired a player that they had coveted for quite a few years on Friday and with that took on a large financial obligation for the next three years. Now they will attempt to rid themselves of a player they never really wanted and a salary that has become a huge burden. The Phoenix Suns are attempting to trade power-forward Tom Gugliotta. And not because of the addition of Bo Outlaw, who will make roughly $6 million per year over the next three seasons. Outlaw is a nice role player who will bring a lot of energy and defense to the Suns roster. But he is in no way the ideal power-forward the team so desperately needs. The problem is that neither is Gugliotta.

If the Suns are to move Gugliotta, they would likely have to throw in draft picks and take on players who may not figure in their plans but will be free agents within the next year or two. The Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers are two teams that have some interest in Gugliotta. But with Googs being under contract for the next two seasons after this one, it will be quite an accomplishment if Suns General Manager Bryan Colangelo can pull off a deal at all.

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Suns fritter away momentum

Nov 19, 2001 11:07 AM

Suns fritter away momentum

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Skiles & Penny exchange heated words

Nov 19, 2001 11:01 AM

Suns guard Penny Hardaway and coach Scott Skiles were once teammates in Orlando, so their argument on the bench Sunday during an 87-81 loss to Toronto probably isn't their first disagreement, according to the Arizona Republic.

Skiles pulled Hardaway, Tom Gugliotta and Jake Voskuhl after Raptors guard Vince Carter scored two of his 31 points with 7:08 to go in the third quarter, setting off the exchange.

Hardaway appeared to be upset and said he wanted to pressure the ball on defense. Skiles, who was instructing other players, returned to the bench, and when Hardaway continued to complain, he turned to Hardaway.

"We're trying to win a game," Skiles said. "This isn't about you. Grow up."

Hardaway said it was just the heat of the moment. "It's just the emotions of the game," he said. "Skiles and I have known each other for a long time. He pulled me out, and I had made a comment to the coaches about pressuring the ball or whatever.

"I was, "Hey, I'm trying to win for you.' I'm going to stick with the team. As a competitor, I don't want to be over on the sideline. But when the coach takes you out, it's something you have to go through."

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Salary cap considerations motivate Magic in Outlaw deal

Nov 18, 2001 10:54 AM

Bob Young writes in the Arizona Republic that although forward Jud Buechler gives Orlando a valuable shooter, it's clear the Magic's motivation in this week's three team deal revolved around the salary-cap - and maybe more.

Orlando tried once before to lure Tim Duncan from San Antonio, and the Magic are positioning to make another run at Duncan in a couple of years. Buechler's contract will come off the books at the end of next season.

With Outlaw, the Magic had $6 million on the cap tied up for four years, counting this season. Now, Orlando has the ability to get anywhere from $13 million to $16 million below the cap in two years when Duncan and other free agents hit the market. But there may be more to it still.

NBA sources say there are rumblings within the league that Rich DeVos, who is chairman of the Magic's ownership group, is considering selling part or all of his stake in the team. Trimming fat from the payroll, then, would serve two purposes. The bottom line will look better to possible suitors.

And the prospect of being in position to go after a prized free agent such as Duncan has to be even more appealing to potential buyers.

Tags: Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Center scarcity raises value of Mohammed

Nov 18, 2001 6:02 AM

When the Hawks signed backup center Nazr Mohammed to a five-year, $25 million contract last summer they may have raised some eyebrows. After all, having worked only 1,223 minutes in three seasons, Mohammed hardly had a chance to prove himself.

But as Mohammed continues to make significant progress in Theo Ratliff's absence, the wisdom to gamble on Mohammed is underlined by the plight of other teams who want to be contenders in the league.

Could Mohammed, averaging 13 points and 9.1 rebounds, help the Orlando Magic or the Phoenix Suns or the Washington Wizards (to name three)? The answer is clearly yes.

In Orlando, Doc Rivers runs a three-headed center, Patrick Ewing, 39, stomping around in slow motion as the most accomplished of the three. Earlier this week, Ewing scored 22 points with 15 rebounds against the Suns after averaging 6.1 points, 4.1 rebounds in previous games.

Ewing's victims were the infamous Two Jakes, Tskalidiis and Voskuhl, two reasons why Phoenix may not go anywhere this season, even with Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion and a revitalized Penny Hardaway.

The Suns, desperate, would love to grab Jahidi White from Washington. Of course, White is playing so badly he's benched. He also has four years, $21 million on his contract. Washington would also love to have a real center to plug in the middle.

Arguably, the Hawks will have the best center tandem in the league when Ratliff comes back, a significant advantage.

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, NBA

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Two moves only an accountant could love

Nov 17, 2001 3:42 PM

SPORTS IS ABOUT more than just numbers, right? More than money, more than making column A agree with column B?

Take yesterday's three-way NBA trade as one argument, or a Raptors' record that wasn't as another.

First, the trade, a three-cornered transaction that with each side of that triangle illustrates a different angle. The Suns, those traditionalists, actually made a basketball move in acquiring Bo Outlaw from the Orlando Magic. They had a problem rebounding the ball, and Outlaw will bring his uncomplicated approach to that part of the game in his Phoenix debut against the Raptors tomorrow night.

The Magic and the Clippers are in it only for the money. This is the way it goes in this league.

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Suns land hustling Outlaw

Nov 17, 2001 12:14 PM

The Suns kept saying they wanted to get tougher. What better way than to hire an Outlaw?


In a three-team trade, the Suns acquired Orlando forward Bo Outlaw in a move the club hopes will shore up what has been one of the most porous defenses in the NBA this season.

The Suns sent forward Jud Buechler to Orlando and guard Vinny Del Negro to the Los Angeles Clippers. Also in the deal, Orlando agreed to give the Suns back a first-round pick Phoenix owed the Magic as part of the Penny Hardaway sign-and-trade deal in 1999.

The Clippers received cash in the deal from Orlando, and Orlando gets an option to swap second-round draft picks with the Clippers in 2005.

Suns coach Scott Skiles said the club was looking for "old-fashioned hustle" in making the deal for Outlaw.

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Almost everyone gets something out of Suns' Outlaw trade

Nov 17, 2001 11:44 AM

According to the Arizona Republic's Bob Young The Suns got the high-energy forward they've been looking for, and a first-round pick they would have had to give to Orlando. The Magic got salary-cap relief and a shooter in Jud Buechler.

But what exactly did the Los Angeles Clippers get out of the trade that brought the Suns Bo Outlaw? The Clippers waived guard Vinny Del Negro, who went there from the Suns, and Orlando sent cash and acquired an option from the Clippers to swap second-round picks in 2005. That's not much to facilitate a deal that could improve the Suns' chances of finishing in the top eight of the Western Conference and qualifying for the playoffs - perhaps at the expense of the Clippers.

The LA Times reports that the Clippers' moves were made for salary-cap purposes for next season, the team said.

It was critical to the Suns for a couple of reasons. The obvious one is that the Suns no longer owe a first-round pick to Orlando. But because the pick was conditional, it made it difficult for the Suns to include first-round picks in any other deals because league rules do not allow a team to part with their own first-round pick two years in a row.

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Murray confirms he nearly was traded to San Antonio

Magic Send Outlaw to Phoenix

Outlawed in Orlando: Bo Joins Suns in 3 Team Trade

White, Others Discussed in Trade Talks

Magic notebook

Ewing propels Magic by Suns

Yesterday's game at a glance

Out in the cold: Sonics go down when jump shots don't fall

Preview: Magic visit Phoenix Suns tonight

Bruise bedevils McGrady

Suns get defensive about mediocre play

Sonics Game Day

It's early, but Suns already feeling heat

Sonics take it easy, rest up for Suns

Clippers' Brand, Richardson too much for Suns

Oakley, others may tempt Suns

Soft early schedule wasted on softer 'D'

Defense offers no hindrance

Clippers Play Their Hand, Don't Fold

Clippers get out of shoot early