PHOENIX -- Add Jalen Rose to the Phoenix Suns' already
impressive offensive lineup.
Rose
Rose reached an agreement Friday to sign a one-year, $1.5
million contract, with the Suns, slightly more than the NBA
veteran's minimum.
The versatile guard-forward, who received a $14.5 million buyout
from the New York Knicks, had narrowed his choices to Phoenix and
Miami, then announced his choice on his Web site. He is expected to
be in uniform for the Suns at San Antonio on Wednesday.
In his lengthy blog entry, Rose said being waived by the Knicks
"has created an opportunity to find a team to play on that will
hopefully get me back into the playoffs with a realistic
opportunity to win an NBA championship."
"Offensively, he's very gifted," Suns coach and general Mike
D'Antoni said before his team's game against Utah on Friday night.
"Passing, playmaking, shooting. I mean, the guy can shoot. He
brings a lot of things offensively."
Any defensive deficiencies are offset by what he brings to the
offensive-oriented, super-fast Suns attack.
Heat coach Pat Riley said Rose called him Friday afternoon to
announce his decision. Miami was talking to Rose for several days,
and Riley said Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade were among those
who were trying to woo Rose to South Beach.
"There was a lot of interest on both sides, trying to get him
to come," Riley said. "For whatever reason, and I didn't ask him
for it, he decided to go to Phoenix."
The Suns will be Rose's sixth NBA team. The 33-year-old,
6-foot-8 swingman has a career average of 14.7 points per game. He
averaged 12.7 points in 26 games for the Knicks last season after
being acquired from the Toronto Raptors.
Rose will play primarily small forward and shooting guard -- in
that order -- D'Antoni said, on a team that already had a deep
rotation.
"When you have too much talent or too many guys, it's a nice
problem to have," D'Antoni said. "Well, we just added a nicer
problem."
The addition will make for spirited competition for playing
time, D'Antoni said.
"I know some guys will be shortchanged," the Suns coach said.
"You hate that because they all deserve to play, but this is about
the Phoenix Suns ultimately and whatever it takes to win a
championship."
Rose wants to follow the path of Tim Thomas, who parlayed a
successful stint with the Suns last season into a lucrative
contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Rose will play in a
fast-paced style directed by two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash,
rather than the more structured approach of Riley's Heat. Thomas
and Rose both are represented by agent Arn Tellem.
Rose began his career in Denver, then moved to Indiana and
Chicago before joining the Raptors.