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Suns Step up; Miller Plan B?

by Tommy Dee on July 10th, 2009 at 8:45 am

The Suns have stepped up their attempt to keep Grant Hill in Phoenix according to the Arizona Republic.

“…The Suns’ chances to retain free-agent forward Grant Hill improved after a Suns contingent of Managing Partner Robert Sarver, General Manager Steve Kerr and coach Alvin Gentry traveled to Orlando to meet with him Wednesday night and Thursday morning, according to sources familiar with the talks.

Suns guard Steve Nash also helped Phoenix’s recruiting cause, putting in a call to his co-captain and good friend, Hill, to lobby for his return to the Suns. Nash’s move falls in line with sources saying that the Suns and Nash have made significant progress toward a contract extension for the point guard.

The Suns pushed back a meeting with forward Amaré Stoudemire to woo Hill in person but are expected to tell Stoudemire that they are keeping him in their plans for the coming season.

Hill’s decision was believed to be narrowed between New York and the tug of wanting to remain with the Suns, even if it is for less money. Boston also has recruited Hill hard but was limited to offering the biennial exception – a two-year contract starting at $1.9 million next season – and a chance at a championship run. However, Hill’s role with the Celtics would be as a backup to Paul Pierce, and he would be a starter and leader in Phoenix or New York…”

Rumors have it that Hill could make a decision today. Also, Frank Isola states that should Hill stay in Phoenix, the team may set its sights on Andre Miller.

“…The Knicks could conceivably offer Miller the same deal Jason Kidd rejected; $18million over three years. Another possibility is signing Miller to a one-year, mid-level deal worth $5.8 million. A one-year contract would give the Knicks salary-cap flexibility for the free agent class of 2010. Plus, Miller may be receptive to signing for one year and testing the free agent market next summer.

Miller has been linked to Portland, but the Trail Blazers are reportedly working on several different deals, including one for Chicago point guard Kirk Hinrich…”

The latest on Hinrich is that the deal isn’t going down, but it appears the reason the Blazers may be trying to land the Chicago PG is because there is no way Philly will let Miller walk. He’s asking for 9-10 million per, slightly higher than what the Blazers have in cap space.
  • jg2112

    So let me get this right.

    Andre Miller is the next in line to Rent the Knicks for leverage? The man is asking for almost 10 mil, why should I believe that he would accept 5.8?

    Maybe he is just waiting for Hill to finish so he can pick up business.

    Now I know why Odom talks are so quiet. He drew “number 4″ in the use the Knicks plot.

    Of course, I’m not mad about this. DW only has those 5.8, he can throw it around and “see” who bites. Nothing wrong with that. But I ain’t getting my hopes high.

  • knicksbro

    Just saw Illgauskas on the street downtown walking his dog…

    I almost yelled “Lebron is coming to NY!”

  • fracch209

    1st kidd, now miller, sounds like DW knows he’s not getting rubio, I ready thought we would get him, never any good news! All these players signing for cheap and the MLE, we want grant hill, I think DW is putting all his eggs in 1 basket, we 2010 don’t work out like he thinks, here comes another decade of bad basketball

  • knicksbro

    First of all, Miller won’t happen because we won’t pay him close to what he wants and Philly will re-sign him, and if not, then Portland. Walsh is playing the whole Rubio thing cool I’m sure he has a plan. As of now, Kahn is expecting to be floored and Walsh can’t just go in and make an offer. It’s too early. He needs to wait until Kahn is forced to trade him.

  • coocoo4knicks

    If Hill re-ups with the Suns, how about signing Matt Barnes to a 1-year deal for $1.5 million and then inking Stackhouse for 1 year at $4.3 million? Both players would fit in with our system and really strengthen our bench. They would also enable us to move some other parts to try to get Rubio. Plus if we get them on 1-year contracts, neither one impacts our cap space for 2010.

    I’m hoping Hill opts for us, but Barns and Stackhouse wouldn’t be horrible consolation prizes as one-year rentals, particularly if they enable us to get a higher level player.

  • fracch209

    Just read on si.com that david kahn said he spoke to the knicks about rubio, and NOTHING is gonna happen with them, there so focused on 2010, that even if we wanted to, nothing can be worked out with them. So that’s it, no rubio, no nothing, we r going to stink next yea, and this time next year when james signs in cleveland, we be calling for DW to get fired!

  • knicksbro

    I think he spoke to him right after the draft when Walsh said he would call him. If they haven’t spoken since I’d say there’s still a chance. Walsh is waiting on Grant Hill or someone else.

  • knicksbro

    Because I think if we let D Lee and Nate walk, we will have so much cap room that we could afford to take a contract from the Wolves. That’s why Walsh is waiting.

  • Its The Kid

    I’ve been supporting Walsh all this summer for his patience… I hope this is just another display of that… And a possible attempt to make Kahn, a bit nervous… And more willing to meet somewhere reasonable on this trade… But if by chance this isnt a stall tactic or an attempt to make it seem like he and Kahn arent in cahoots… This wont be good… If Rubio can be had, we should make a strong effort to get him…

    The only thing that is keeping me positive is that Rubio has yet to sign with a Euro team, that means something…

  • KnicksGeek

    Hill is staying in Phoenix as per Yahoo sports news (on Hoopshype.com)

    Plan B?

  • bmathews77

    So now that Grant Hill has decided to stay in Phoenix I’m guessing now the Knicks will go after Andre Miller as many sites have reported. However that may not even be realistic either because we can’t offer him the money he is looking for.

  • bob go knicks

    that was his wife

  • bob go knicks

    how are you SURE that donnie is just playin it cool? what if this guy is just INEPT? christ sake all year long when nothing gets done and other teams are making moves by the minute,everyone says “donnie is just playin it cool” id really like to see him add something to this team,instead of just subtracting contracts.it seems as if lebron doesnt sign with us next year,WE ARE PHUKED!