Playmaker Diante Garrett auditioning for job with Suns, NBA
Jul 17, 2013, 10:35 PM | Updated: 10:35 pm
LAS VEGAS – He started with a feed inside to Alex Oriakhi for a dunk.
He ended with a dribble-drive kick out to Archie Goodwin for a three.
The plays bookended Diante Garrett’s 12-assist, one-turnover performance in the Suns’ Summer League victory against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“Coach was just telling me to be aggressive and I was just being aggressive,” he said. “I was seeing some lanes that I could get in there and I was finding guys.”
Now, Garrett needs to find a job.
He’s one of three point guards on the team’s Summer League roster, and with Goran Dragic and newcomer Eric Bledsoe in the mix as well, it’s unlikely the Suns keep all five players for the upcoming season.
“Yeah, it’s a whole bunch,” Garrett said of the overload at his position. “I’m just going to keep working, working hard. I’m going to stay in the gym; just keep getting it in every day. Talk to my agent, see what’s out there, see what we can come up with, try to get us a game plan.”
Garrett, 24, is a free agent after splitting his time last season between Phoenix and the Suns’ NBA Development League affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam.
He appeared in 19 games with the Suns, averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 assists in 7.8 minutes.
“Diante has got that ability to get in the lane, and once you get in the lane, you got to make the right decisions. I thought he made some good decisions (Tuesday),” head coach Jeff Hornacek said. “That’s what we expect from him when we get him in the open court. He’s got to be able to create those (opportunities).”
Garrett does have one thing going for him the other four Suns point guards do not: he’s an Iowa State Cyclone, Hornacek’s alma mater, where Garrett ranks second to Hornacek in all-time in career assists.
That, though, is not likely to tip the balance in Garrett’s favor.
It’s why he’s treating every game here in Las Vegas as a tryout for all 30 NBA teams.
“I definitely feel like I’m a Sun,” Garrett said, “it’s just when I’m on the court, I know it’s a whole lot of eyes watching, so I’ve just got to be ready for whoever (might call).”
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