Suns not ready to decide on Carter, Brooks contracts
Jun 21, 2011, 6:44 PM | Updated: 7:53 pm
While the Suns worry about who they will be adding to the roster via Thursday’s draft, questions remain about a couple of players who are currently on the roster.
Vince Carter and Aaron Brooks both face an uncertain offseason, with Brooks being a restricted free agent and Carter having a $4 million buyout option on his $18 million contract.
Though it’s been rumored that the Suns are planning on buying out Carter’s contract, Suns GM Lance Blanks said no decision has been made as of Tuesday.
“There are a lot of balls that are being juggled right now, certainly, as it relates to contracts and free agency,” he said. “But right now the better part of our focus is the next 48 hours with this draft.”
It would be tough to believe Blanks when he says their focus is solely on the draft (or maybe one hopes they have the ability to multitask), but odds would say Carter has played his last game in a Suns uniform. Brooks, however, is a complete mystery.
After being acquired in exchange for Goran Dragic and a pick that turned out to be 23rd overall, Brooks averaged 9.6 points and 4.2 assists for the Suns while shooting 43 percent from the floor.
Was it enough to make the Suns want to bring him back? What kind of contract will the former Most Improved Player command on the open market? Those are questions the Suns will need to answer at some point, even if they’re not quite ready to do so just yet.
Sports 620 KTAR’s Craig Grialou contributed to this report
