The Phoenix Suns announced today that they have signed free-agent forward Jumaine Jones to a one-year contract.

A 6-8, 230-pound forward, Jones appeared in 76 games last season for the Charlotte Bobcats, scoring a career-best 10.5 points and grabbing 4.9 rebounds per game. In 42 games as a starter, he averaged 13.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, including a career-high 31 point (13-20 FG, 5-8 3FG) outburst versus the L.A. Lakers on February 3. On the year, he recorded eight 20-plus scoring nights and three double-doubles.

European power Maccabi Tel Aviv would have paid Jumaine Jones significantly more money to join them, as did several other NBA teams, but instead he will sign with the Phoenix Suns for the league minimum, which means $998,967 as a seven-year pro.

With the way Phoenix plays, there are certain players who are natural fits," Merle Scott, his agent said. "He's a shooter. He's a rebounder. He's looking to play for a contender, which was a priority for him. It's a great opportunity. He knows he's coming in to play a supporting role."

Scott expects a role for Jones similar to the one Tim Thomas, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, played at the end of last season.

"With the rotation and style of ball, the track record shows that guys are going to produce and get better," Scott said. "I know how happy Leandro is. I hope Jumaine feels as good about the family atmosphere.

"He's coming in to prove himself. The way they play, that's not too much to ask."

Jumaine Jones, an unrestricted free agent, is expected to arrive in Phoenix on Wednesday and have a guaranteed one-year contract with the Suns completed by Thursday.

The Suns have had Jones on their radar ever since the free agency season began on July 1st and didn't anticipate him remaining on the market into late August.

Two-time NBA most valuable player Steve Nash has withdrawn from next month's NBA trip to South Africa because of back spasms.

Nash, who was born in South Africa, had planned to make the trip with Phoenix Suns teammate Boris Diaw and other current and former NBA players as part of the league's Basketball Without Borders program.

"In light of our preseason schedule and our current European training camp, we felt it will be best to limit his travel," Suns coach and general manager Mike D'Antoni said in a statement released by the team on Tuesday. "This is very precautionary and I have every confidence that Steve will be 100 percent and ready to take part in our informal workouts next month."

The remainder of the trade exception acquired in last August's Joe Johnson deal expired Monday, but the Suns' interest in adding another experienced player has not.

Phoenix intends to sign another free agent to a guaranteed deal, the roster's 13th, in the next two weeks. The Suns are open to adding a player at any position.

"It will be a veteran who can shoot the ball a bit and someone who athletically fits our system," Suns Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said.

The $3.6 million trade exception, which could have offset a salary gap in a trade, expired as few teams needed to dump a contract.

The candidate of late appeared to be Charlotte power forward Melvin Ely, but it was of little interest to the Bobcats. It became less appealing to Phoenix with Ely, a restricted free agent, seeking more years in a sign-and-trade deal.

"It was fairly obvious given our roster and where we are that we weren't going to spend that kind of money," Griffin said. "Our need for a player of that magnitude isn't as great as the past."

Chris Wilcox's agent Jeff Fried sought out sign-and-trade options with a number of teams, but the only substantive offer the Sonics got was from Phoenix.

The Suns wanted to swap Kurt Thomas and the remaining $16.3 million left on his contract for Wilcox, an offer Seattle never considered.

Former Phoenix Suns guard Eddie House passed on a potential opportunity to join the Miami Heat, agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the New Jersey Nets.

House averaged 9.8 points per game last season for the Phoenix Suns, the second highest total of his career. He also made 123 three-pointers.

Agent Mark Bartelstein said that Eddie House is in ''serious talks'' with the Heat.

House has also been in touch with with the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers, Bartelstein said. A decision is expected soon.

Steve Nash practiced with the New York Red Bulls on Thursday.

"I recognized him anyway, that kind of personality," Amado Guevara said of Nash. "With hair or without hair, you know that face. I believe playing basketball I'm better, and playing soccer he's better."

"I had a blast," said Nash, who supports Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, and now the Red Bulls. "It's a dream come true for me. I'm just a converted soccer player."

In March, Nash took batting practice with Randy Winn, his teammate at Santa Clara, and the San Francisco Giants.

One day, ex-Suns star and current television color analyst Eddie Johnson was relaxing on vacation in Hawaii.

The next, he was back at home answering phone calls about a sexual assault case that he knew nothing about ? and seething over inaccurate media reports that involved newspapers, television stations, nationally syndicated radio and the Internet.

The problems started Tuesday when Edward Lee ?Fast Eddie? Johnson ? a former two-time NBA All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks who has had a history of legal problems since his retirement ? was arrested and charged with the sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl.

But over the next 24 hours, Edward Arnet Johnson, the former Sixth Man of the Year with the Suns and popular broadcaster, was misidentified as the man arrested by at least three media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune and host Skip Bayless ? substituting for the vacationing Jim Rome on Rome?s nationally syndicated radio show.

?This is why athletes have so many problems with the media,? said Johnson, 47, who is four years younger than the Eddie Johnson who was arrested Tuesday. ?They don?t do their homework. They don?t bother to check facts before they write things or get on the radio and talk.

?I?m sitting here dumbfounded because 47 years of building a reputation is being destroyed in one morning by something I had nothing do with. I?ve been getting nasty e-mails all morning. It?s a nightmare.?