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Suns Sign Smush Parker To Second 10-Day ContractThe Phoenix Suns signed guard Williams “Smush” Parker to a second 10-day contract. The 6-4, 180-pound guard has averaged 2.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in three games since signing his first 10-day contract with the Suns on Jan. 19. In his Suns debut vs. Memphis on Jan. 19, he posted Suns highs of six points and four assists in 16 minutes. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Steve Nash, Mid-Season MVP?The Suns finished last season with 29 wins. Already, they have surpassed that total. Sure, Amare Stoudemire is a year older. Quentin Richardson has been a decent addition. But the real reason the Suns have made a shocking catapult from the league's basement to its penthouse is the presence of Steve Nash. Steve Nash's arrival in Phoenix turned around the Suns. When Nash ditched the Mavericks for the Suns as a free agent last summer, the move was met with raised eyebrows and shrugs. Yeah, he was a decent pickup, but hadn't he shown signs of decline? Was he really better than former Suns point guards Stephon Marbury and Jason Kidd? Unlikely. But Nash has responded with the best all-around season of his nine-year career. An MVP doesn't have to score 30 points a game. If that were the case, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant would win the award every season. An MVP knows what his team needs and delivers. The Suns needed a playmaker who could speed up the tempo. Done. The Suns lead the league in scoring, and Nash is averaging 11.4 assists in Suns wins — 10.9 overall. He is on track to finish with the highest assists average since Mark Jackson in 1996-97. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets McCarty Set For Trade?According to an article by Shira Springer in the Boston Globe, the Walter McCarty bobblehead being given away at the FleetCenter Friday night before the Celtics take on the high scoring Phoenix Suns may quickly become a collectors item. Prior to Boston's 100-86 win over Indiana last night, the reserve forward talked about asking Danny Ainge for a trade. The proposed deal making the rounds has McCarty going to Phoenix for a second-round pick. "Me and Danny have been talking all year," said McCarty. "We've had a lot of discussions. He knows I'm not happy, that I'm frustrated. And it's been like that for awhile. I have to stand up for myself like I should. That's what I feel. I would hate to feel that way and keep it inside. So, I thought I'd talk to Danny about it. He's been working on something." "I'm just looking out for what's best for Walter McCarty right now. I think too many times in my career, I haven't done that. Right now, it's time for me to look out for myself, not in a selfish way, but just what would be best for me. I don't think for me not really being in the rotation, sitting on the bench, not getting an opportunity is what's best for me at this point in my career." McCarty said he told Ainge about his frustrations a few games into the season, stating that the team has evolved to the point where he no longer fits in. He sees "the changing of the guard" with a new coaching staff, a new system where young players receive substantial playing time. He understands what the Celtics are trying to do. He recognizes he no longer fits in their plans for the future. "Walter's had a great road here," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "I come in the door, we start playing young guys, his minutes go down, you expect him to be frustrated. But what he has to continue to be is a team player, and understand that. And I think he's done that for the most part. But I don't mind him being frustrated. Hell, if I was a player and Walter's age [31 next Tuesday], I would want to play, too. But I'm going to play the young guys and I've told the guys that." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Suns Jan 2005 Archive
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