The Phoenix Suns are finalizing a 10-day contract with guard Leandro Barbosa, the free agent and former draft pick of the franchise, according to the Arizona Republic's Paul Coro. If he passes a physical, Barbosa will meet the Suns in Chicago.
Leandro Barbosa to sign with Suns on 10-day contract
The former Phoenix Suns reserve will re-sign with the team that he began his career with.
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
NBA teams can begin signing players to 10-day deals on Monday, and that means Barbosa could be available when the Suns visit the Bulls on Tuesday.
Barbosa most recently played with the Boston Celtics under current Suns general manager Ryan McDonough, but tore his ACL in February and then was traded to the Washington Wizards as part of a package for Jordan Crawford. Coro reports he was most recently playing in his native Brazil.
Bright Side of the Sun: More on the Suns
Phoenix is in need of guard depth with Eric Bledsoe being ruled out at least a week due to a sprained knee. The Suns announced Saturday that Bledsoe would be reevaluated in a week.
On Saturday, the Suns dropped the Bucks 116-100 and used a guard rotation of starters Goran Dragic and Gerald Green along with backup Ish Smith and Archie Goodwin. The speedy Smith has been lauded for his ability to maintain the Suns' offense despite his 3.0 points and 2.2 assist averages. Against the Bucks, he had eight assists and eight points and a +20 plus-minus in 19 minutes. Goodwin, the 19-year-old rookie, has been a usual rotation player but his struggles have been masked while playing with a combination of starters and bench players.
Barbosa was drafted 28th overall in 2003 by the San Antonio Spurs and traded draft night to the Suns. He played in Phoenix for seven years and in 2007 won the NBA’s Sixth man of the Year award by averaging 18 points and four assists per game.
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