NBA Suns land Beal in deal sending Paul to Wizards: reports

Three-time NBA All-Star guard Bradley Beal will join the Phoenix Suns in a trade that will send 38-year-old guard Chris Paul to Washington, according to multiple reports on Sunday.

ESPN and The Athletic said the deal would also include guard Landry Shamet, a handful of NBA Draft picks and multiple draft pick swaps, with final pick details yet to be settled.

Beal, who turns 30 on June 28, would join Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to revive the Suns' hopes of winning their first NBA title.

Beal has played his entire 11-year NBA career with the Wizards, averaging 22.1 points, 2.3 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals a game.

The Wizards, 35-47 in each of the past two seasons, have made the playoffs five times since Beal arrived with the third overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft but never gone beyond the second round. They haven't won a playoff series since 2017.

Paul, still chasing his first NBA title, joins a club that collected its only league crown in 1978.

The 12-time NBA All-Star guard is a five-time season assists leader, most recently in 2021-22, and six-time NBA steals leader but has found only futility in a title quest during stops at New Orleans, the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston, Oklahoma City and for the past three seasons in Phoenix.

Over 18 NBA campaigns, Paul has averaged 17.9 points, 9.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals a game.

The Suns had missed the NBA playoffs for 10 seasons in a row until Paul's arrival but reached the 2021 NBA Finals, losing to Milwaukee, and the second round each of the past two seasons, falling first to Dallas and this year to eventual NBA champion Denver.

Agence France-Presse

Suns' Chris Paul wins inaugural Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA award

Phoenix Suns 12-time All-Star guard Chris Paul on Sunday was named the inaugural winner of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award for his "significant contributions to the advancement of girls' and women's basketball" and his advocacy for the WNBA.

The WNBA and Vanessa Bryant will present the award to Paul during the NBA All-Star game in Cleveland on Sunday night.

The award honors the late Kobe Bryant -- a Los Angeles Lakers legend and a supporter of the WNBA and women's basketball -- and his daughter Gianna (also known as Gigi), who dreamed of playing in the WNBA.

Kobe, Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2020. Vanessa Bryant is Kobe's widow and Gianna's mother.

"I have seen first-hand Chris' appreciation of the WNBA and the game at every level for women and girls, ... and his ardent support of our game strongly reflects the legacy of Kobe and Gigi," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a news release. 

"The league is proud to name Chris as the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, as he serves as a leader and role model for other professional athletes around growing the future of the game for young girls and all fans."

In the release, Paul was called "a devoted fan" of the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury who has "consistently demonstrated a unique level of support, attending games throughout the regular season and playoffs while also using his public platforms to highlight the on-court successes and stories of WNBA players as well as their leadership in the community through their fight for social justice."

Paul will be a reserve for Team LeBron in Sunday's All-Star game. Paul is averaging 14.9 points, 10.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds a game for the Suns, who are atop the NBA with a 48-10 record.

The WNBA will make a donation to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a positive impact for underserved athletes and boys & girls in sports founded through the vision and loving memory of Kobe and Gigi Bryant.

-reuters

NBA: Devin Booker, Suns dominate short-handed Lakers

Devin Booker scored 24 points in his second game back from a hamstring injury as the visiting Phoenix Suns extended their latest winning streak to four games with a 108-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Deandre Ayton added 19 points with 11 rebounds and Mikal Bridges scored 14 points for the Suns, who recovered from a slow start to win for the 24th time in their last 26 games. Chris Paul had 11 points and nine assists.

Prior to the Tuesday victory, Phoenix was just 1-2 on the road since its 18-game winning streak ended on Dec. 3.

LeBron James scored 34 points for the Lakers, who lost their third consecutive game while working through COVID-19 issues and now have Anthony Davis sidelined due to a knee injury. Russell Westbrook contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds.

James injured his left ankle with 6:05 remaining in the third quarter when he came down on the right foot of Phoenix's Jae Crowder. The Los Angeles star pounded his fist on the floor after the injury but remained in the game, though his mobility appeared compromised the rest of the way.

While the Lakers' Talen Horton-Tucker and Dwight Howard were available again after being sidelined due to health and safety protocols, the team was without head coach Frank Vogel for a second consecutive game. David Fizdale was the acting head coach. Los Angeles also had Kent Bazemore, Malik Monk, Avery Bradley and Austin Reaves still in protocols.

It was a rough shooting night early for the Suns, who opened 0 of 9 from 3-point range before Booker made two from deep in the final 1:41 of the first quarter. The Suns were just 3 of 22 from 3-point range through two quarters but still had a 54-52 lead at the break.

The Suns pushed their advantage to as many as 13 points in the third quarter and entered the final period with an 85-73 lead. The Lakers never got within single digits the rest of the way.

Cameron Johnson also scored 14 points for the Suns, while JaVale McGee had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Cameron Payne added 10 points. Phoenix finished 12 of 41 (29.3 percent) from long distance.

In his third game with the Lakers, veteran Isaiah Thomas scored just three points on 1-of-11 shooting. Horton-Tucker had just three points on 1-of-13 shooting in his return, and Howard never got off the bench.

-reuters

Booker scores 24 points, Suns beat Mavs for 10th straight

PHOENIX (AP) — It was a shooting slog for much of Wednesday night for the Phoenix Suns, who bricked short jumpers, 3-pointers and just about everything in between.

But then Cam Johnson hit a couple of 3-pointers. Chris Paul added another. Jae Crowder got in the act with another and Devin Booker hit the dagger with 50 seconds left: a long, off-balance triple that capped a 37-point team outburst in the final quarter.

It’s awfully hard to hold down the Suns for 48 minutes.

That’s a big reason they’re riding the longest current winning streak in the NBA.

Booker scored 24 points, Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 13 rebounds and the Suns ran their winning streak to 10 games, beating the Dallas Mavericks 105-98. It’s the longest winning streak for the Suns since the 2009-10 season.

“We didn’t shoot a great number tonight but when we needed it, guys just stepped up,” coach Monty Williams said. “We have the mentality of, ‘Let it fly.’”

Paul drove to the basket and was about to fall out of bounds before finding Ayton for the dunk and a 100-96 lead with 1:27 left. Paul had seven assists in the fourth quarter and finished with 14.

Booker’s big 3 with less than a minute remaining closed it out.

“That wasn’t the play,” Booker said with a grin. “But we made it work. That’s the name of the game, figuring out a way.”

Dallas lost for the second time in the last seven games. The Mavericks were playing their first game this season without star guard Luka Doncic, who suffered sprains to his left knee and ankle in the waning moments of a victory over Denver on Monday.

Even without their best player, the balanced Mavericks nearly won. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 21 and Jalen Brunson had 18.

“The guys played hard, gave us a chance to win on the road against the Western Conference champs, who also have won nine in a row,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Everyone in that locker room executed the game plan. We just missed some shots down the stretch and they didn’t.”

Said Brunson: “We had control of it but they are a good team. They went to the Finals for a reason.”

The game was tight throughout, though the Mavericks usually had a slight advantage. Booker gave the Suns their first lead of the fourth quarter at 87-86 when he made a driving layup with 5:32 left.

Dallas took a 73-68 lead into the fourth after Trey Burke hit a shot just before the third-quarter buzzer.

The Mavericks held a 46-45 lead at halftime. Booker had 15 points for the Suns, and Ayton added 10 points and eight rebounds. Porzingis had 14.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

Ayton finished with his 100th double-double in 186 career games, which is the quickest to that mark in franchise history.

“He’s just a specimen,” Crowder said. “He has a good body, he moves well for a guy his size, he just has all the tools you need to dominate the game.”

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Doncic and Maxi Kleber (left oblique strain) didn’t play. Doncic is averaging 24.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game. ... Frank Ntilikina scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. ... The Mavericks shot 16 of 32 (50%) from 3-point range.

Suns: F/C Frank Kaminsky (knee soreness) didn’t play. ... It took the Suns nearly four minutes to score their first point. Phoenix missed its first seven shots and fell into an 8-0 hole before Ayton made a fall-away jumper. ... Paul missed his first nine shots before making a 15-foot jumper early in the fourth quarter. He has seven points. ... Landry Shamet scored 11 points off the bench. JaVale McGee added 10 points and six rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Mavericks and Suns play each other again Friday night in Phoenix.

- Associated Press

Giannis completes NBA dream journey from poverty to champion

MILWAUKEE -- As the last seconds ticked away before Milwaukee won the NBA Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo thought not about his amazing performance but instead pondered his incredible journey from poverty to champion.

"When I came to the league, I didn't know where my next meal will come from. My mom was selling stuff in the street," Antetokounmpo recalled.

"Now I'm here sitting at the top of the top. I'm extremely blessed. I hope this can give everybody around the world, from Africa, from Europe, hope it can be done. I want them to believe in their dreams."

The 26-year-old Greek forward of Nigerian heritage scored 50 points, matching the greatest total in a close-out game in NBA history, to spark the Milwaukee Bucks over Phoenix 105-98 on Tuesday for their first crown in half a century.

He also managed 14 rebounds, five blocked shots, dominating defensive moves and even a 17-for-19 free throw showing in an iconic all-around masterpiece effort for the ages.

"It has been a long journey. I've done it all. I did anything that I could just to be in this position," Antetokounmpo said.

"I've done it all. Tonight, that's what I had to do. I had to do a little bit of everything. I had to defend, I had to rebound, I had to block."

With 65,000 people cheering in the streets outside the arena and 20,000 more screaming inside, Antetokounmpo won NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors.

"I never thought I'm going to be 26 years old, with my team playing the NBA Finals. I never thought I would be sitting here. We've come a long way," he said.

"I started playing basketball just to help my family. Tried to get them out of the struggle, the challenges we were facing when we were kids."

Antetokounmpo wants to inspire youth who grew up in tough times as he did.

"This should make every person, every kid, anybody around the world believe in their dreams -- no matter whatever you feel when you're down, when you don't think it's going to happen for you or you might not make it in your career -- just believe in what you're doing and keep working," he said.

"Don't let nobody tell you what you can be and what you cannot do. People told me I cannot make free throws. I made my free throws tonight and I'm a freaking champion."

He's the only player in NBA history with five NBA All-Star and All-NBA selections, a finals and two season MVP awards and the top defender awards before turning 27.

Only four prior players born outside the United States had won the finals MVP award -- Hakeem Olajuwon, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki.

Antetokounmpo credited former coach Jason Kidd with developing parts of his game other than scoring and current Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer with teaching him to trust his teammates in order to built a championship squad.

- 'It's freaking unreal' -

He's already thinking about a title repeat in 2022.

"This is an addictive feeling. These are the moments I want to chase. I want the team to build off this and hopefully we can do it again," said Antetokounmpo.

"This is going to be a quick turnaround. We're going to be back and a lot of people are going to come after us and we have to be ready for that."

He recalled how the late Kobe Bryant challenged him to be the MVP in 2017 and he did two years later, only for Bryant to say he should win the title, which he did two years later.

"He made me believe," Antetokounmpo said. "Kobe Bryant thinks I can do this and I can play at a high level and build my team and win my MVP? I had to do it. I had to work hard.

"To be able to accomplish those things, it's crazy. It's unreal. It's freaking unreal. I can't believe it."

Agence France-Presse

Giannis joins Jordan, Shaq, LeBron in NBA Finals history

MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo joined an elite list of stars with back-to-back 40-point NBA Finals performances, but the Greek star forward stressed Sunday that "I'm no Michael Jordan."

Antetokounmpo became only the sixth player in NBA Finals history with 40 points in consecutive games, hitting 41 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in a 120-100 Bucks victory over Phoenix.

Milwaukee pulled within 2-1 in the best-of-seven championship series while the 26-year-old Greek forward, who had 42 points in a game-two loss, put himself on a select NBA list.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player joined Jordan, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Barry and LeBron James with consecutive 40-point NBA Finals performances.

When asked if he would threaten Jordan's four 40-point games in a row, Antetokounmpo stressed he wasn't Jordan and added, "All I care about right now, it's getting one more (win), that's all, just take care of business, doing our job."

Bucks forward Khris Middleton was not amazed to see Antetokounmpo dominate two weeks after suffering a hyperextended left knee and missing two games.

"He has been doing this since I've been here," Middleton said. "Now it's on the biggest stage and everybody is getting a chance to see what he goes through, how he's hurt and he still finds a way to go out there and compete and be productive and be dominant at the same time.

"When he's rolling like he was these past two games, we know we have to just give him the ball and see what he can do."

Bucks reserve Bobby Portis, who excelled when Antetokounmpo went down, said his success is a reward from the "Basketball God" for his work ethic.

"Giannis is a relentless hard worker and gives his all to the team, and he's selfless," Portis said.

"When you play like that and you want to win, I think the Basketball God just always rewards you. He never cheats the game. He stays in the gym, he lifts weights hard every day. 

"When you're humble and hungry like that, it just always just comes back to you. And for a guy to hyperextend his knee less than two weeks ago, and to come back and do the things he's doing, man, I think it just speaks for itself.

"Whoever gave him the nickname 'Greek Freak' did a great job. It's different how he's playing out there and doing all these different things. That's just rare. That's really special of him."

Antetokounmpo recalled how he was fearful his season might be over after his injury earlier this month.

"My knee was double the size, so a little bit worried but when I got the MRI, they told me I have a chance to come back, even though I'm not 100 per cent. I was extremely happy," he recalled.

"I'm going to compete as hard as possible and do the right thing to help my team have the opportunity to win any game we play."

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said the team plays better when Antetokounmpo plays better, no matter what the statistics are.

"We're at our best when Giannis is at his best," Budenholzer said. "He's a great playmaker, screener, passer and he does so many great things. When he's conscious of doing a little bit of everything, he's very capable and that's when he's at his best."

Agence France-Presse

Back in series, Clippers try to draw level with Suns

After roaring back to life in the Western Conference finals without superstar Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers can level the series at home in Game 4 on Saturday night against the Phoenix Suns.

Leonard missed his third straight game of the current series Thursday and fifth consecutive in the playoffs due to a sprained knee, with Los Angeles going 3-2 in that stretch and extending a season that appeared doomed without him. Leonard was ruled out Friday for Game 4.

The Clippers won Game 3 at home 106-92 and while they still trail 2-1 in the series, they move forward knowing they held the Suns to 38.9-percent shooting while holding Phoenix star Devin Booker to 15 points. The Clippers dominated the second half on the way to victory.

Adding to their optimism is that while they don't have a key piece to their puzzle in Leonard, they stopped the Suns even on a night when Phoenix star Chris Paul returned from COVID-19 protocol. Paul had 15 points with 12 assists but combined with Booker to shoot 10 of 40 from the field.

Also key: The Clippers didn't let their heartbreaking defeat at Phoenix in Game 2 -- when the Suns' Deandre Ayton scored on an alley-oop in the final second -- permeate into Game 3.

"You know, we were on the plane; we talked about it," Clippers star Paul George said. "We hashed it out. And immediately we got ready for Game 3. Simple as that. We had to move on. I thought we did a great job of moving on. I moved on. I know I have to be better. I have to be better."

George had 26 points in Game 2 but missed two late free throws that could have given L.A. a three-point advantage with 8.0 seconds remaining preceding Ayton's game-winning basket.

In Game 3, George responded by leading the Clippers with 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.

Reggie Jackson continued to deliver for the Clippers with 23 points in Game 3. He averaged 10.7 points per game in the regular season but has scored 17.6 in the playoffs -- averaging 23.0 in the five games Leonard has been out.

The Clippers have fallen behind 0-2 in all three series this postseason. They won Game 3 every time and have won Game 4 in each of the first two series.

"This team is resilient," Jackson said. "We always believed. We never give in. We never say die."

Just like George vowed to be better in Game 3, Paul is saying the same for the Suns in Game 4.

"They just outplayed us, you know what I mean?" Paul said. "We didn't make shots. You could tell they had a lot more energy. I got to be better. I shot terrible. I've got to pick up the pace. We'll be ready for Game 4."

In addition to Paul working his way back into the flow, Booker was adjusting to playing with a plastic face guard after sustaining a broken nose following a collision with Clippers guard Patrick Beverley in Game 2.

Booker was 5 of 21 from the field and 1 of 7 from 3-point range. He had five assists with five rebounds after posting a triple-double in Game 1.

"It's fine, honestly," Booker said of the mask. "I honestly don't really see it or it doesn't affect me."

More bothersome to the Suns seemed to be playing without guard Cameron Payne, who was effective in the first two games of the series as Paul's replacement but played just four minutes of Game 3 because of a left ankle injury.

"Obviously, he's been a spark for us," Booker said. "He's made a lot happen for us when he's been out there. I just hope he's in good health."

Clippers forward Marcus Morris (left knee) will be a game-time decision, coach Ty Lue said.

--Field Level Media

NBA: Lakers pull away in second half to take 2-1 lead on Suns

Behind another strong defensive performance, the host Los Angeles Lakers smothered the Phoenix Suns for a 109-95 victory Thursday and 2-1 series lead in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.

Los Angeles had about 7,500 fans in attendance as Staples Center hosted a Lakers playoff game for the first time since 2013.

Anthony Davis led the way for the Lakers with 34 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron James chipped in 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Dennis Schroder added 20 points and four assists.

Deandre Ayton led the Suns with 22 points -- his third straight game with at least 20 points. Devin Booker added 19 points and Cameron Payne contributed 15 points.

The Lakers opened the second half on a 16-6 run, taking control of the game and the series. Los Angeles took a 13-point lead with just over six minutes left in the third quarter and held onto a 76-63 advantage at the end of the third.

Los Angeles extended that lead to 21 points with 7:24 left on a reverse lay-in by James that brought the crowd to its feet and seemingly put the game away.

The Suns kept things interesting, cutting L.A.'s advantage to eight points with 2:47 left on Jae Crowder's 3-pointer. But they got no closer.

Booker was ejected from the game for pushing Schroder to the ground on a drive to the basket with 35 seconds left. Crowder followed Booker to the locker room when he received a technical and was ejected for jawing with Schroder.

The Lakers bottled up Phoenix defensively, holding the Suns to 42.7 percent shooting. Los Angeles also held a 51-35 rebound advantage and 58-38 edge in paint points.

The Suns led, 28-27, after the first quarter, but the Lakers overtook them in the second and opened a 43-40 lead at halftime.

Davis paced the Lakers with 12 points and five rebounds in the first half.

Phoenix guard Chris Paul still seemed to be feeling the effects from a bruised right shoulder that limited him in the first two games of the series. Paul finished with seven points and six assists in 27 minutes.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope suffered a left leg injury in the third quarter and had to go to the locker room for further evaluation. The Lakers announced that Caldwell-Pope suffered a left quad contusion. He did not return.

According to ESPN, Caldwell-Pope will undergo an MRI on Friday.

-reuters

NBA fines Suns’ Jackson $35,000 for ‘menacing gesture’

PHOENIX, Arizona — The NBA has fined Phoenix Suns rookie Josh Jackson $35,000 for “making a menacing gesture” on the playing court and “directing inappropriate language at a fan.”

The incident occurred in the Suns’ 130-88 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles last Saturday night.

Video appeared to show Jackson forming his fingers as a pretend gun and pointing it at the fan, but Jackson disputed that characterization.

Jackson said the fan had been heckling him loudly and aggressively throughout the game and that he wrongly decided to respond.

Jackson said at first he intended to flip his middle finger at the heckler but decided against it and that indecision led to his hand appearing to be a pretend gun.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Clutch Davis leads Pelicans past Suns

NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis capped a 32-point, 19-rebound performance with a tiebreaking 3-pointer in the final minute, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Phoenix Suns 122-116 on Sunday night.

Davis, whose rebound total set a season high, also blocked four shots and had two steals. His last block came with 22 seconds left, when he tapped Mirza Teletovic’s 3-point attempt from the right corner offline. The ball fell to Pelicans guard Ish Smith, and New Orleans held on from there.

Ryan Anderson, who scored 30 in each of his previous two games, had 29 points for New Orleans. Eric Gordon added 20 points, while Smith had 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Eric Bledsoe scored 29 points for Phoenix, which lost despite hitting 17 3-pointers. Brandon Knight had 19 points, but missed 13 of 18 shots.

Knight, who had scored 30 or more in three of his previous five games, played with a sore ankle. He scored nine of his points from the free-throw line and also had seven assists.

Markief Morris scored 17 points and P.J. Tucker had 12 for the Suns, while Tyson Chandler grabbed 10 rebounds.

Davis came through in the clutch for New Orleans right after a questionable call angered him and coach Alvin Gentry with 2:39 to go. Davis had soared for a rebound and fell coming down when he appeared to be grabbed on the arm by Tucker. But Davis was whistled for a loose-ball foul, leading him and his coach to protest while pointing to replays on the videoboard as the crowd booed the call.

Tucker’s resulting free throws cut New Orleans’ lead to 107-106, but Davis responded with a 20-foot jumper on the next possession.

In the final minute, Davis delivered a late-shot-clock 3 in a tie game. The Suns could not answer on their next possession, and Smith hit a pair of free throws to make it 114-109 with 30 seconds to go.

There were 14 lead changes and six ties in the game. The Pelicans, who led by as many as 11 in the first quarter, briefly fell behind by as many as four points when Bledsoe’s 3 capped a 13-1 run in the second quarter. Anderson’s free throws put the Pelicans back in front, 56-55, at halftime.

New Orleans worked its lead back up to 11 in the third quarter with a 15-2 run that included a pair of 3s by Gordon. But the Suns once again rallied, tying the game at 92 when Bledsoe hit a 3 as he was fouled for a four-point play with 9:57 left.

TIP-INS

Suns: Morris was called for a technical foul in the fourth quarter for arguing with an official who had called a moving pick against him. The resulting free throw gave New Orleans a 95-92 lead with 9:26 left. … Phoenix turned the ball over 15 times, leading to 25 Pelicans points. … The Suns were 29 of 33 from the foul line, with Bledsoe hitting 11 of 12. … Phoenix shot 47.2 percent from 3-point range (17 of 36), but only 38.9 percent (35 of 90) overall.

Pelicans: Jrue Holiday fouled out with 1:13 to go on a foul under the basket on Bledsoe, who hit both free throws to tie it at 109. Holiday and Gentry protested as replays appeared to show a clean block. … Smith hit the back of his head no the scorer’s table when he leapt, off-balance, to grab a loose ball and release it before he landed to avoid a back-court violation. The play resulted in one of Davis’ dunks. … The Pelicans were 33 of 40 on free throws. … Smith has made 18 of his last 19 free throws. … Gordon was 5 of 12 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT

Suns: Visit San Antonio on Monday night.

Pelicans: Visit Phoenix on Wednesday night.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Suns trade Scola to Pacers in 3-player deal

PHOENIX  — The Indiana Pacers have bolstered their front-line depth with the acquisition of Luis Scola from the Phoenix Suns.

The Pacers sent forward Gerald Green, center Miles Plumlee and a lottery-protected first-round draft pick to the rebuilding Suns.

Scola, a 6-foot-9 forward from Argentina, played his first five NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets before coming to Phoenix a year ago when the Suns submitted the winning bid under the league’s amnesty rule. He appeared in all 82 games for the Suns, averaging 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds. It was the fifth time in his career that he’s played in all games.

Scola, who has averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in his career, joins a team that figures to contend in the Eastern Conference after he toiled for a season with a Suns squad that compiled the worst record in the Western Conference and second-worst in the franchise’s history.

The 6-foot-8 Green has played for six teams since coming to the NBA in 2005. Signed as a free agent by Indiana in 2012, he appeared in 60 games, averaging seven points per contest. The 6-11 Plumlee was selected in the first round by the Pacers out of Duke last year, the 26th selection overall, but appeared in only 14 games for the deep, talented Indiana squad.

Not surprisingly, Scola said he was “very, very excited to play for the Pacers.”

“They are one of the top three teams in the NBA with a good shot to win a championship,” Scola said in a Pacers news release announcing the Saturday trade. “I think it’s a great team and this is a great opportunity. I can’t wait.”

Hall of Famer Larry Bird, the Pacers’ president of basketball operations, said Scola adds veteran experience to the Indiana bench.

“He has NBA experience, international experience and is the type of player that will fit nicely on our roster,” Bird said.

Since returning to the Pacers in late June after taking a leave of absence for health reasons, Bird has re-signed power forward David West, then spent most of his time strengthening the Pacers bench.

When free agency opened, he convinced point guard C.J. Watson to sign. He also has signed backup swingman Chris Copeland and point guard Donald Sloan, and now he’s added a solid scorer to back up West. Bird also selected Arizona forward Solomon Hill in the draft.

He’s been able to make the moves without going over the NBA’s luxury tax threshold – something Bird has said he will not do.

The price for Scola wasn’t particularly high, from Indiana’s perspective.

Pacers fans have grumbled constantly about the lack of productivity from Green, who still has two years and $7 million left on the free agent deal he signed last season, and Plumlee spent much of his rookie playing time with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA D-League.

Bird believes that a better bench will help the Pacers continue to make deep runs in the playoffs, and possibly even get past two-time NBA champion Miami in the Eastern Conference. The Heat beat Indiana 4-2 in the second round of the 2012 playoffs and needed to win Game 7 to finally fend off Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals this year.

New Suns general manager Ryan McDonough called Plumlee “one of the best players” in this year’s Summer League, where the big center averaged 10 points, 9.5 rebounds and three blocked shots. McDonough also said that Green will add athleticism and scoring ability to what is designed to be an up-tempo style under new Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek.

Phoenix is undergoing a roster overhaul in what could be a lengthy rebuilding process.

“The trade is consistent with our stated plan to continue to acquire young assets,” said Lon Babby, the Suns’ president of basketball operations. “With this trade, we now have the potential of three first-round picks in the 2014 draft and five first-round picks in the next two drafts.”

Plumlee gives the team a second young center. Phoenix used the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft to select Maryland’s Alex Len, a 7-foot Ukrainian who is recovering from right ankle surgery.

source: sports.inquirer.net