Suns trade DJ Strawberry to Rockets for Sean Singletary

Run BJM · Aug 25, 2008

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns announced today that the club has acquired rookie guard Sean Singletary from the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard D.J. Strawberry.

“Sean gives us depth at the point guard spot,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “We like his instincts and his ability to run a team. He also puts a lot of pressure on the ball defensively. We thank D.J. for his contributions and wish him well.”

In Singletary, the Suns acquire a dynamic 6-0, 185-point rookie guard, who was the 42nd overall selection (second round) of the Sacramento Kings in the 2008 NBA Draft. Singletary was then traded to the Rockets along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. in the deal that sent Ron Artest to Houston in exchange for Donte Green, Bobby Jackson and a future first-round pick on August 14, 2008. Singletary was a member of the Kings’ 2008 Las Vegas Summer League squad, averaging 5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 32.2 minutes with appearances in each of the club’s five games.

A four-year standout at Virginia, Singletary was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team selection. During his senior season of 2007-08, the soon-to-be 23-year-old led his team in scoring for the second-straight season (19.8 points) and was the lone Division I player to rank in the top 40 in both scoring and assists. That production earned Singletary an Honorable Mention All-America Selection from the Associated Press and made him a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate point guard.

A three-time co-captain for the Cavaliers, Singletary finished his career as the only player in ACC history with 2,000 career points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals. Singletary’s jersey was retired by Virginia before his final home game.

Strawberry was selected by the Suns with the 59th overall pick (second round) of the 2007 NBA Draft. In his rookie campaign with Phoenix in 2007-08, the 6-5, 201-pound guard averaged 2.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 8.1 minutes, appearing in 33 games.

The Phoenix Suns open their 41st season of play with an exhibition contest on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at US Airways Center, hosting the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. Phoenix then hosts the first outdoor NBA game of the modern era on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif. in a preseason contest against the Denver Nuggets that will be carried nationally on TNT. The Suns tip-off the regular season at San Antonio on Oct. 29 on ESPN and the club’s 2008 home opener will be the next night, Oct. 30, against New Orleans on TNT.
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http://www.nba.com/suns/news/singletary_080825.html

Guess this is their answer to their backup PG problem? I thought they liked Strawberry a lot too...

Master Shake · Aug 25, 2008

DJ Strawberry scores like 26 per game in NBA live. So like, I see him doing that for the Rockets.

JE · Aug 25, 2008

Is this organization stupid?

Denny Crane · Aug 25, 2008

It's a contract move. Rookie contract for a 2nd round rookie contract that pays less and probably expires way sooner.

JE · Aug 25, 2008

Hmm then Robert Sarver was probably the engineer of this particular trade.

Too bad, I think Strawberry's a nice player that Phoenix really should have kept.

cpawfan · Aug 26, 2008

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/2008/08/25/20080825sunstrade.html

The Suns did not see D.J. Strawberry as a player who could mix his prowess to defend guards with an ability to run an offense. So they traded him for a rookie who they think can do both.

The Suns dealt Strawberry to the Houston Rockets on Monday for rookie Sean Singletary in a move that adds another true point guard behind starter Steve Nash and incoming Slovenian point guard Goran Dragic.

Monday's trade will save the Suns about $540,000, including projected luxury-tax savings. Strawberry was due to make $711,517 if he made the Suns' opening-night roster. Singletary will make the rookie minimum of $442,114. Singletary's deal is partially guaranteed but will be fully guaranteed if he is on the Suns' opening-night roster, which the team expects him to be.

Singletary, who turns 23 on Sept. 6, was a four-year player at Virginia who averaged 19.8 points and 6.1 assists as a senior, making him the only Division I player in the top 40 for both categories. Although small at 6 feet and 185 pounds, Singletary is known for playmaking and full-court defense but not perimeter shooting (he hit a career-high 42.6 percent of his shots last season).

At the NBA's pre-draft camp, Singletary had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 5-1.

"As the caliber of players he played with increased, so did his playmaking," Suns Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said. "He's a defender who will play 94 feet of defense, and he's really nifty in the two-man game.

"He's just really a true Philly point guard. He's got the playground handle but a real sense of the game."

The Suns thought they had a second-round draft steal in Strawberry when they tabbed the Maryland combo guard last year. He then led the NBA summer league in assists.

But after 33 NBA appearances with few rotation chances and five Development League games, Strawberry had more turnovers than assists in this year's summer league. He struggled to handle ball pressure, and his jump shot and ability to finish remained in question.

Strawberry, 23, was prepared for this career moment a year ago, when then-teammate Shawn Marion often told him about the NBA being a business as he reported to camp after a trade request. Strawberry did not make a trade demand, but his agent, Bill Duffy, let it be known that Strawberry would rather be with a team that would give him a chance to play.

With his roster status in doubt, Strawberry recently stopped working out at US Airways Center.

"They brought in another point guard (Dragic), and we knew they were going to do that," Strawberry said.

"For me, I feel I can play in this league, and if I wasn't going to get the opportunity, I just wanted to play somewhere. I did want to be in Phoenix. But if I wasn't going to get the minutes, I couldn't sit on the bench. They understood that, and my agent let them know that."

Singletary likely will spend time with Iowa, the Suns' new D-League affiliate. He was drafted 42nd in June by Sacramento and traded with Ron Artest and Patrick Ewing Jr. to Houston for Donte Green, Bobby Jackson and a draft pick.
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Suns trade DJ Strawberry to Rockets for Sean Singletary

Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

Master Shake young phoenix

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Suns trade DJ Strawberry to Rockets for Sean Singletary

Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

Master Shake young phoenix

JE Suspended

Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

JE Suspended

cpawfan Monsters do exist

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