Does Barbosa Want to Follow D'Antoni?

by brian13 on May 24, 2008 9:58 AM MDT

In this article from azcentral, Leandro makes a few comments about the trade rumors and the Shaq trade.... The quote that caught my eye was this one.

A Brazilian sports newspaper, Lance, asked Suns guard Leandro Barbosa about talk that he might wind up following D'Antoni to New York.

"It's not a rumor," Barbosa said while in his hometown, Sao Paolo. "I will play where I have to play. It's business.

This seems like a huge change from the Leandro who was almost in tears when he was fooled into thinking he was traded to the Knicks midseason this past year.

The article also mentions reports that the Nets have interest in Barbosa. This doesn't make sense to me as they just traded for Devin Harris who is a similar player to Barbosa. Who else would they be looking to offer for him?

I haven't been in favor of many of the deals I've heard involving Leandro but this is one I might not mind. Josh Howard for Barbosa? I'm not sure how likely it is, but it also mentions Diaw for Howard. I would take either deal in a heartbeat considering a lot of last season, Josh Howard was the best player on the Mavs. He would be someone who could come in and start right away in front of Grant Hill.

If you would have asked me last season if we should be making any moves involving trading Barbosa, I would have said no way. But now that we are Suns + Shaq & Kerr - Marion & D'Antoni, I'm not sure what we should do. What do you guys think?

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Not sure

that quote wasn’t lost in translation…he could easily have been saying (trying to say) there’s “no rumor” or something along those lines and either messed up the english or if the interview was in Portuguese is could have been mis-translated. I wouldn’t read too much into it.

That said, I have been in favor of moving LB for quite some time. There’s far too many options out there to consider them all. He may be the new Marion in that his name is likely to come up often in a lot of rumors.

Btw – there’s no way Dallas moves JHo here for LB or Diaw. It would have to be for LB AND Diaw. I still might consider that but OTOH I don’t see why the Mavs would move their #1a player for a couple of bench guys unless Cuban is high….oh yeah…

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on May 24, 2008 12:02 PM MDT reply actions

Aint gonna happen

Josh Howard for Barbosa? I’m not sure how likely it is, but it also mentions Diaw for Howard.

Phx Stan is right… “unless Cuban is high….oh yeah…” NIIIIICE!

Contracts dont even match up, so EVEN if we did do a Howard for Barbosa and Diaw, Dallas would have to give up more, like a stackhouse (the on-again, off-again phx killer) just to balance out the contracts. This would make you guys EVEN older, heavy at the 2/3 posistion (hill, stack, howard, strawberry, bell), lose a good three point shooter in barbosa, and Dallas would be getting back essentially no defense (which we have needed for YEARS) and yet another player who is confused on whether he should be a pg or a sg. (Terry and Barbosa)

by Toddy on May 24, 2008 1:01 PM MDT reply actions

I am brazilian

the translation was truthful but I never trust journalists.
The way he said “it’sd not a rumor” souds very weird.

by Falcao on May 24, 2008 1:09 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks for that Falcao

I can see Barbosa being very loyal to the Mike & Dan Dan Tonys and feeling pretty insecure about who he will play for next. I can’t stand Dan D’Antoni on the bench, but I guess he was quite a security blanket for Barbosa.

If Kerr is looking to push Barbosa to make him more accountable, not sure how Barbosa will handle that. Hopefully Barbosa is not as fragile as Dan D’Antoni made him appear.

Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer

by ZonaFlash on May 24, 2008 2:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Harris 4 Barbosa

This doesn’t make sense to me as they just traded for Devin Harris who is a similar player to Barbosa. Who else would they be looking to offer for him

Why not, I wouldn’t mind to see Devon Harris come here for Barbosa …..

Shazzam!

by emirem on May 27, 2008 2:43 PM MDT reply actions