Brent "Burnt" Barry says "chuuuch, I'm a Spur baby"

Phoenix Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said Brent Barry told him Thursday tonight that he has chosen to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs over Phoenix. Barry cleared waivers Tuesday after being traded by San Antonio last week to the Seattle SuperSonics, which released him Friday to set off a week of recruiting.

Barry will not be able to sign a deal with San Antonio until March 21 because NBA rules prohibit a player from re-signing with a team that traded him until 30 days after the deal was made.

"I spoke with Brent and he informed me he was going to stay in San Antonio," Kerr said. "He said that it was a tough decision but he's going to stay."

Source: Arizona Republic

PHOENIX (TICKER) —Free agent swingman Brent Barry won’t be going anywhere after all, according to a published report in the Arizona Republic on Thursday.

Barry, 36, reportedly informed Phoenix Suns general manager Steve Kerr that he chose the San Antonio Spurs over the Suns, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.

A career 41 percent 3-point shooter who helped the Spurs win NBA titles in two of his four seasons with the team, Barry was traded by San Antonio to the Seattle SuperSonics along with center Francisco Elson as part of the Kurt Thomas trade on February 20. He was waived by the Sonics last Thursday.

“I spoke with Brent and he informed me he was going to stay in San Antonio,” Kerr told the Republic. “He said that it was a tough decision, but he’s going to stay.”

According to the paper, Barry will not be able to sign a deal with San Antonio until March 21 because NBA rules prohibit a player from re-signing with a team that traded him until 30 days after the deal was made.

Barry, nicknamed “Bones” for his 6-foot-7, 210-pound frame, is averaging 7.3 points and 1.9 rebounds for San Antonio this season. In 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Sonics and Spurs, he is averaging 9.7 points and 3.1 boards.

Kurt Thomas to the Spurs baby!

SAN ANTONIO (TICKER) —Kurt Thomas was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, becoming the latest big man to head to a Western Conference contender via trade.

The Spurs acquired Thomas from the Seattle SuperSonics for guard Brent Barry, center Francisco Elson and a 2009 first-round pick.

The 6-foot-9 Thomas, in his 13th NBA season, gives the defending NBA champions much-needed size to complement Tim Duncan. In 42 games with the SuperSonics, the former Texas Christian star averaged 7.5 points and 8.8 rebounds.

Yahoo! Sports reported earlier Wednesday that San Antonio dropped under the luxury-tax threshold after the deal, possibly saving it about $2 million. In exchange, the report said the Spurs will send the SuperSonics a portion of the savings.

“Kurt Thomas is a tough, physical player who can defend, score and rebound,” said Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, who negotiated the deal with his former assistant, Sonics GM Sam Presti. “We feel he will be a great addition to our roster and will add depth to our frontcourt.”

“I think the landscape of the West has put a premium on interior defense,” Buford said. “Now with the trades of recent days, that’s only improved.”

Presti seemed happy about his dealings with his former club.

“We feel very good about the trade that brings us the Spurs’ 2009 first-round draft pick, Francisco Elson and Brent Barry,” he said. “In particular, looking at the first-round pick, in combination with our other future picks, we have great flexibility to add to our core or acquire another impact player in the future.

“At the same time, Kurt is a tremendous person and player, and I appreciate his contributions this season and wish him success.”

Basically... my opinion is that Kurt Thomas is a p.i.m.p. First, he went to TCU... meaning he is already cool. Second, I don't know if anyone remembers last year's Western conference semis... Spurs vs. Suns. After Amare and maybe Nash in that series Kurt was the Suns MVP for sure. He basically shut down Tim Duncan and I don't ever remember him missing a 8-14 foot jump shoot.

The Spurs needed this move. I hate to see Brent Barry go, but with the potential Western conference playoff match-ups of Spurs-Suns, or Lakers we need another great defensive low-post presence. And the 7.5 point average doesn't hurt either. Now that we got Timmy and Kurt to match-up with Shaq/Amare and Gasol/Bynum, we are looking to make another deep playoff run for sure. I mean, when considering the Mavs, after trading Diop, how are than going to match-up with these front court tandems of the West.

I'll end in saying this about the playoffs in the West... that have already started.

Also... hope to see the Supersonics cut Brent "Burnt" Barry and him resign with the Spurs in 30 days, chuuuch!

Spurs mid-season player grades...

From the great poundingtherock.com... great stuff

Manu Ginobili (The Sickness, Opus, etc.) Grade: AA++++

What can be said that has not already been said? How about this? The man's play has given me an erection three different times this season. And one of those times I was wearing my Pope-blessed erection proof Chastity Chaps!

Tim Duncan (The Cornerstone, Timmeh!, etc.) Grade: B+

He's coming along after a lazyish start. Hasn't been hurt all that much.

Tony Parker (The Wee Frenchman, Frenchie McWonderbutt, etc.) Grade: B

He was pretty freaking awesome before he hobbled his ankle. And that shit with him doing Grease with Eva was funny as all hecky-shucks-darn.

Matt Bonner (The Gingerhead Man) Grade: B

Maybe it's been my imagination, but I swear he hasn't sucked. I swear. However, if you consider how little playing time he's gotten, and who Pop's playing in his place, well, he must of sucked the suckiest donkey balls ever sucked.

Pop (Coach Wino) Grade: D-

The only thing saving him from an F is the fact he hasn't physically injured Manu yet.

Robert Horry (Ear Muffs, etc.) Grade: G

Horry's proving it's ok if you suck balls as long as it's the coach's balls your sucking. Sorry. That was gross. Just picture that. Eww.

Michael Finley (Conspicuously Devoid of a Nickname as Far as I Can Remember) Grade: C

He tries hard all the time. His multi-directional fadeaways give me the runs.

Jacque Vaughn () Grade: D

During the RRT I nearly threw my effing shoe at my tv because that horrible color commentator kept going on and on about how well he'd been playing. He sucked balls. Check his stats. They were awful. He just shot the ball a lot out of sheer embarrassment. If Tony Parker played that way he'd be tarred, feathered and shipped out of town.

Fabricio Oberto () Grade: B-

Thoroughly uninspiring but sucks way less than Elson.

Bruce Bowen () Grade: B-

Not shooting all that well lately and takes way too many jump shots. Bruce, just because you practiced your running left hander all summer doesn't mean you get to shoot it every time you're open.

I'm out of time. Sorry Brent. Get well soon. Everyone else hasn't mattered. [Edit: Sorry, Ime, you matter, too.]