Suns sign F Barnes

Jul 23, 2008 - 5:53 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Suns signed forward Matt Barnes, the team announced Tuesday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Arizona Republic reported that Barnes inked a one-year deal worth $1.2 million - the league minimum for a veteran. The newspaper said the Suns are responsible for only $797,000, with the rest "coming from a league fund."

The 28-year-old Barnes spent the last two seasons with the Golden State Warriors, averaging 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 73 games last campaign.

He had a breakout season in 2006-07, averaging career highs of 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds to help the eighth-seeded Warriors to a shocking upset of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

A five-year veteran, Barnes has joined his fifth team since being drafted in the second round by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002. The UCLA product then made his name in the D-League and subsequently was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers the next season.