The new guys...

Last updated 9/6...

Kurt Thomas
Amare Stoudemire wanted Thomas and the Suns sent Quinten Richardson to New York to get him. Last year, the 6-9 forward ranked #6 in the NBA in rebounds per game (10.4) and #4 in defensive rebounds per game (8.3). This gives Phoenix three (Marion and Stoudemire) of the top twenty rebounders in the NBA last year.

Raja Bell
The Suns got Bell, a former Dallas teammate of Steve Nash, to backup Joe Johnson. Suprise! Now Bell will likely start. Lucky break for Phoenix. Spurs star Manu Ginobli reportedly was unhappy that Bell went to Phoenix because he hates to play against him. This was clearly the Suns strategy as Ginobli torched Phoenix in the Conference Finals.

Brian Grant
Injuries marred his performance last year, if he is as healthy as his agent says he is now, this could be a steal for Phoenix.

Boris Diaw
Phoenix will get Diaw as part of the sign and trade that sent Johnson to Atlanta. Phoenix had tried to acquire Diaw, 23, in the past, and sees the 6-foot-8 French guard as the potential backup point to Nash. He defends and runs well but lacks a long-distance touch.

Dijon Thompson
Drafted by New York this summer, Phoenix picked him up as part of the Richardson trade. In his senior year at UCLA, he led his team in scoring (18.4 ppg, fourth in the Pac-10) and rebounding (7.9 rpg, third).

James Jones
The 6-8, 220-pound guard/forward led the Pacers in three-point accuracy last season and was 25th in the NBA overall (.398). He started a total of 24 games this season and as a starter, he averaged 7.1 ppg and 3.7 rpg.

Pat Burke
The NBA’s first Irish-born player has played seven of his eight professional seasons in Europe. Last season, he played for Real Madrid, where his team won the 2004-05 ACB Spanish League Championship. The 6-11 250 pound Burke averaged 7.0 points and 4.2 rebounds on .511 shooting from the field in a combined 41 regular season and 19 playoff games. With the Orlando Magic in 2002-03, he averaged 4.3 ppg and 2.4 rpg in 62 games.

Lucas Tischer
Tischer, a muscular 6 feet 9 and 230 pounds, went undrafted but joined Phoenix's summer team, which included Tischer's former junior national teammate, Leandro Barbosa. He could be a candidate for the NBA Development League, where teams can now give a player court time while keeping his rights.