The Phoenix Suns have acquired 26-year old PG/SG Aaron Brooks from the Houston Rockets for 24-year old point guard Goran Dragic and a first round pick. Brooks played in 34 games (7 starts) for the Rockets this season and he averaged 23.9 minutes, 11.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He was only shooting 34.6% from the floor and 28.4% from three point range so far this year. He is a much better shooter than that. Brooks has played in 247 games (124 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 25.7 minutes, 12.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Brooks has a much higher upside that Goran Dragic has.

Dragic played in 48 games (2 starts) for the Suns this season and he averaged 17.8 minutes, 7.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He played in 183 games (5 starts) in his three years with the Suns and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Dragic really showed improvement in his game, but Brooks is a better player than him, plain and simple.

The Phoenix Suns have waived 29-year old center/power forward Earl Barron. Barron played in 12 games (6 starts) for the Suns this season and he averaging 15.3 minutes, 3.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Barron only shot 23.5% from the floor and 60% from the free throw line. Barron was really awful for the Suns but I think he’s a better player than that and some team will likely pick him up and give him another chance.

The Phoenix Suns have acquired 33-year old SG Vince Carter, 26-year old center Marcin Gortat, 28-year old small forward Mickael Pietrus and a first round pick in 2011 from the Magic for 29-year old shooting guard Jason Richardson, 31-year old forward Hedo Turkoglu and 22-year old forward Earl Clark. I really think the Suns did well in this trade. Vince Carter played in 22 games (all starts) for the Magic this year and he averaged 30.2 minutes, 15.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He has now played in 874 games (866 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 36.9 minutes, 22.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Carter will replace Jason Richardson in the starting lineup. Marcin Gortat played in 25 games (2 starts) for the Magic this year and he averaged 15.8 minutes, 4.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Gortat has now played in 175 games (5 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 13.3 minutes, 3.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Gortat has been stuck behind Dwight Howard but he has a huge upside and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him starting in the near future for the Suns who could use his rebounding and defense. Mickael Pietrus played in 19 games (0 starts) for the Magic this year and he was averaging 22.0 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Pietrus has now played in 458 games (146 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 21.7 minutes, 8.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Pietrus is the kind of athlete and three point shooter who should fit right in with the Suns’ offensive system. The first round pick the Suns are getting from the Magic will likely be near the end of the round.

Jason Richardson was having his best season with the Suns. He played in 25 games (all starts) for the Suns this season and he was averaging 31.8 minutes, 19.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Richardson was also shooting a very solid 41.9% from the three point line this year. Hedo Turkoglu played in 25 games (16 starts) for the Suns this year and he was averaging 25.2 minutes, 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Turkoglu was shooting 42.3% from three point range so far this year. Earl Clark played in 9 games (0 starts) for the Suns this year and he was averaging 8.0 minutes, 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

I really like this deal from the Suns’ end and I think Gortat is the key to the deal for them. He will bring toughness, rebounding and defense to the Suns’ frontcourt.

The Suns have signed 29-year old center Earl Barron. Barron played in 7 games (6 starts) for the Knicks last season and he averaged 33.1 minutes, 11.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Barron has now played in 89 games (21 starts) in his four years in the NBA and he is averaging 15.4 minutes, 5.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. The Suns hope that Barron gives them help inside until Robin Lopez is ready to return to action.

The Suns have brought back 27-year old power forward Dwayne Jones who was traded to the Raptors over the summer in the Hedo Turkoglu-Leandro Barbosa trade. Jones played in 2 games for the Suns last season playing 7 scoreless minutes in which he had 2 rebounds. Jones has now played in 82 games (0 starts) in his five years in the NBA and he has averaged 7.8 minutes, 1.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. The Suns must have liked what they saw out of Jones in practice because he didn’t get much P.T. last year.