MARCUS BANKS
O'Neal, Suns say they need time to gel
Shaquille O'Neal and the rest of the Phoenix Suns insist everything is all right, that they just need time to work out the kinks that come with their giant addition. "We're not going to panic," Amare Stoudemire said. Time is running out, though, for the three-time defending Pacific Division champs. With 21 games remaining in the regular season, the Suns have fallen to sixth in the Western Conference. They are 3-5 since O'Neal was acquired from Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
Shaq passes physical, will be dealt to Suns
The Phoenix Suns have acquired Shaquille O'Neal in a stunning, blockbuster deal that sends four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.
Report: Heat Considering Trading O'Neal to Suns for Marion
The Heat have reportedly discussed with their superstar center Shaquille O'Neal the very real possibility that he will be shipped out of Miami. Talks have been going on for a week, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, and one scenario is a deal between the Heat and the Suns that would send O'Neal to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. - Read More...
Banks to Play for Phoenix in Summer League
Phoenix guard Marcus Banks, who lost his spot in the Suns' rotation during last season, will play for the team's NBA Summer League squad in Las Vegas. - Read More...
Celtics point to ex-Blazer Telfair as their playmaker
The Boston Celtics have had a revolving door at point guard in recent years. Dan Dickau, Orien Greene, Marcus Banks, Gary Payton, ...
Banks makes good impression in Phoenix
Suns fans' lasting impressions of Marcus Banks ultimately will prove most important. In the meantime, the first impression Banks ...
Banks a Surprise Catch for Suns
Doug Haller of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC writes, "The agent thought his client was nuts, but Michael Higgins phoned the Suns anyway. He had a talented free-agent point guard on his hands - one willing to sacrifice a possible starting gig for a chance to learn from Steve Nash. David Griffin, Suns vice president of basketball operations, long had figured Marcus Banks was out of the team's price range. He had averaged 12 points, 4.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 40 games for the Timberwolves. He was only 24, short in stature but long on potential." - Read More...
Suns Find Their Backup Point Guard in Banks
"While bringing in a native Las Vegas playmaker may be the equivalent of the Suns 'going all in' for this summer's free agent market, what isn't a gamble is what point guard Marcus Banks will provide the defending Pacific Division champs next season ? namely less minutes for starter Steve Nash.," writes Josh Greene on SUNS.COM. - Read More...
Report: Banks to Sign with Suns
"Marcus Banks and his family threw a surprise birthday party for his mother Saturday under the guise that she had to attend a meeting with a prospective NBA team," writes Paul Coro of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. "He topped that surprise this week when the Las Vegas native firmed up plans to play closer to home with the Suns. Banks, who arrived in the Valley on Tuesday night, came to terms with the Suns on a five-year contract worth about $21 million. The deal could be official as soon as Thursday." - Read More...
Wolves' Decisions May Hinge on Banks
"Drafting Randy Foye on Wednesday was the first step toward restocking the roster," writes Rick Alonzo of the PIONEER PRESS. "Now the Timberwolves enter Phase II, as free agency began at midnight Friday. Without space under the salary cap, the Wolves' options are limited, and much of their fate will be tied to negotiations with their free-agent point guard, Marcus Banks." - Read More...
Banks Helps Wolves Top Warriors
Marcus Banks had 24 points and seven assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves posted a 106-104 overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors. - Read More...
Casey Sees Plenty of Worth in Banks
Sid Hartman of THE STAR TRIBUNE writes, "Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey says he will be very happy if former Boston Celtics guard Marcus Banks can bring the same spark to his team that guard Ronald Murray gave to the Seattle SuperSonics when Murray came over from the Milwaukee Bucks in the trade that brought superstar Ray Allen to the Sonics in 2003." - Read More...
T-Wolves welcome Wally back with loss
The Minnesota Timberwolves got the better of their deal with the Boston Celtics - for one game at least. All four players acquired from the Celtics on Thursday had strong showings in a 110-85 victory over their former team on Monday night. Marcus Banks led the way with a season-high 20 points and six assists and Mark Blount added 16 points and 10 rebounds to support Kevin Garnett's 15 points and nine rebounds. - Read More...
With Trade, Wolves Go More Athletic, Aggressive
"Searching for answers and maybe even some buzz after three of their worst defeats of the season, the Timberwolves traded one-time All-Star Wally Szczerbiak and center Michael Olowokandi to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night in a seven-player trade," writes Steve Aschburner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. In return, Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks and Justin Reed are Minnesota-bound. "'I thought we had to get a little more athletic,' Wolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said in a conference call with Twin Cities reporters. 'We had to change up.'" - Read More...
Trade Winds Quiet With Celtics
Steve Bulpett of THE BOSTON HERALD reports, ?No one was trading places across the hallway at the Garden last night. Mark Blount and Michael Olowokandi remained a Celtic and a Timberwolf, respectively. ?There's nothing going on,? Celts coach Doc Rivers said, addressing the heavy trade rumors of recent days. ?Nothing today.? In fact, according to sources yesterday, discussions have actually cooled. The revelation that the Celtics have been talking with Minnesota, Memphis (this one appears dead), Cleveland and Denver about Blount appears to have the teams involved pausing to rethink their positions. Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge had no comment on potential player movement, but sources were saying that even talks involving Marcus Banks heading west for a second-round pick were calm as of now. Banks could also be packaged with Blount in certain situations. ?All it's going to take is one phone call to get things going again, but right now it's quiet,? one source said.? - Read More...
Celtics' Banks to Test Market
Mark Murphy of the BOSTON HERALD reports that Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge informed Marcus Banks that the team won't pick up his $2.05 million option for next season. - Read More...
Boston Outpaces Indiana
Marcus Banks and Al Jefferson scored eight points apiece in a huge second quarter as the Boston Celtics stormed to a 102-82 rout of the Indiana Pacers in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round series. - Read More...
Shaq deal raises questions for Heat-Hawks replay
Shaquille O'Neal is leaving some unfinished business behind in Atlanta as he heads to Phoenix. The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat must replay the final 51.9 seconds of their Dec. 19 game in Atlanta on March 8, but now O'Neal won't be with Miami for the game. O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. The deal sent four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami, and thus the new question: Will the two new Miami players be eligible for the replay of the end of the Dec.
Heat Trade O'Neal to Suns for Marion and Banks
The Phoenix Suns today acquired four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O'Neal from the Miami Heat in exchange for forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks, pending completion of physical examinations by both teams. - Read More...
Suns Hoping Trio Works Way into Rotation
In EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE, Jerry Brown writes "The Suns aren't counting on Sean Marks to play 27 minutes a night like he did in Saturday's 111-106 preseason loss to New Orleans. Marcus Banks isn't likely to log 24 minutes often, and rookie D.J. Strawberry doesn't figure to get 20. But Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni would like to have all three players on call for rotation minutes behind the Suns' top seven regulars ? all of whom he views as starter quality. But in order to do that, the reserves need to keep the tempo and the level of play high." - Read More...
Cavs' Attempt To Get Bibby Proves Too Tough
In the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, Brian Windhorst writes "the Cavaliers' hot pursuit of Mike Bibby ended without success Thursday, but not without hours of intense talks. According to NBA sources, Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry attempted to construct numerous complex trades in an effort to land the Sacramento Kings point guard, sometimes involving as many as four teams. The Cavs, Kings and Phoenix Suns, who were trying just about anything to move point guard Marcus Banks, were involved in talks with a series of other franchises. It all proved too difficult to get done on short notice.? - Read More...
Suns' Banks Learning To Adjust
Bob Young of THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC writes, "From the outside, playing in the Suns' system must look simple and fun. But Marcus Banks is discovering, just as Raja Bell did a year ago, that the adjustment isn't as easy as it looks." - Read More...
Suns See A Good Investment In Banks
In the ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Paul Coro writes that "Suns' fans lasting impressions of Marcus Banks ultimately will prove most important. In the meantime, the first impression Banks is making in Phoenix bodes well." He has routinely been staying "after scrimmages to work on his shooting with Suns assistant Phil Weber, the resident shot doctor who helped Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw." - Read More...
Suns sign Banks to five-year, $21 million deal
Marcus Banks left the Timberwolves to sign a $21 million, five-year contract with the Suns. - Read More...
Report: Suns, point guard Banks agree to five-year deal
The Arizona Republic is reporting Wednesday that Marcus Banks has agreed to terms with the Phoenix Suns on a five-year contract worth $21 million. - Read More...
Keeping Banks is Becoming a Pricey Option for Wolves
Steve Aschburner of the MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE reports, "The Timberwolves' ability to re-sign guard Marcus Banks has gotten a little trickier, thanks to an NBA ruling that limits their contractual rights with him." - Read More...
Road Woes Hinder Timberwolves
In THE PIONEER PRESS, by Rick Alonzo, Marcus Banks says, "It's a little bit tougher on the road. Basically, it comes from not closing the games out. We're doing a better job at home than on the road. We just have to carry that out to the road." - Read More...
Marcus Banks Remains a Wolves Starter
Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul PIONEER PRESS writes, "Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey remains committed to developing Marcus Banks, which means keeping him in the starting lineup. Casey said he's pleased that Banks is playing well offensively and that there's room for former starter Marko Jaric in the rotation as well." - Read More...
T-Wolves pound Celtics
Timberwolves newest addition Marcus Banks speaks with FSN on 110-85 win over his former team, the Boston Celtics. Banks was more than money, dropping a season-high 20 points in his Minnesota debut. - Read More...
Celtics-Wolves Game Tonight Will Be a Big Deal
Shira Springer of the BOSTON GLOBE writes, ?Paul Pierce called tonight's matchup against Minnesota at the Target Center just ''another game." Really? Can he be so nonchalant, so business-like, before playing against former teammates Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, and Justin Reed less than a week after they were traded? Maybe. But for other members of the Celtics, it will be a night of mixed emotions. Pierce recognized as much. ''I look at it as another game, but I'm sure Ricky Davis, Mark Blount and the other guys are going to look at it as something different," said Pierce. ''Wally Szczerbiak is going to look at it as something different. I had fun playing with those guys, but it's time to move on. We're focusing on getting wins." - Read More...
Celtics Send Davis to Wolves in Seven-Player Swap
"The Celtics have reached agreement tonight on a trade that sends Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, Justin Reed and two future second-round draft picks to Minnesota for Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and rookie Dwayne Jones," writes Steve Bulpett of the BOSTON HERALD. - Read More...
Banks leads Celtics past Warriors
Doc Rivers didn't have any choice but to put Marcus Banks in the starting lineup after point guard Delonte West felt dizzy just before the game. All Rivers needed to do, the team's doctors said, was limit Banks to 20 minutes because it was just his third game back from a stress fracture in his left leg. "I went way over," Rivers said after Banks scored 16 points in 28 minutes to help the Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors 109-98 on Monday night. "It didn't bother me. - Read More...
Banks out for at least six weeks
The point guard competition in Boston just became a little clearer as Marcus Banks is expected to miss at least the next six weeks due to a stress reaction in his left shin. - Read More...