In the final analysis, Channing Frye opted for a chance at more playing time.
As a free agent last summer, he narrowed his list to the Nuggets and Suns, and ended up choosing Phoenix.
Denver coach George Karl wanted the 3-point shooting power forward, and says he was told by a person in the Nuggets organization working closely to sign Frye that it would happen. In the end, Frye signed a two-year, $4.07 million deal with the Suns.
“It was a tough decision,” Frye said. “You look at both of these teams, they’re both contenders, both have great point guards, great guys to play with. For me, it was just a matter of going somewhere where I was going to have more of an opportunity, just on paper.
“You look at Nene, Kenyon Martin is a guy that’s got to play 35 minutes a game, Birdman has got to play 25, 30. Now I’m putting myself in a situation where I’m that fourth big, trying to earn minutes. I felt like here, everything’s a clean slate, everybody had to earn their minutes from Day One.”
Back home.
Louis Amundson never gets tired of coming back to Denver. It is home, after all. Close to it, at least. Amundson was a star basketball player at Boulder and Monarch high schools before going to UNLV.
“Anytime you can come back here and get to see your family and everybody, it’s always good,” said Amundson, who had to broker deals with Phoenix teammates to get 16 tickets for Saturday’s game in which he had 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
“I appreciate every minute I have here at this level,” Amundson said. “Just knowing how hard it is makes you appreciate it that much more.”
Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
