PHOENIX … (AP) … Jalen Rose has decided to accept an offer to join the Phoenix Suns, the veteran guard-forward said on his Web site Friday.

 

The office of Rose's agent Arn Tellem confirmed that the posting on jalenrose.com was correct, but the Suns said they had yet to hear from either the player or agent.

 

Rose, who received a $14.5 million buyout from the New York Knicks, reportedly had narrowed his choices to Miami and Phoenix. The Heat could pay more than the Suns, who offered the veteran minimum of about $1.2 million, much of which is paid by the NBA.

 

In his lengthy blog entry, Rose said being waived by the Knicks "has created an opportunity to find a team to play on that will hopefully get me back into the playoffs with a realistic opportunity to win an NBA championship.''

 

The Suns would be Rose's sixth NBA team. The 33-year-old, 6-foot-8 swingman has a career average of 14.7 points per game. He averaged 12.7 points in 26 games for the Knicks last season after being acquired from the Toronto Raptors.

 

It's unclear where he would fit into the Suns' already deep rotation.

 

Rose wants to follow the path of Tim Thomas, who parlayed a successful stint with the Suns last season into a lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Rose would be playing in a fast-paced style directed by two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash, rather than the more structured approach of Pat Riley's Heat.

 

Rose began his career in Denver, then moved to Indiana and Chicago before joining the Raptors.

 

 

So another big name turns down the Heat (reminds me of Michael Finley last year jumping to the Spurs).....that is fine....this Heat team will be fine once they kick it into overdrive....GO HEAT!!!!

The Heat actually need Rose since J-Will is out. Damn it.

Hmm...less money and less of a shot at the championship. With decision-making skills like that, I'm not sure the Heat are missing much.

 

And don't anyone try to sell me on the idea that the Suns have a better chance than the Heat. For one, they don't play defense. And for two, they face very stiff competition just to make it to the Finals.

I'm not going to argue that the Heat are a better team than the Suns, but the Heat are more likely to cruise to their respective conference finals than the Suns to theirs...plus Rose won't be looking at as many minutes in Phoenix as he would be here.

He, like Michael Finley last year, will regret turning down the team that

will win it all.

I'd rather play for the Suns. Seems like a much more fun place to play. Everyone gets their touches, and thats big to alot of these players