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By NICK SHAW
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – It has been over two weeks since a busy round of NBA trading saw the Suns shipping out several players, including sending star guard Goran Dragić to the Miami Heat. One of the players acquired in the Dragić trade was veteran forward Danny Granger, who had not been seen at the Suns’ facilities until Monday, when he appeared at his first Suns practice.
There had been questions about what the Suns would do with the injury plagued, 31-year-old forward. Initial reports indicated his contract would be bought out, making him a free agent. But now it appears the Suns will give Granger time to work with trainers and get him where he needs to be.
Granger said he met with the team’s training staff for an hour Monday. He and the Suns agreed that Phoenix would be a great place for him to continue his career.
While Granger says he is healthy, it appears the training staff still has some issues to work out regarding the forward’s health.
“My long-term plan with my career is get extremely healthy first.” Granger said. “I was intrigued with the reputation that the training staff has had over the years, especially dealing with guys coming off with injuries like myself.”
Grant Hill arrived in Phoenix in 2007 after an injury-riddled stint with the Orlando Magic, playing just 200 games over the course of his six years there. As a Sun, however, Hill played in at least 80 games in three of his five years in the desert and is often touted as the poster child for what the Phoenix training staff can do to resuscitate careers.
Granger, the former NBA all-star, is no stranger to left knee injuries. During his senior season at the University of New Mexico, he had a torn meniscus removed. Other issues over the last couple years have included a medial collateral ligament sprain and the development of patellar tendonosis, but there could be a reason for all his injury woes.
“I have a lot of physical imbalances,” Granger said. “Everything comes from my knee. My movement patterns have changed dealing with the knee issue. You’re not landing on balance, you’re not pushing off on balance. It causes a lot of problems and that’s what we are working on here, to get my balances back. Get me properly moving.”
Completely healthy or not, Granger can bring a veteran presence to a young Suns team that desperately needs it. Head coach Jeff Hornacek believes the 10-year veteran can contribute and add something to the team.
“Whether he’s playing or just around the locker room, just any veteran leadership that he can add will be helpful,” Hornacek said. “As we go on, if we’re still in the race, you know, why not get a veteran guy like that to get in there.
“If somehow we’re out of it, maybe it makes more sense to play the young guys, but our thought right now is that we are still in the playoff hunt and we are still going to go after it,” Hornacek said. “If he can give us something towards the end there, then maybe that happens.”
Currently two-and-a-half games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the final Western Conference playoff spot, the Suns have some ground to make up. With nine of their next 10 games at home, they will look to do just that.
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Suns forward Danny Granger made his first appearance at Suns practice today since the team acquired him on Feb 19. (Cronkite News photo by Nick Shaw)