Amundson Agrees to Sign with the Warriors
With barely two weeks left before the start of training camp, former Phoenix Suns forward Louis Amundson agreed to sign with the Golden State Warriors after weeks of speculations.
The 6ft 9in energetic forward, who is arguably the best remaining free agent, opted to accept the two-year deal worth $5 million with a player option for the second season, after receiving a lot interest from teams like the New Orleans Hornets and the Indiana Pacers.
“It was obviously a long process and he had a number of teams pursuing him,” agent Mark Bartelstein said. “We ultimately felt this was a huge decision in his career. He’s made great strides the last few years and to get to where he wants to go, and he needed to pick the right place. Golden State was that place.”
New Orleans General Manager Dell Demps flew to Los Angeles last month to talk with the four-year veteran about the possibility of playing alongside Chris Paul and newly-acquired spitfire Trevor Ariza, but the Hornets failed to put a reasonable offer on the table.
The Hornets couldn’t offer Amundson more than $1.9 million without going over the luxury tax, which triggered the Warriors to offer either their $2.1 million bi-annual exception or the $2.4 million left from their mid-level exception.
Warriors General Manager Larry Riley believes that Amundson will be a vital cog for their team next season, and the former UNLV standout will be a great complement to their young talents like Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis.
“He brings energy and a physical presence that we needed, plus he is an experienced player who has played in a system similar to the Warriors,” Riley said. “He is a tireless worker on both ends of the floor.”
The defensive-minded forward spent the last two seasons in Phoenix, where he averaged career highs 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds, but the Suns opted to go on a different direction by re-signing Channing Frye and acquiring Hakim Warrick and Hedo Turkoglu to boost up their frontline.
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