Danny Ainge says he will fly to Phoenix on Friday to sign a free agent contract with the Suns.
"I'm very excited about it," Ainge said Wednesday. "It was a family decision, and my wife and kids helped make it an easy one."The Oregonian newspaper said the contract will pay Ainge $5.2 million over three years.
Ainge, a major contributor as the Portland Trail Blazers reached the NBA Finals this season, became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. That meant he could sign with any NBA team and the Blazers would receive no compensation or have a chance to match the offer.
The Blazers hadn't heard official word of Ainge's decision Wednesday afternoon, but Bucky Buckwalter, Portland's vice president for basketball operations, acknowledged the Suns "are offering some pretty attractive things to him."
If Ainge signs with the Suns, it will leave a big hole in the Blazers' roster for a backup to Clyde Drexler. Drexler, Ainge and Terry Porter made up Portland's three-guard rotation in the playoffs.
"If Danny is gone, we've got to go out in the free-agent market and look for other players," Buckwalter said.
Ainge said that he would have preferred to remain in Portland. But Phoenix was willing to offer the 33-year-old veteran a three-year contract, while the Blazers were offering only a two-year deal.
Ainge said the Suns' strong lineup after the acquisition of Charles Barkley had a lot to do with his decision.
Barkley said he was elated by the addition of Ainge.
"He's a very well-respected player," Barkley said. "He'll do anything to get it done. He's the kind of guy you love to have on your team."
Ainge averaged 11.1 points per game and was sixth in the NBA in 3-point accuracy last season. He averaged 9.7 points per game in the playoffs.