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Leandro Barbosa’s tenure in Phoenix has come to an end. For now. No really, this is probably it. I think.
The Phoenix Suns are waiving guard Leandro Barbosa, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2017
Monday’s news closes out Barbosa’s third stint with the Suns. The first stop in the valley for the “Brazilian Blur” came in 2003. He’d remain with the Suns until he was part of a 2010 trade with Toronto that brought Hedo Turkoglu to Phoenix. In 2007 Barbosa was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
After Toronto Barbosa was with the Pacers, Celtics, and Wizards, though he never saw the court in Washington. During the 2013-14 season he signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Suns, before joining the Golden State Warriors in the offseason.
Barbosa got a ring with Golden State in 2015, played another season with the Warriors, and joined Suns for a third time in July of last year.
The second year of Barbosa’s most recent deal was a team option. It included $500,000 guaranteed and would have kicked in this afternoon.
Today’s move grants Phoenix $3.5 million in salary cap space. They’ll use that space to take on the contracts of players you probably don’t want to watch while adding future draft picks. Because, #TheTimeline.
Barbosa will turn 35-years-old next season. He enters free agency with 850 games on his NBA resume.