Leandro Barbosa played nine total seasons with the Phoenix Suns. He won Sixth Man of the Year in the 2006-07 season. His career took off with Planet Orange, and now with the news that the Suns have waived him to free up more salary cap, it is most likely the end of his career in the desert.
There is no malice in this move. No one’s being left high and dry. It makes sense from both standpoints. For the Suns, they’re a team looking to both get younger, but also continue to add assets to the team’s stockpile. They are willing to take on bad contracts if they can get more first round picks. Only $500K of the $4 million contract was guaranteed, and by releasing him, the Suns free up another $3.5 million to take on other teams’ mistake contracts.
For Barbosa, he gets the chance to play on a winning team one last time before he calls it a career, at least in theory. There’s always the possibility that he could retire now, but to me it seemed he still had some juice left in him. He did what we brought him in to do last season. He mentored the young guards, gave some offense off the bench, and brought a better culture to this young team.
I fondly remember Barbosa when he came into the league. His speed, his unconventional shooting form, his fearlessness. He was the quintessential scorer off the bench, on a team that fit his playing style perfectly. Fans and announcers dubbed him, “The Brazilian Blur,” and boy was his nickname spot-on. This video is a great reminder for anyone that needs to refresh their memory.
Barbosa was such an integral part of the 7 Seconds or Less teams of the mid-2000’s. He was one of the few quality bench players the Suns had, and he was one of the fewer still bench players that Mike D’Antoni actually used in games. Leandro gave the Suns a combination of speed, athleticism, length, and drive that proved vital during their playoff runs and their 60 win seasons.
After stints with the Raptors, Pacers, and Celtics, the Brazilian Blur returned for a short time during the 2013-14 season, at a time when the team was not just over-performing, but was actually fighting for a playoff spot. (That season feels like it was a decade ago, doesn’t it?) His performance with the team got the attention of one of the better organizations in the league, that goes by the name of the Golden State Warriors.
Leandro won a ring with the Warriors, making him one of the few members of the great 60 win Suns teams to do so. After two seasons with Golden State, he re-joined the Suns last summer on a one-year deal with a team option for a second year.
Barbosa was certainly never a superstar for the Suns, though he was pretty dang close in 2006-07. He played his role, made winning plays, and gave the fans a highlight or two pretty much every game. He has been a large part of the Suns organization, and the city of Phoenix, for almost a decade.
Barbosa probably isn’t Ring of Honor worthy, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve to be honored. I am so thankful for everything he did for my team and my community. Leandro will definitely be missed, but never forgotten by Suns fans. It is my hope that he wins one more championship next year before he retires. Good luck Leandro! Thanks for nine great years here in the Valley of the Suns!