Jones, a restricted free agent, signed a four-year contract, the fourth year being a player option. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He is the third free agent to leave the Pacers this week, following Dale Davis (who agreed to sign with Detroit) and John Edwards (who signed with Atlanta).

“We hate to let James go, but because of the balance of our team now, it is best for both he and our team to make this move,” said Pacers CEO and President Donnie Walsh.

Jones led the Pacers and ranked 25th in the NBA in 3-point accuracy last season (.398), averaging 17.7 minutes, 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 75 games. A second-round pick from Miami (Fla.) in 2003, he played a total of 26 minutes as a rookie but inherited an unexpectedly prominent role in 2004-05 after the suspensions of Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson opened up playing time at small forward.

With Artest and Jackson back and the selection of Danny Granger in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft, Jones faced the prospect of a limited role with the Pacers.

“James Jones gives us another long, athletic wing player who has become a very good range shooter,” said Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo. “His versatility on both ends of the floor is a perfect fit for our system.”

The Suns obtained a trade exception from Atlanta in their long-discussed deal, finalized Aug. 19, that sent Joe Johnson to the Hawks. A portion of that exception was used to acquire Jones.

Jones scored a career-high 27 points against Seattle on Nov. 28 and had 13 double-figures scoring games.