Tabuse In? $10M Buys Out Eisley

SACRAMENTO - It's four days until the Suns tip it off for real, and their in-season look is becoming more apparent after Friday's close to the preseason.

Howard Eisley's contract buyout cleared up some roster issues, making it appear more certain that point guard Yuta Tabuse will become the first Japanese player on an NBA team when rosters are set Monday.

"This is sad for me because he's a good person and player," Tabuse said. "He's a better point guard because he has experience. I learned every day from him. Now, I have to focus on myself. I need to play hard."

While Tabuse is still wary of celebrating early, Eisley's ouster gives him a shot at being on the active roster.

Eisley was upset that he had fallen out of the rotation, essentially becoming a fifth-string point guard. He was owed more than $14.5 million for the next two seasons and a guaranteed portion of a third year. Eisley agreed to a payout of at least $10 million and is expected to sign with another team, likely Utah, when he clears waivers Monday.

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"We feel great about Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, Yuta and Joe Johnson at point," Bryan Colangelo, Suns president and general manager, said. "Joe has certainly showed signs of playing the position."

Tabuse's inclusion would give Phoenix a 13-man roster, leaving Paul Shirley on the bubble as a possible 14th. Coach Mike D'Antoni's preference is to keep them all, but it is more of a financial decision.

D'Antoni would like a set starting lineup but has tried a few this 7-1 preseason, including Friday's first five with Jackson Vroman in and Quentin Richardson out. Richardson started four of the eight preseason games. Joe Johnson started every game.

"I plan to be in the lineup," Richardson said. "If he decides to go with it (Richardson off the bench), you've got to roll with the punches. I'll be unhappy with it."

There looked like there may be competition at starting center heading into camp between Jake Voskuhl and Steven Hunter. But Voskuhl is clearly ahead of Hunter, who appears to have fallen out of the Suns' 10-man rotation.

But for a small-ball lineup or Vroman's start for a tip-off spark Friday, Voskuhl seems to have held onto the starting job amid adversity. His 52-year-old father, Joe, has been in intensive care in Dallas for the past two weeks with a severe form of pneumonia that does not respond to antibiotics.

Voskuhl will miss practice today to be with his father. That news drew two thumbs up from his father, who has been unable to communicate any more than that. Voskuhl said his father might be strong enough to be removed from the ventilator today.

"I feel I've played OK but it's been a little difficult," Voskuhl said. "You've got a job to do and responsibility to your teammates. Nobody enjoys going through something like this but you have to deal with it."

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