Posted: July 25, 2006
The Phoenix Suns added frontcourt depth today by signing unrestricted free-agent forward/center Sean Marks to a one-year contract.
A seven-year NBA veteran, Marks joins his fifth NBA team (Toronto, Miami, Seattle, San Antonio) and has averaged 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.6 minutes in 105 career games (signed a 10-day contract with the Sonics in the 2000-01 season, but did not play).
The 6-10, 250-pound forward/center enjoyed his best season in 2001-02 when he posted career highs of 4.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.2 minutes in 21 games with the Heat. Last season Marks, who turns 31 on Aug. 23, averaged 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 7.2 minutes in a career-high 25 games for the Spurs.
Marks, who became the first native of New Zealand to play in the NBA when he made his debut with the Toronto Raptors vs. New Jersey on March 16, 1999, is the sixth international player on the Sun roster, joining Steve Nash (Canada), Boris Diaw (France), Leandro Barbosa (Brazil), Raja Bell (Virgin Islands) and Pat Burke (Ireland).
A member of the New Zealand National Team, Marks was originally selected 44th overall in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks after four collegiate seasons at the University of California. His draft rights were traded by the Knicks, along with Charles Oakley and cash, to the Raptors in exchange for Marcus Camby on June 24, 1998.