UA’s Ristic works out for Suns; Vegas schedule out
The NBA’s international flavor was on display Tuesday when the Suns had two players in for a workout.
One big man, Arizona’s Dusan Ristic, is from Serbia. The other, Tryggvi Hlinason, is a 7-foot-1, 255-pound center who just five years ago was working on his family farm in Iceland.
“It was good today,” Assistant General Manager Pat Connelly said. “Two big guys going at it. It was a fun and interesting workout.”
The 7-foot, 245-pound Ristic averaged 12.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for Arizona last season but isn’t expected to hear his name called in the June 21 draft, a point Connelly seemed to make when he pointed out Ristic has a Serbian passport.
Ristic acknowledged that reality, as well. “That’s always an option for me because I’m from Europe and the people overseas know who I am,” he said. “But (the NBA) is my priority.”
Hlinason, 20, is one of the more intriguing stories in the draft. He grew up in Pingeyjarsveit, Iceland, and spent most of his time herding sheep, gathering hay and driving tractors. He took up basketball after high school and played in Iceland for three seasons before playing for Valencia Basket in Spain, where he averaged 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in 12 games.
Connelly said Hlinason “most likely” will be a second-round draft-and-stash player. The Suns have the No. 59 pick in the second round, and General Manager Ryan McDonough has said Phoenix likely will use the pick on a player it wants to keep overseas.
Suns summer league schedule
The Suns will open the Las Vegas Summer League on July 6 with a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Thomas and Mack Arena. The 6:30 p.m. game, to be televised on ESPN, could feature a matchup of centers Deandre Ayton and Mohamed Bamba. Ayton is widely believed to be the Suns’ choice with the No. 1 pick and Bamba has been linked to the Mavericks with the No. 5 selection overall.
Phoenix will then play Sacramento at 4:30 p.m. on July 7 followed by a 6:30 p.m. game July 9 against Orlando, both at Thomas and Mack Arena. Following those three games the Suns will play at least two more games as part of a tournament-style schedule to determine the summer league champion.
Assistant coaching hires
Phoenix has hired Jason Staudt as an assistant coach and Devin Smith as a player development coach. Staudt has been a scout for the Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets. Smith has played overseas the past 12 years after going undrafted in 2005 out of the University of Virginia.
Staudt and Smith join a staff that includes former Milwaukee Bucks interim coach Joe Prunty as the lead assistant coach and 14-year NBA veteran Corliss Williamson, who will work with the Suns’ big men.