Danny Granger: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Suns Forward

Sent to Phoenix as part of the Goran Dragic trade, Danny Granger neither fills a need for the Phoenix Suns nor fulfills their desire to stockpile young assets. As such, the two parties have begun exploring whether a divorce might be for the best.

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Granger, Suns Exploring Buyout

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Shams Charania of RealGM reported the Suns and Granger are having "positive and open" talks on whether they'll work out a buyout arrangement. Granger would then hit the open market with the expectation of signing with a contender.

Granger, 31, was thrown in as salary flotsam as part of a three-team trade that also sent Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton and Shawne Williams to New Orleans and John Salmons to Phoenix. The veteran forward has not appeared in any of the Suns' three games since the trade. He was averaging 6.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 30 games with Miami.

Signed in the offseason before LeBron James bolted for Cleveland, Granger was initially expected to bolster Miami's bench as a floor-spacer. Instead he became a symbol of Pat Riley's failed all-in push to retain James and was expendable when the Heat took the opportunity to land Dragic.

Granger signed a two-year, $4.25 million contract with Miami, including a player option for 2015-16. Any buyout arrangement would have to include the two sides coming to terms on how to handle the option year.

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Granger, a former All-Star whose prime was shot down by injuries, probably wouldn't get more than a league-minimum offer on the open market. In all likelihood he would be losing out on upwards of a million dollars by agreeing to a buyout in Phoenix that does not include any considerations for his 2015-16 salary. The Suns would also prefer to not have the $2.17 million hold on their cap, which makes this a more interesting decision than a typical expiring player.

If he lands a buyout, Granger will be in a similar position to the one he found himself in a year ago when the Pacers traded him to Philadelphia. The Sixers bought him out within a week of the deal being completed, which allowed Granger to sign with the Clippers.

It's unclear what type of market Granger would generate this year. He's remained generally the same player he was in 2013-14—a shell of his former self but still effective in certain spots. He is draining 35.7 percent of his threes and is a much better team defender than he's given credit. That said, it's very clear at this point he is not a difference-maker who can swing championship hopes.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.