Suns owner: Channing Frye gave team 3 minutes to match Magic's offer
Owner Robert Sarver doesn't want Phoenix Suns fans blaming him for the team not retaining sweet-shooting forward Channing Frye last summer.
To hear Sarver tell it, the Suns had little chance to keep the unrestricted free agent, who landed a four-year, $32-million contract with the Orlando Magic in July.
"To be honest with you, we didn't really even have a chance," Sarver told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Friday. "He had mentioned he was interested in coming back, and then when he was talking to Orlando, he just called and said, 'Hey, you've got three minutes to match this offer.' "
Given that the Magic made a slight overpay on Frye's deal, the Suns being unable to respond within a few minutes is understandable. They had a busy offseason that hasn't exactly worked out as they'd hoped, but the emergence of Markieff Morris as a solid combo-forward would have made Frye a luxury at his price, not a necessity.
Frye's first year in Orlando has been one to forget. As the losses continue to pile up, Frye hasn't been satisfied with moral victories for the rebuilding Magic (19-40), who underwent a coaching change earlier this month.
The eighth-year forward out of Arizona has also seen his scoring totals drop dramatically, averaging 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds, down from 11.1 and 5.1 a year ago.
His true shooting percentage has only taken a slight dip, but his player efficiency rating is an unsightly 9.1, a career worst.
Maybe he should have given the Suns a few minutes longer.