Suns Continue to Shine on Veteran Elie’s Career

Phoenix agreed to terms Friday with free agent guard Mario Elie, adding a player with championship experience to its backcourt.

Elie, 36, averaged nine points, 2.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds a game last season for San Antonio.

He was a member of San Antonio’s championship team in 1999, his first season with the club. Elie also won NBA championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995.

“Mario brings many intangibles to our team,” Sun Coach Scott Skiles said. “He has great leadership, toughness, is a team player and a true professional who has seen it all in this game, including championships.”

The 6-foot-5 Elie has played 10 seasons in the NBA with Golden State, Philadelphia, Portland, Houston and San Antonio. He has averaged 8.5 points and 2.3 assists during his career.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

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Portland announced the signing of Erick Barkley, its first-round pick in the 2000 NBA draft, to a multiyear contract.

Barkley, a 6-foot-1 guard, left St. John’s after two seasons to enter the draft. He averaged 14.6 points and 4.7 assists a game at St. John’s. His 2.6 steals a game was the best average in school history.

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Center Duane Causwell re-signed with Miami.

Causwell, 32, joined the Heat in 1997 in a trade with Sacramento. He appeared in 25 games last season, including two starts, averaging 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds.

The Heat also agreed to terms with undrafted forward Ron Hale. The 6-foot-9 rookie played four years at Florida State. He averaged 15.6 points last season to lead the Seminoles in scoring.