The Phoenix Suns today signed unrestricted free-agent point guard Marcus Banks to a multi-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A three-year NBA veteran, Banks blossomed last season following a midseason trade to Minnesota. In 40 games with the Timberwolves, the 6-2, 200-pound playmaker averaged 12.0 points and 4.7 assists in 30.7 minutes per game, while starting the team’s final 28. He was acquired from the Boston Celtics in a seven-player trade on Jan. 26, 2006.

“We are really excited to bring Marcus Banks and his defensive abilities and quickness to our club,” Suns Head Coach and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Mike D’Antoni said. “We think he’ll be a big part of our success next season.”

As a member of the Timberwolves, Banks scored a season-high 26 points vs. Houston on March 7 and dished out a career-high 10 assists at Atlanta on April 5. In addition, he shot 47.9 percent from the field following the trade after shooting 40.2 percent in two-plus seasons with Boston.

Prior to the deal, the 24-year-old appeared in 18 games for the Celtics in 2005-06 and averaged 5.5 points in 14.9 minutes. Banks has averaged 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 18.3 minutes in 220 career games (33 starts).

Originally selected 13^th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, Banks had his draft rights traded to Boston in a multi-player deal. Banks averaged 18.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 63 career games over two seasons at UNLV from 2001-03 after two years at Dixie College from 1999-01. As a senior with the Runnin’ Rebels in 2002-03, Banks led the Mountain West Conference in assists (5.5) and steals (2.80, seventh in the nation) and ranked second in scoring (20.3). The Las Vegas native is the second Runnin’ Rebels player on the Suns roster joining forward Shawn Marion.

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