On Feb. 1, 1994, Danny Manning destroyed the Suns. Obliterated them. Bamboozled them.
The former No. 1 overall pick and finally healthy forward torched Phoenix to the tune of 26 points, 18 rebounds, nine assists, five blocks and two steals. It was the latest of many signs that Manning was the star nearly everyone projected him to be after an All-American career at the University of Kansas.
After being traded midseason from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Manning averaged 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals. His return to dominance earned him his second consecutive All-Star berth.
It was at All-Star weekend, just two weeks after burning the Suns, that fellow All-Star approached him with a plea.
“Danny, we need you,” Kevin Johnson told him.
Truth was, Manning felt he needed the Suns just as much. A winner for most of his younger life, the 6-10 forward had grown tired of all the losing that came with donning Hawks and Clippers uniforms in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“The Phoenix Suns don’t have to sell their organization to me.”
— Danny Manning
Losers fatigue played a big role in Manning’s approach to the 1994 offseason. Ultimately, the burden of defeat outweighed his desire to cash in on his first foray into unrestricted free agency. He and his agent planned a press conference in mid-July. The location: America West Arena.
It was there that Manning shocked the Suns and the rest of the NBA that he wanted to play in Phoenix. Only in Phoenix. No matter how little money he needed to take.
“It is not about money,” said his agent, Ron Grinker. “It never has been and never will be with Danny. It is about winning.”
The Suns were ecstatic. Only two years earlier, they had advanced to the NBA Finals with an All-Star trio of Kevin Johnson, Charles Barkley and Dan Majerle. Now they were adding yet another All-Star talent without having to give up any of the previous three.
“Danny and his agent basically showed up on our doorstep in July and announced that he was going to play for the Suns if we wanted him,” said then-general manager Jerry Colangelo. “The fact that we wanted him was a foregone conclusion. But he made it clear to us at that time that this was where he wanted to be and this was where he was going to end up. He’s waited a long time to play with a winner and to enter a situation where he would be appreciated – and that’s exactly what he has done.”
It was a rare break of form from normal free agency, a process that usually sees teams flock, college-style, to recruit the best available talent. Yet here was Manning, an All-Star doing the opposite on the Suns’ own doorstep.
“The Phoenix Suns don’t have to sell their organization to me.”
Charles Barkley very nearly retired after the Suns bowed out in the second round of the 1994 NBA playoffs. Chronic back issues were plaguing the former MVP far more than normal. It wasn’t until the day before that summer’s draft that he announced he would play the following season.
The fact remained, however, that Phoenix’s low-post scoring department was in danger of breaking down if not reinforced. With that in mind, the Suns placed a long-distance phone call in August.
Wayman Tisdale was on vacation with his family when his phone rang. He was shocked to find out it was Phoenix on the other line, expressing interest in his services.
“[Phoenix] called and asked me if I would be interested in coming and I was ready to end my vacation right then”
— Wayman Tisdale
Like Manning, Tisdale experienced more than enough losing early in his career. Rough years with the Pacers and Kings had marred his individual success. Now an established low-post scorer, The 6-9 forward was eager to add wins to his resume.
“It was terrible because I would watch the Suns and everybody else on TV having a good time rockin’ and rollin’ and I would be at home sitting around,” Tisdale said. “It was frustrating watching all the games and the specials and seeing players that I should be out there with.”
Problem was, the Suns were strapped for cash after re-signing A.C. Green, signing Manning, and inking newly drafted rookie Wesley Person. Inquiring after Tisdale was truly a long-shot.
At least, they thought it would be.
“They called and asked me if I would be interested in coming and I was ready to end my vacation right then,” Tisdale said.
The former Oklahoma standout needed no encouragement to zero in on the Suns’ offer, even if it was less than a third of what other teams were offering for him. And that was after Phoenix waived Jerrod Mustaf to clear up as much cash as they could.
Still, it was enough for Tisdale, who wasted no time enrolling his children in a Phoenix school, buying a Phoenix house, and joining informal workouts with Suns players – all before he was signed. That last step wound up being a mere formality.
“Happiness and winning are more important to me than money,” Tisdale said. “I’m here to give my all towards our common goal to win and win big.”