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Suns trade forward Anthony Tolliver to Pistons

The Phoenix Suns traded forward Anthony Tolliver to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Tony Mitchell. Tolliver, 29, signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Suns in the offseason.
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The Phoenix Suns traded forward Anthony Tolliver to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Tony Mitchell, the teams announced on Wednesday.

Tolliver, 29, signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Suns in the offseason. After making a career-high 102 three-pointers last season for the Charlotte Bobcats, now Hornets, he was expected to fill the outside shooting void left by Channing Frye. Tolliver struggled to get consistent minutes in Phoenix, however, averaging just 11.3 minutes and 3.3 points per game.

The Suns are 16-14 and have a one-game lead over the Pelicans for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy has been fond of power forwards who can spread the floor with their shooting since his days with the Magic and Rashard Lewis. It is Van Gundy's second move of the week after he released forward Josh Smith with two years and $26 million remaining on his contract.

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The Pistons selected Mitchell in the second round of the 2013 draft. He played in 21 games for Detroit last season and is currently playing the D-League.

In their first season under Van Gundy, the Pistons are 5-23 and have lost four games in a row.

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