"I always believe that things happen for a reason, and it was tough waiting to see what would happen. But this is a great situation I'm going to. The coaches there want me to be myself, and with the way they play, wide open, I think I can be very successful." MARCUS BANKS AFTER AGREEING TO A FIVE-YEAR, $23 MILLION DEAL WITH THE PHOENIX SUNS

Marcus Banks decided that security is better than starting in the NBA.

The former UNLV and Cimarron-Memorial High School star agreed to a five-year, $23 million deal with the Phoenix Suns late Monday night. The 6-foot-2-inch point guard will serve as the backup to two-time Most Valuable Player Steve Nash.

"If I'm going to sit behind anybody, I don't mind sitting behind Steve," Banks said Tuesday. "I'm super excited. We're going to have some fun in the sun."

Banks, an unrestricted free agent, had been looking for a new home for nearly a week after the Minnesota Timberwolves signed veteran Mike James. Houston, Cleveland, Miami and Indiana had expressed interest, but it was Phoenix, a team that plays a wide-open style and is considered by many a championship contender, that made the most sense for Banks' high-octane style.

"I'm going to a great group of guys who know how to win," Banks said. "I always believe that things happen for a reason, and it was tough waiting to see what would happen. But this is a great situation I'm going to. The coaches there want me to be myself, and with the way they play, wide open, I think I can be very successful."

Banks' agent, Mike Higgins, said he had been talking to the Suns since the free-agency period began July 1. Talks picked up steam over the weekend.

"They were looking at John Salmons first, and we were focused on trying to get a deal done in Minnesota," Higgins said Tuesday. (Salmons went to the Toronto Raptors last week in a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.)

"But once we started getting serious over the weekend, it looked more and more like Phoenix would be the place.

"They don't want Steve playing so many minutes, and he has three years left on his deal. Long term, they're looking at Marcus as their starting point guard. But he's going to get more minutes in Phoenix, and he's going to a system that's wide open and will allow his natural game to emerge."

Nash averaged a career-high 35.3 minutes per game last season for the Suns. He turns 33 in February, and the Suns are concerned about the wear-and-tear from logging so many minutes over a 10-year NBA career.

In the 24-year-old Banks, they have a young, experienced player who they think is versatile enough to play in the backcourt alongside Nash and with talented shooting guards Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa.

"We think we caught him at the right time," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said of Banks, a three-year NBA veteran. "We think his speed, his strength fits in nicely with what we do, and he's improving all the time."

Banks was drafted by Memphis with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, then was immediately traded to Boston. Banks spent 2 1/2 seasons with the Celtics, then was dealt in January to Minnesota. In 40 games with the Timberwolves, Banks averaged 12.0 points, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals, playing nearly 31 minutes a game.

For his career, Banks has averaged 18.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

On Oct. 15, Banks will get to show off his game at home when the Suns face the Los Angeles Lakers in a preseason game at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"I can't wait," Banks said. "I feel great, and I'm glad things worked out the way they did. I'm in a great situation."