Phoenix Suns Blog – Page 42 – NBA Blog

Knicks likely not high on Steve Nash list

One confidant of Steve Nash doubts the star point guard will truly give the Knicks any consideration even if they have their $5 millon mid-level exception, despite his remarks at a promotional appearance with Walt Frazier yesterday.

Frazier joked at the Samsung event, “We need you to come to New York.’’

When asked later, Nash told ESPN, “The Knicks are a great franchise and I live in New York City [in the summer], so I’d definitely consider them if they were interested.”

The confidant said Nash doesn’t really believe the Knicks are close enough to a title to take less money and didn’t like how former coach Mike D’Antoni, his buddy from Phoenix, was treated. Nash will get offers for more than $5 million, especially from Phoenix.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Suns looking to boost offense in 2012 Draft

The Suns might need the franchise’s next point guard soon. They also are putting a priority on finding a wing scorer who can create his own shot.

Those are needs, but the Suns’ most glaring need after missing consecutive postseasons for the first time in 24 years is talent. Saturday’s draft workout at US Airways Center made it clear that a talent influx also could come in the form of another big man, despite drafting power forward Markieff Morris last year, returning Channing Frye and Marcin Gortat and planning to retain restricted free agent Robin Lopez.

The Suns close workouts and do not announce or comment on visiting prospects, but league sources revealed that on Saturday they hosted an impressive group of big men who are all first-round candidates. The workout featured North Carolina’s John Henson and Tyler Zeller, Illinois’ Meyers Leonard, Baylor’s Perry Jones and Mississippi State’s Arnett Moultrie, as well as Vanderbilt small forward Jeffery Taylor.

On Tuesday, the Suns worked out two big men who also are first-round candidates. In that workout, St. Bonaventure’s Andrew Nicholson outshined Syracuse’s Fab Melo, but neither is considered in the realm of Saturday’s bunch, although Nicholson’s stock is rising.

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Grant Hill has no NBA retirement plans yet

Although he’ll turn 40 during next fall’s training camp, Hill has zero plans to end his career while on the mend. One of the few Suns who hasn’t skipped town this offseason, Hill has been a consistent visitor of the the team’s training and weight rooms throughout the week.

“I’m just focusing on being healthy,” the veteran small forward said. “One of the exciting things of being able to spend most of my time here this summer is that I could work with our training staff and get myself right and ready for next season.”

Most of the games that he missed came in late March, when Hill underwent minor right knee surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear. He also had surgery on that same knee last offseason, which hampered him during training camp and the beginning of the season.

Despite the surgery, the former Dukie worked diligently to return to the lineup by the end of the season, as the Suns fought for one of the final playoff positions. However, he never became completely comfortable.

— Reported by Stefan Swiat of Suns.com

Suns assistant Bill Cartwright will not return

The Suns plan to match offers to restricted free agent Robin Lopez in July but would have someone different mentoring the center if he returns next season. After four seasons with the Suns, assistant coach Bill Cartwright’s contract will not be renewed.

Cartwright was hired by then-General Manager Steve Kerr, a former teammate, and then-coach Terry Porter in 2008 to help Amar’e Stoudemire’s defense, rebounding and post-up game.

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Suns forward Channing Frye undergoes shoulder surgery

Phoenix Suns forward Channing Frye today underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder, the team has announced.

Under the recommendation of Suns orthopedic surgeon Dr. Thomas Carter, Frye had the procedure performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Anaheim, Calif.

Frye injured the shoulder in second quarter of the Suns’ April 21 game against the Denver Nuggets at US Airways Center and missed the season’s final two games. Frye averaged 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in 64 games (59 starts) this season. It was the career-high third-straight season Frye has averaged double-digit scoring, all three seasons since joining the Suns.

Phoenix Suns face interesting summer

The Suns’ six free agents could create about $23 million in salary-cap space on the team payroll, depending on where the NBA salary cap lands in July and what the Suns do about restricted free agent Aaron Brooks, who has a $5 million cap hold. That would be more space than any NBA team has set up.

The most prominent Suns player who will become a free agent, Steve Nash, sees generally what is coming but also is waiting to hear the plan. If he stayed, a new deal would eat up a large portion of that cap space.

“The team and the club need to really analyze what their philosophy is moving forward and put a contingency plan together to build the best team,” Nash said. “It’ll be an interesting period.”

Of the seven players under contract, most have something to do with the current front office. This brass traded for Marcin Gortat. It drafted Markieff Morris. It signed Sebastian Telfair. It extended Jared Dudley. Josh Childress was a former client of President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. Channing Frye and Hakim Warrick also remain under contract.

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro says Robin Lopez should have been suspended

Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Phoenix Suns center Robin Lopez should have been suspended for his flagrant foul on Blake Griffin last Thursday and shouldn’t have been allowed to play until Griffin recovered from the injury he sustained.

“I have an issue that Blake got hit that hard and he is in pain and he is still in pain and the player that did that played yesterday,” Del Negro said. “I have a problem with that. I don’t know how the league wants us to deal with that because then it will get out of hand.”

— Reported by Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles

James Harden drops 40 on the Suns

James Harden scored a career-high 40 points, including making 5 of 8 3-pointers, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dealt Phoenix a blow in its scramble to make the playoffs with a 109-97 victory over the Suns on Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant added 29 points and Russell Westbrook 15 for the Thunder, who stayed a half-game behind San Antonio for the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

Phoenix’s loss, coupled with Utah’s’ victory over Portland, moved the Jazz a half-game ahead of the Suns for the West’s eighth and final playoff spot.

Jared Dudley scored 21 points for Phoenix.

Harden, who starred at nearby Arizona State, made 12 of 17 shots overall and was 11 of 11 from the free throw line. The Thunder’s superb, bearded reserve played 33 minutes. His previous high was 33 against Charlotte on March 10.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Kobe Bryant sits out Suns game with injured left shin

Kobe Bryant sat out the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night with an injured left shin.

Lakers longtime trainer Gary Vitti says he decided to put Bryant’s left foot in a protective boot to rest the injury. Vitti says the All-Star guard has been playing through the very painful injury, an inflammation surrounding a tendon, but it hasn’t gotten any better.

He says the only way it will improve is with rest.

— Reported by Bob Baum of the Associated Press

Steve Nash wants new 3-year contract

With the Phoenix Suns clinging to their playoff lives in the Western Conference, star point guard Steve Nash insists his back feels “the best it’s felt in a decade.”

Nash, who turned 38 in February, also told ESPN.com in a phone interview before Tuesday night’s game in Sacramento he intends to “sign for three more years this summer” and play beyond his 40th birthday when he either inks a new deal to stay with the Suns or finds a new team via free agency.

Responding to a New York Post report in Tuesday’s editions which described the condition of Nash’s back as “bad as it has ever been,” Nash strongly disputed such suggestions. He expressed great satisfaction with the way his health has held up through the rigors of a lockout-compacted schedule that called for 66 regular-season games in a span of about 120 days.

“It’s been my best year physically from start to finish in a long time,” Nash said. “Other than a little tweak (last week) against San Antonio, my back’s been pretty close to 100 percent.”

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com