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Nash and Okur May Weigh Move to PhoenixBill Duffy, the agent for free-agent Steve Nash, said that his client would consider signing with the Suns, which drafted him in 1996. Referring to the fact that the Sunds traded Nash once already, Duffy said, "I think it still would be a good fit." The Suns sent Nash to Dallas, where he became an All-Star, for the draft pick that became Shawn Marion. The Suns could be a fallback option for Nash, whose parents live in the Phoenix area. He would prefer to stay in Dallas. "But it's got to be reciprocal,” Duffy said. "They've got to want him back." Also, a source close to Mehmet Okur confirmed the player's interest in the Suns. Okur, 25, is a 6-foot-11, 250-pound forward/center from Turkey who averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in the regular season in 22 minutes per game. Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Kings Going in ReverseMartin McNeal writes that only the Kings could reverse their scoring reputation and now be known as a defensive force. But their chances to emerge from their series with the Timberwolves are also going in reverse. The Kings defended everybody but Latrell Sprewell in their Game 5 loss to the Wolves in Minnesota, giving the Wolves the 3-2 advantage and pushing the Kings to the bring of elimination. Sprewell was driving hard to the basket and applying pressure to the Kings´ defense. He did this repeatedly and saw the good results he wanted. "He gets himself going by attacking the basket, and then he's making shots," King coach Rick Adelman said. "But if we keep shooting 33 percent, like I keep saying, it's going to be hard to win. We've got to get an offensive game going here, and we don't have a lot of time to do it." Game 6 is Sunday afternoon at Arco Arena. The Kings will try to force a decisive Game 7 at the Target Center. Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Nash Goes for Money BallIt could be a case of bad timing for Steve Nash. Nash saw his teammates rewarded handsomely by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. And he had given six high-quality years of service to his team. So Nash opted out of the final year of his contract. Michael Finley’s $102 million contract was not a bad indicator. Neither was the $79 million deal that Dirk Nowitzki had received. Nash gave up the right to $6 million in the final year of his deal gambling that he would max out. But suddenly, the maximum contracts are not coming as easily as they once were. "A few things happened," Cuban said. "Television revenues went down, 9-11 happened, and the ability to raise ticket prices pretty much disappeared. And then the luxury tax kicked in." Discussing maximum deals in the NBA, Bill Duffy, Nash’s agent, said, "There are at least half a dozen or so guys who got them who probably shouldn't have. What's happened is owners are being more cognizant of where they are obligating their money." Nash will have to wait and see what the marketplace dictates. Even though he is one of the top point guards in the game, his long-term value over the life of a multi-year deal will now be carefully considered. If he gets it, a maximum contract would start Nash at approximately $13 million next season. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Mavericks May 2004 Archive
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