Michael Beasley has had a history off off-court issues in his five NBA seasons.(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Suns forward Michael Beasley is under investigation for a sexual assault that allegedly took place on Jan. 13, according ABC15.

Scottsdale police confirmed the investigation Tuesday.

From ABC15:

“At this point we can only say the investigation is ongoing,” said David Pubins, Scottsdale police spokesman. “We are interviewing those involved and processing any physical evidence we may have to try and determine if criminal charges are appropriate.”

Beasley, the second overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, played in 75 games and averaged a career-low 10.1 points per game for the Suns this season. He has two years remaining on a three-year, $18 million contract he signed as a free agent during the offseason.

The former Kansas State All-American has had a history off off-court problems including substance abuse rehab and psychological issues.

The Orlando Magic’s Rob Hennigan has his title as the league’s youngest GM in tact. But not by much.

The Phoenix Suns hired 33-year-old Ryan McDonough as their new GM on Tuesday, luring him away from the Boston Celtics to revamp a struggling franchise that finished at the bottom of the Pacific Division last season with a 25-57 record.

McDonough joined the Celtics in 2003 as a member of their video department one year after graduating from North Carolina. Since then, he has spent time in various front office positions, most recently as an assistant GM for the past three seasons. In a report from Paul Coro of AZCentral.com, Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said in a statement that he has full confidence in McDonough’s ability to identify talent, and spoke to the 10 draft picks the team has over the next three years, including six in the first round:

 “Ryan distinguished himself among an impressive group of candidates for our GM position. His natural leadership and communication skills will serve the Suns well. And, his prodigious work ethic and ability to identify talent will enable us to take full advantage of the 10 draft choices, including six in the first round, that we have over the next three years. We welcome his championship pedigree to our organization.”

According to the report, McDonough has been credited with drafting Avery Bradley with the No. 19 pick in 2010, and was also part of a group within the Celtics organization that decided to use a draft-day trade in 2006 to acquire Rajon Rondo from Phoenix.

GOLLIVER: McDonough to have hands full in Phoenix

Grant Hill is rumored to be considered for the Suns’ GM job. (Nikki Boertman/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns are looking for a new General Manager to replace the recently fired Lance Blanks, and the oldest player in the league last season might be the one to get it.

UPDATE: Suns hire Celtics’ Ryan McDonough as GM

Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweeted on Tuesday that Phoenix has been slow to fill the vacancy because the front office hopes to hire Grant Hill as the new general manager. Hill officially became the oldest active player in the league last season after the New York Knicks’ Kurt Thomas went down with an injury; at 40 years old, Hill could make a rare jump from player to general manager over the course of one season. He spent five years in Phoenix playing for the Suns before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2012 offseason.

Since their season came to an end last month, the Suns have interviewed two candidates for the open GM position: Bucks assistant GM Jeff Weltman and Celtics assistant GM Ryan McDonough. Now that the Clippers’ season is officially over, talks between Hill and the Suns could heat up.

Rumblings persist Suns haven't hired GM yet because they remain hopeful Clips' Grant Hill, out of playoffs now, returns to PHX to take job—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 07, 2013

Former Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry will interview next week for the Charlotte Bobcats head coaching position. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Former Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry will interview next week for the head coaching position with the Charlotte Bobcats, according to a report late Wednesday night from David Aldridge of NBA.com.

Gentry, a North Carolina native and former college basketball player at Appalachian State, had expressed interest in the job in late April after the team parted ways with first-year head coach Mike Dunlap, who finished the season with a 21-61 record.

But Gentry’s record as a head coach, first with the Miami Heat in 1994-95 and subsequent stints with the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns, is below .500. Despite taking the Suns to the Western Conference Finals in 2010, he has an overall record of 335-370 (.475) as a head coach and was relieved of his coaching duties midway through last season in Phoenix amid a 13-28 record.

The Suns will also interview Gentry’s assistant coach in Phoenix, Elston Turner, who has served as an assistant coach in the NBA for 15 years. He has interviewed for several head coaching positions, including the one with the Chicago Bulls in 2010 that ended up going to Tom Thibodeau, but has yet to be hired as a head coach.

The Phoenix Suns fired general manager Lance Blanks after three seasons Monday, days after the team finished the 2012-13 season with a 25-57 record, the team announced.

The 25-57 mark was the worst in the Western Conference.

Blanks was hired by the Suns in August 2010 after five seasons as vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Blanks had a year left remaining on his contract.

“Lance has been a trusted friend and colleague,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “I thank him personally and professionally for his hard work on behalf of the Suns. We will continue to prepare for the offseason even as we look for his replacement.”

The #Suns have announced that they have parted ways with general manager Lance Blanks. The team has called a noon news conference Tuesday.—
azcentral sports (@azcsports) April 22, 2013

The Phoenix Suns are losing games in every way imaginable and on Tuesday night, their game against the Houston Rockets ended on a goaltending call.

The Suns lost their 10th straight game when center Jermaine O’Neal swiped a potential game-winning shot by Rockets guard James Harden right off the rim handing the Rockets a 101-98 victory.

Harden dribbled down the clock and shot his 3 from the wing and it proceeded to bounce high off the rim and O’Neal tipped it as it came down, just after the buzzer sounded.

Harden finished with 33 points, six rebounds and six assists and Phoenix was paced by Luis Scola‘s 28 points and eight boards.

Wow!! I never lost a game like that before in my life.. Just one of those seasons I guess..—
Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) April 10, 2013

Hamed Haddadi’s number is a tribute to his native Iran. (Instagram/Arash Markazi)

Newly acquired Phoenix Suns center Hamed Haddadi decided to switch his jersey number to digits that have some significance for him. The change comes after being traded by the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Rudy Gay deal in February.

According to ESPNs NBA reporter Arash Markazi, the switch was made from his old number, 15, to 98 as a sort of homage to his native Iran; the new number 98 represents Iran’s telephone country code when dialing from the United States.

Haddadi is the only Iranian to make it to the NBA and has made a name for himself by helping Iran’s national team to the 2007 and 2009 FIBA Asia championships.

But the 7’2″ big man has been used sparingly throughout his career in the NBA. This season, he is averaging 1.2 points in 6.7 minutes per game.

Trading Iman Shumpert is “unlikely” for the Knicks, according to a report. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

A rumored trade that would send New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert to the Phoenix Suns for guard Jared Dudley is “unlikely,” ESPN.com’s Ian Begley reported on Sunday.

Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Saturday that the Suns were pursuing Shumpert, the second-year defensive stalwart and fan favorite on the Knicks. The Suns’ offer hinged around Dudley and future first-round draft picks. But citing a Knicks’ source, Begley reported that the proposed deal as it stands is “unlikely at this point.”

Begley reported that the Knicks have been exploring the trade market for a “shooter” before the Feb. 21 trade deadline. The 27-year-old Dudley would fit that requirement. He is a career 40.6 percent shooter from 3-point range, including 39.1 percent this season. Dudley is averaging 11.8 points per game in 29.8 minutes.

Still, Begley reported that a “faction” in the Knicks organization does not want to give up the promising young Shumpert, who recently returned after rehab following a torn ACL and meniscus he suffered in last season’s playoffs.

For his part, Shumpert brushed aside the rumors when asked about them following the Knicks’ 102-88 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

“I don’t really care,” Shumpert said. “I’ve just got to play ball. I can’t control it anyway. There’s nothing to worry about — something I can’t control.”

Knicks guard Iman Shumpert is the rumor of trade talks with the Suns. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns are trying to bolster their backcourt by pursuing New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert via a trade, reports Yahoo! Sports. 

The report says that the Suns are willing to send forward Jared Dudley and a possible future first-round draft pick to the Knicks for Shumpert, but the team has not responded.

Dudley, 27, is a former first-round pick who has started 40 games this season for the Suns. He is averaging 11.8 points per game and hits 39 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts. Dudley has three years and $12.8 million left on his contract.

After tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament in the Knicks’ opening game of last season’s playoffs, Shumpert returned in January and has started the past 11 games. While Shumpert is still working himself back to the high level with which he performed as a rookie, the Knicks’ front office remains a strong proponent of his talent, sources said.

Shumpert, in his second season, is averaging 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Suns forward Michael Beasley continues to struggle in Phoenix, on and off the court. (Rocky Widner/NBA/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns forward Michael Beasley is due in court next week after being stopped by Scottsdale, Ariz. police for speeding, reports AZSports.com.

Beasley was pulled over on Jan. 25 when the vehicle he was driving did not have a license plate and the authorities saw no sign of a temporary tag in the window.  Beasley was also found with a gun in the vehicle and police said his Arizona license had been suspended since last October.

He was cited for driving with a suspended license, driving with excessive speed, driving with expired registration and failure to display a license plate on the rear of the vehicle. Driving with a suspended license and excessive speeding are criminal traffic violations, whereas driving with expired registration and failure to display a license plate are civil traffic violations.

Beasley, who is averaging 10.6 points a game while only shooting 39.7 percent, is due in court on Feb. 13.

Hawks forward Josh Smith says he’s a max player. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Suns are trying to add forward Josh Smith and have had talks with the Hawks, according to multiple league sources in a Hoopsworld.com report.

After missing out on acquiring Eric Gordon and Rudy Gay, the Suns are pursuing Smith before the Feb. 21 trade deadline or through a sign-and-trade deal next offseason.

Smith, 27, is making $13.2 million in the last year of his contract, putting him on a list of NBA stars who could change teams soon. He could max out with the Hawks at almost $20 million per season or $94 million over five years, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Smith has come out publicly saying that he’s worth a max contract.

Phoenix could offer center Marcin Gortat, Jared Dudley, Michael Beasley and several expiring contracts including Shannon Brown, Wes Johnson, Jermaine O’Neal and Sebastian Telfair.

The Suns also own three first-round picks in the 2013 NBA Draft, courtesy of the trade that sent Steve Nash to the Lakers and obtaining Johnson from the Timberwolves.

Dwight Howard said he may miss some games, but dismissed the idea of surgery. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a loss to the Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday night as Steve Nash watched a three game win streak come to an end at the hands of his former team and Dwight Howard saw a more serious injury to his nagging shoulder pain.

Howard told reporters after game that he is now in the worst pain he’s felt since injuring his shoulder nearly a month ago against the Los Angeles Clippers when he subsequently sat out three games to recondition the muscles in his shoulder. He said he would consider missing games again because it’s “real sore” and that the entire right side of his body is hurting.

But when asked about the possibility of surgery, he simply replied, “not right now.” He finished the game playing 29 minutes, five minutes less than his season average, recording nine points and 14 rebounds in the loss:

“It’s real sore. Everything on (the right) side (of my body) is hurting pretty bad right now. I’m going to try as much as I can but I don’t want to cause more damage to my shoulder. I don’t want to (miss any games), but we’ll see.”

Kobe Bryant said he’s not worried about it and that the pain will go away, with head coach Mike D’Antoni adding that hopefully it will be gone by Thursday when the Lakers are on the road again to play the Timberwolves in Minnesota.

Jermaine O’Neal is out with an unstated medical condition. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Veteran center Jermaine O’Neal will not accompany the Phoenix Suns for their upcoming road trip and missed practice on Tuesday because of a medical condition that’s being kept under wraps by the team.

According to tweets on Tuesday afternoon from Paul Coro, Suns beat reporter for the Arizona Republic, O’Neal will not travel to Sacramento for the Suns game against the Kings on Wednesday night because of the medical condition.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports tweeted Tuesday afternoon that O’Neal and Suns general manager Lance Blanks engaged in an “expletive-laced confrontation on Monday,” though it’s unconfirmed whether that incident is at all tied to the decision for O’Neal to miss the road trip to Sacramento. A 17 year veteran, the oft-injured O’Neal is averaging 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 15 minutes per game this season.

The Suns, currently the third worst team in the league with a record of 13-28, parted ways with head coach Alvin Gentry last week. Former NBA player Lindsey Hunter, who was the player development director under Gentry, has been named the interim head coach. But Hunter is already adding to a disappointing season with an off-the-court issue; according to a report from SBNation, Hunter is part of an ongoing FBI investigation into mortgage fraud.

Jermaine O'Neal missed practice today with an unstated medical issue and said he is unable to make the #Suns trip to Sacramento.—
Paul Coro (@paulcoro) January 22, 2013

Confirmed this. RT @WojYahooNBA: Suns GM Lance Blanks & center Jermaine O'Neal engaged in a loud, expletive-laced confrontation on Monday.—
Paul Coro (@paulcoro) January 22, 2013

The Phoenix Suns are officially on the hunt for a new head coach. Fox10′s Juda LaCava first reported on Twitter that the Suns parted company with Alvin Gentry, the team’s head coach for the past four seasons.

Alvin Gentry is out as head coach of the Suns—
Jude LaCava (@judefox10) January 18, 2013

Gentry took over the Suns on an interim basis in the middle of the 2008-2009 season after Terry Porter was fired. Gentry had previously been an assistant coach under Porter as well as Mike D’Antoni, the man Porter succeeded in the post. Gentry’s firing ends an 11 year relationship with the Suns organization, having been hired as D’Antoni’s assistant in 2002.

The Suns have struggled mightily under Gentry this season, going 13-28, good for last place in the Pacific Division.

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said he regrets leaving Phoenix. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Less than two weeks into his new job as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Mike D’Antoni has revealed a number of regrets he’s had along the way during his tenure in the NBA, including leaving Phoenix and coaching in New York, according to a Nov. 28 report from Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLA:

“I shouldn’t have gone to New York. I should have stuck in there and battled. You don’t get to coach somebody like him [Nash] too many times. It’s pretty sacred and you need to take care of it. I didn’t.”

D’Antoni, of course, now has another chance to coach the two-time MVP, as Nash signed with the Lakers this offseason after spending most of his career in Phoenix, although he is not due back on the court for another week because he is rehabbing a broken fibula in his left leg. D’Antoni said that looking back on those final weeks with the Suns in 2008, he wishes that he hadn’t initiated his departure once the Knicks coaching position became available, calling the decision “irrational,” and admitted that he should have taken a month to figure it out. Instead, he was made an offer by the Knicks on May 9, 2008 and accepted a 4-year, $24 million deal with the team the following day:

“I think we got frustrated and I got frustrated. That’s why I left. We were there, it seemed like we deserved it, and then it seemed like something happened all the time. Maybe we weren’t good enough either. We have to understand that. I probably irrationally made a decision right when the season was over. You should take a month to figure it out. I shouldn’t have left. That was my fault.  [I]t was me. I initiated it and I probably shouldn’t have.”

The Suns won three Division titles under D’Antoni but failed each time to advance to the NBA Finals. After an 18-24 start to the 2011 season, D’Antoni resigned as head coach of the Knicks. Now, after some time away from the league, he is 2-3 since taking the reigns from former Lakers head coach, Mike Brown. Perhaps his second stint with Nash will be more productive than his reunion with Amar’e Stoudemire in New York.

Leandro Barbosa is talking to the Lakers, Nets and Suns about a contract. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers free agent guard Leandro Barbosa confirmed that he is talking to the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, and is even getting recruited over texts from Lakers point guard Steve Nash, according to a Hoops Hype translation of a report from OUL Deporte:

“Among others, I’m talking with Phoenix, the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers. Steve Nash even texted me because he wants me there.”

Barbosa, who made $7.6 million last season, said he would accept a veterans minimum salary to play for a contender, but the Lakers have very little room to add another contract so it may be wishful thinking for him and Nash to text about playing in Los Angeles together. If he doesn’t sign an NBA contract, Barbosa said that he would play in his native Brazil.

ESPNs Marc Stein reported Aug. 2 that he heard the Lakers have interest in the guard, but the team has little room on the roster for him given their salary cap.

The Nets, meanwhile, would certainly benefit from using Barbosa in their backcourt but the team is also committed to over $85 million in salary next season.

The Suns, while certainly an option for Barbosa because of the success he enjoyed in Phoenix under Mike D’antoni, would likely be a longshot for the guard because of his desire to play for a contender. Barbosa turns 30 a month after the season tips off.

Ann Meyers Drysdale will become the NBA’s first female broadcaster since 1979. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

The NBA will feature a female in the broadcast booth next season for the first time since 1979, according to Kevin Bonneville of The Examiner.

The Phoenix Suns have hired Ann Meyers Drysdale to broadcast as many as 20 regular season games for the team.

But this won’t be her foray into broadcasting for a professional game. In fact, Drysdale was the last female to broadcast from the booth when she worked for the Indiana Pacers 33 years ago. That same year, Indiana native Larry Bird lost to Magic Johnson in the NCAA national title game.

She was let go after six games and went on to play for the Women’s Professional Basketball League. Drysdale has also called the Olympics and worked with the Phoenix Mercury.

In 1997, the NBA made Violet Palmer the first female referee in any major U.S. professional sport.

Six-time All-Star Jermaine O’Neal agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns. (Dan Lippitt/NBA/Getty Images)

Free-agent forward Jermaine O’Neal has agreed to terms with the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Republic reports.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Suns had been offering a one-year deal worth the league minimum.

An oft-injured six-time All-Star, O’Neal played with the Boston Celtics the past two seasons, only playing in 49 games.  Last season, he started 24 games averaging five points and 5.4 rebounds a game. He underwent surgery on his left wrist in March.

O’Neal, 33, has averaged 13.7 points and 7.4 rebounds for his career.

James Harden said “of course” he will consider signing with the Phoenix Suns as a restricted free agent next summer. (Layne Murdoch/Getty Images)

James Harden is set to become a restricted free agent next summer and he already confirmed that the Phoenix Suns are one team he’ll consider, according to a report from Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic.

When asked in London over the weekend whether he would consider playing for the Suns, Harden, a standout star at Arizona State, said:

“Yeah,” he said. “Of course. I love it there. My mom lives there still. So that’s definitely my second home as far as my comfort level and going to school there. But obviously, I’m with the Thunder right now and what we have is special.”

While Harden is correct, the Oklahoma City Thunder do, in fact, have something special right now, the team will likely have to go over the luxury tax if Thunder executives intend to keep their core intact.

The Thunder have already signed their franchise player Kevin Durant to a long-term deal as well as the team’s point guard, Russell Westbrook. But the Thunder will pay over $35 million to Durant and Westbrook in 2015, leaving Harden and the team’s anchor on defense in the frontcourt, Serge Ibaka, to consider a salary cut to keep the team from going over the luxury tax and paying harsh penalties.

Harden is set to make $5.8 million next season, while Ibaka will make $2.2 million. Both players could command max-contracts as free-agents after next season. The Thunder will have three days to match any offer Harden receives because he is a restricted free-agent.

While Harden knows he has a good thing going with the Thunder — they lost to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June — the Suns could be a team that he hears from after next season. Phoenix revamped its roster this offseason, letting two-time MVP Steve Nash go to the Los Angeles Lakers and veteran Grant Hill sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. But the team brought back Goran Dragic from the Houston Rockets and also acquired Dragic’s teammate in Houston, Luis Scola, and Michael Beasley from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns will have the cap space to go after another marquee free agent next summer.

But Harden knows that ultimately, his fate is not entirely his decision:

“That’s out of my hands,” Harden said. “That’s not my decision. That’s the front office. I’ll let them decide that.”

Durant, Westbrook and Harden are currently in London as members of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team. Ibaka is also at the Games playing for the Spanish national team.

The Phoenix Suns will reportedly feature the Charles Barkley-era jersey at certain points next season. (Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns will bring back the black jerseys next season that Charles Barkley and his team wore in the 1990s, according to a report from Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic.

The change was confirmed by the Suns after the spring Adidas NBA catalog was leaked:

Suns President Brad Casper acknowledged the catalog sneak peek and that the franchise was looking at a “Hardwood Classics” uniform to include next season.

According to Coro, the Suns have been mulling a re-design of the team’s uniforms for a debut in the 2013-14 season. The reintroduction of the Barkley-era jerseys this season could be a way for Suns personnel to gauge a response from fans, even if they’re featured sparingly throughout next season.

Discussions of a new jersey come at a time when the Suns are seeing a revamped roster. Two-time MVP Steve Nash left Phoenix for the Los Angeles Lakers while Grant Hill signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. But the Suns brought back point guard Goran Dragic from the Houston Rockets and also acquired Michael Beasley from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the latest sign-and-trade in the NBA appears to be close to completion:

Hornets, Suns, Wolves are nearing agreement on a 3-way deal that would send Robin Lopez to the Hornets in a sign-and-trade, sources tell Y!—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 24, 2012

Along with Lopez, Suns would send Hakim Warrick to Hornets. Minny would send Wesley Johnson and a 1st round pick to the Suns, sources say.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 24, 2012

At least part of package back to Minny would include Brad Miller (his contract), Jerome Dyson and draft picks, sources say.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 24, 2012

For Wolves, deal clears cap space and apparently is a prelude to another potential signing or deal, sources say.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 25, 2012

Several league executives believe Minnesota is pursuing free agent Andrei Kirilenko. He's no longer considering Brooklyn, sources say.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 25, 2012

Robin Lopez is the less talented of the Lopez twins, but he is still an athletic defender and rebounder. (He averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in just 14.0 minutes per game last season.) His presence would allow the Hornets to have a big body to pair with No. 1 pick Anthony Davis and give the team a stout back line of defense.

Hakim Warrick and Wesley Johnson — two former Syracuse Orangemen — have not met with much success in the NBA, hence the first-round pick obtained by the Suns could turn out to be the most valuable piece of this trade.

Wojnarowski first reported early Tuesday morning that the Hornets and Suns were trying to hash out a deal.

The Phoenix Suns re-signed guard Shannon Brown to a two-year, $7 million deal. (Barry Gossage/NBA/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns re-signed reserve guard Shannon Brown to a two-year deal worth $7 million, his agent confirmed Friday.

Brown, 26, has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Bobcats and the Los Angeles Lakers. He won two championship rings with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.

Brown started 19 games and played in 59 for the Suns in 2011-12, scoring a career high 11.0 points while playing 23 minutes per game.  He shot 36.2 percent from three-point range and 42 percent overall.

Agent Mark Bartlestein says Suns have re-signed G Shannon Brown for two years, $7 million.—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 20, 2012

O.J. Mayo reportedly has interest from the Bulls, Lakers, Mavs and Suns. (Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies unrestricted free agent O.J. Mayo has the interest of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns and will make a decision by July 24, according to a tweet from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweeted on July 11 that if the New Orleans Hornets match the offer sheet for guard Eric Gordon, Mayo would be “courted hard” by the Suns. The Hornets did, in fact, match the Suns’ offer sheet for Gordon, offering him $58 million over four-years.

The Suns now hope to pair either Mayo or Rockets unrestricted free agent Courtney Lee with newly acquired Goran Dragic, who played with Lee in Houston last season.

Mayo, who made $5.6 million last season with the Grizzlies, is one of the more talented scoring guards to enter this summers free agent class. He averaged 18.5 points in the 2008-09 season as a rookie, but scored only 12.6 points in 26 minutes per game last season.

Free agent G OJ Mayo getting interest from Lakers, Chicago, Phoenix and Dallas and hopes to make decision in next 10 days, source tells Y!—
Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 14, 2012

O.J Mayo and Courtney Lee are two names at the top of Suns' list of guards to pair with Goran Dragic now that they've lost out on Gordon—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 14, 2012

If Hornets match PHX offer sheet to Eric Gordon, as they've vowed, desert sources say this is definite: OJ Mayo will be courted hard by Suns—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 11, 2012

Luis Scola will sign with the Phoenix Suns after the team won an amnesty auction on Sunday. (Rocky Widner/Getty Images)

Luis Scola will sign with the Phoenix Suns after the team won an amnesty auction on Sunday evening for the former Houston Rockets forward, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com:

The NBA’s 30 teams were notified shortly after 5 p.m. ET on Sunday that the Suns won the blind bidding for Scola, which requires interested teams under the salary cap to bid no less than $3 million for this season and $10-plus million for the next three seasons.

Stein said it’s not immedately known how many teams bid for Scola, beyond the Suns and Dallas Mavericks.

Scola will join a revamped Suns team that saw the departure of two-time MVP Steve Nash this offseason but also the acquisition of Scola’s former teammate in Houston, Goran Dragic, and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley.

The Rockets used the team amnesty clause on Scola during the off-season to free up $21 million off their cap that’s owed to him over the next three years. He averaged 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 31 minutes last season for the Rockets.

The Hornets are expected to match the Suns’ contract offer to Eric Gordon on Saturday. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Despite protests from Eric Gordon, the Hornets are expected to match the Phoenix Suns’ four-year, $58 million offer sheet on Saturday to keep him in New Orleans, The Times-Picayune’s John Reid reported.

Gordon signed the maximum contract offer sheet with the Suns on Wednesday, the first day free agents could sign with teams. The Hornets have 72 hours to match, so they’ll have to do so on Saturday. By waiting for most of the 72 hours, the Hornets effectively blocked the Suns from chasing any other free agents.

Gordon has come out with strong opposition to the Hornets matching the offer, saying that his “heart” was in Phoenix and that he didn’t feel respected by the Hornets during the process. He said he’d be “disappointed” if the Hornets matched the offer, and that there was nothing the organization could do to change his mind.

The Hornets traded point guard Jarrett Jack this week, which should alleviate some of Gordon’s concerns about sharing time at shooting guard with draftee Austin Rivers.

Last Sunday, Hornets coach Monty Williams said that he was not upset at Gordon, saying he expected the controversy to “blow over” with time.

“I don’t take it seriously. What Eric said is not who he is. It’s unfortunate because people at home are pretty upset about it,” Williams told The Times Picayune on Sunday.

“Everywhere I go, somebody’s got something to say. What I would say is ‘Let’s understand how we were when we were 23.’ Give the kid some mercy. We still love him. We’re not upset with him. We understand the process. It’s unfortunate that it happened this way, but that’s just a part of it.”

Grant Hill is considering the Heat, Thunder and Lakers if he doesn’t retire. (Barry Gossage/Getty Images)

Grant Hill reportedly has interest from the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com:

Each team has indicated an interest in the veteran, whose defensive skills and leadership are still strong. It is not known if Miami’s interest in Hill was at all affected by its agreement last week to sign guard Ray Allen from the Celtics.

Once Steve Nash indicated he would sign with the Lakers, Hill, 39, had reportedly said he would either follow Nash to Los Angeles or retire, but Alridge said in the report that he is now adding the Heat and Thunder to that short list.

In 49 games for the Suns last season, Hill averaged 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 28 minutes.

Regardless of where he goes, Hill will likely have to take a paycut from the $6.5 million he earned last season in Phoenix.

Eric Gordon ripped the Hornets for the way they have handled his free agency, but Hornets coach Monty Williams said the organization “still loves him.” (Harry How/Getty Images)

New Orleans Hornets coach Monty Williams said Sunday that he was not upset at Eric Gordon for some recent comments expressing his displeasure with the way the Hornets are handling his free agency.

“I don’t take it seriously. What Eric said is not who he is. It’s unfortunate because people at home are pretty upset about it,” Williams told The Times Picayune on Sunday.

“Everywhere I go, somebody’s got something to say. What I would say is ‘Let’s understand how we were when we were 23.’ Give the kid some mercy. We still love him. We’re not upset with him. We understand the process. It’s unfortunate that it happened this way, but that’s just a part of it.”

Gordon signed a maximum contract with the Phoenix Suns late Tuesday night. But the Hornets have the right to match the deal because Gordon is a restricted free agent. However, Gordon has said his “heart” was in Phoenix, and he told reporters in Las Vegas on Friday that he would be disappointed if the Hornets matched the offer.

“If (the Hornets) were interested, there wouldn’t have been no tour, there wouldn’t have been nothing,” Gordon said, according to The Times Picayune. “There’s been no negotiations. I was right there in Indiana. I haven’t received no calls, to me personally.”

But despite Gordon’s displeasure, the Hornets have repeatedly insisted they plan to match the Suns’ offer. They have three days to match starting July 11, when free agents can officially sign with teams. Williams, though, thinks Gordon’s sentiment will “blow over” with time.

“I did the same thing when I was that age,” said Williams, who played nine years in the NBA. “You want what your peers get. You want more and none of us are worth this kind of money. I try not to get much further than that. I think it’s unfortunate that it was played out this way. But I think it will blow over soon.”

Kobe Bryant said the addition of Steve Nash gives the Lakers a “much, much better chance” at winning a championship. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Kobe Bryant welcomed the addition of Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Bryant told reporters at the Team USA basketball camp in Las Vegas that he was excited at the improved chances Nash gives the Lakers at winning an NBA championship, according to ESPN.

“He gives us a much, much better chance,” Bryant said. “He’s a terrific shooter. And shooting is something that was lacking for us. His ability to playmaker for others out of the pick and roll is one of the best we’ve ever seen. He has a high basketball IQ, in terms of being a coach out on the floor.

Bryant and Nash forged a rivalry through three notable meetings in the NBA Playoffs in 2006, 2007 and 2010, when Bryant’s Lakers met Nash’s Phoenix Suns. Nash even said during the free-agency process that because of his history playing against the Lakers, it would be “hard to put on a Lakers jersey.”

When the Lakers’ sign-and-trade for Nash looked close to being completed this week, Nash even asked Bryant if he had any qualms about teaming up.

“It was more like he wanted to know if I’d be OK with it because he knows how competitive I am and obviously the history we’ve had,” Bryant said. “But I said, ‘Our bond coming in the league together in ’96, especially he and I, because we weren’t necessarily highly regarded coming into that draft. That bond is much bigger than the rivalry we had with Phoenix.’ “

Bryant didn’t offer a comment on whether he hoped the Lakers would continue dealing, specifically with regard to a possible trade for Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard.

“I just wish the best for him and hope he ends up where he’s happy,” Bryant said.

Point guard Steve Nash said he is still adjusting to the idea he is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Veteran point guard Steve Nash said he is still adjusting to the idea of leaving the Phoenix Suns for one of his long-time rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, reports the Arizona Republic‘s Paul Coro.

“I never saw this coming so I’m still not completely through the process of realizing this is a reality,” Nash told Coro.

Once Nash became a free agent, the Suns did not make a contact offer to him, Coro reports.

“It stung a little bit,” Nash told Coro. “At the same time, I can’t fault them. They made a strong move to cut ties and move forward and I get it. Goran (Dragic, a former Nash backup who Phoenix gave a four-year, $30 million deal) is a terrific signing. If they get (Eric) Gordon (by New Orleans not matching a four-year, $58 million offer sheet), they’d have a great backcourt for years.

“A head’s up that they were moving on would’ve meant a lot to me. I don’t have any problem with them going in a new direction. It takes guts to do it. They got younger and more talented. I’m excited for them and Suns fans that they’ll be back in there.”

Nash said he was considering the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks until the Lakers contacted him on Sunday. The team gave him a three-year contract and the chance to contend for a title, but the key factor may have been that moving to Los Angeles will allow Nash to be close to his children. His 7-year-old daughters and 20-month-old son live in the area with his ex-wife, Coro reports.

“I definitely upset some Suns fans and turned down some money but the opportunity with the kids was too good to pass up,” Nash told Coro. “I was more lucky than anything that (the Lakers) are a contender.

“I got everything I wanted if you look at the black and white. But if it wasn’t for the kids and if the Suns weren’t going in a new direction, I don’t think the deal happens. Once the Suns went in a new direction, my next priority was to exhaust the opportunity to be closer to the kids.”

Steve Nash asked the Suns to be traded specifically to Los Angeles to be closer with his family. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Steve Nash issued a statement to the press on Wednesday evening following the news that the Phoenix Suns had traded the two-time MVP to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for multiple first and second round draft picks.

In the statement, obtained by Marc Stein of ESPN.com, Nash, 38, said that he asked Suns owner Robert Sarver and president of basketball operations Lon Babby to be traded specifically to Los Angeles because he wanted to be closer with his family:

“I approached them and asked if they would be willing to do a sign and trade deal with L.A. because it is very important to me to stay near my children and family. They were very apprehensive and didn’t want to do it. Fortunately for me, they reconsidered.”

In an interview at the end of June with ESPN Radio New York’s Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco, Nash said he’s not keen on the idea of playing for the Lakers:

“I think for me it would be hard to put on a Lakers jersey. That’s just what it is. You play against them so many times in the playoffs, and I just use them as an example with the utmost respect for them and their organization.”

It’s been a busy holiday for both the Phoenix Suns and Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

On the heels of the Steve Nash sign-and-trade, Stein is reporting that the Suns have agreed to a three-year, $18 million contract with free-agent forward Michael Beasley, late of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Just going up online: Michael Beasley has committed to sign with Phoenix Suns on a three-year, $18 mil, sources close to situation tell ESPN—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 05, 2012

Here’s the full story.

Beasley scored a career-best 19.2 points per game in the 2010-11 season but dropped to 11.5 ppg last year, when he started just seven of 47 games. The second overall pick in the 2007 draft, Beasley’s talent has never been questioned, but maturity issues have kept him from reaching his potential.

With Deron Williams re-upping with the Nets, Steve Nash off to the Lakers, Jeremy Lin apparently either a Rocket or a Knick, and Jason Kidd either a Knick or a Maverick … the top remaining free-agent point guard might very well be Goran Dragic, late of the Houston Rockets.

That means interest in Dragic is starting to pick up. After he passed on Houston’s reported offer of $8 million per year, Dragic could very well have his pick of the remaining teams in need of help at the point.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com cites sources who say that the Suns will now make a hard push to sign Dragic, who began his NBA career in the Valley of the Sun. Stein also says that one of Nash’s spurned suitors is a possibility.

Sources w/knowledge of Suns' plans say PHX now making hard push to sign free agent Goran Dragic. Raps also trying to sign PG away from HOU—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 05, 2012

Sources tell Ken Berger of CBSSports.com that the Charlotte Bobcats, of all teams, also are interested in Dragic, who averaged 11.7 points and 5.3 assists in just 26.5 minutes last season.

The Charlotte Bobcats are preparing an offer sheet for restricted free agent Goran Dragic, league source tells @CBSSports.—
Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 05, 2012

David Aldridge of NBA.com first reported the possibility on Tuesday night, and now John Gambadoro of Sports 620 KTAR in Phoenix is the first to report that the Suns have indeed agreed to send free-agent point guard Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade.

Nash to LA for multiple picks all but done!!!—
John Gambadoro (@Gambo620) July 04, 2012

Suns will get multiple picks from the Lakers, had been talk earlier of two first rounders so my belief is that it is at least the two 1sts—
John Gambadoro (@Gambo620) July 05, 2012

The deal has been confirmed by multiple national writers, including Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com and Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

Nash apparently will be slotted into the $8.9 million trade exception the Lakers received when they sent Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks before last season. Nash’s agent, Bill Duffy, told Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports that Nash will get a guaranteed three-year, $27 million deal.

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic has details on the draft picks headed back to Phoenix:

In the Nash sign-and-trade, the #Suns will get 2013 & 2015 first-round picks and 2013 & 2014 second-round picks.—
Paul Coro (@paulcoro) July 05, 2012

Spears adds that the Suns will also get $3 million from L.A.

Despite a report earlier in the day that Nash favored the New York Knicks, Gambadoro says that is not true.

New York was never really a serious option for Nash, he preferred the Lakers—
John Gambadoro (@Gambo620) July 05, 2012

So now the Lakers get to put Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant out on the floor together, with Andrew Bynum and Pao Gasol potentially still bait for even bigger fish.

Is Steve Nash on his way to New York to reunite with Amare Stoudemire? (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Team officials from the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns are spending Independence Day working on a trade that Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports said is in its “critical stages.”

Citing league sources who are now calling the Knicks “frontrunners” to land Steve Nash, Wojnarowski said the deal would involve multiple players being sent from New York to Phoenix in exchange for the two-time MVP:

Nash and the Knicks are in the critical stages of discussions on a three-year deal worth between $27 million-$30 million to be executed through a sign-and-trade deal with the Suns. The Knicks would send rookie guard Iman Shumpert and two players – including Toney Douglas and Dan Gadzuric – to Phoenix for Nash, sources said.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, Shumpert may be the snag in the sign-and-trade:

One source close to the talks told ESPN.com: “The Knicks don’t want to trade (Shumpert), but they will if they have to. They want Nash.”

The Toronto Raptors, who reached a verbal agreement with Knicks guard Landry Fields for three years and $20 million, offered Nash $36 million over three years. According to Wojnarowski, Nash told New York he’d prefer to play for the Knicks instead of Toronto but they’d have to come closer to what the Raptors offered.

Nash is reportedly interested in a reunion with Amare Stoudemire though it’s not clear how he’d fit with coach Mike Woodson’s offense, which is much different than the style of play employed by former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, who coached Nash in Phoenix.

Wojnarowski also reported that the Knicks intend to match any offer made to Jeremy Lin, who spent Wednesday in Houston meeting with Rockets team officials.

Players cannot officially sign with a team until July 11.

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports that the Phoenix Suns and restricted free agent guard Eric Gordon have agreed to an offer sheet worth four years and $58 million.

In a prepared statement, Gordon said: “After visiting the Suns, the impression the organization made on me was incredible. Mr. [Robert] Sarver, Lon Babby, Lance Blanks, the front office staff and Coach [Alvin] Gentry run a first-class organization, and I strongly feel they are the right franchise for me. Phoenix is just where my heart is now.”

Gordon cannot sign the deal until July 11, and Coro writes that the New Orleans Hornets are expected to match it. A source told SI.com’s Sam Amick the same thing:

Source with knowledge of New Orleans' strategy says the team still plans to match despite his comments about wanting to be in Phoenix.—
Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 04, 2012

Gordon was the key piece acquired by the Hornets when they traded Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, and they have repeatedly expressed a desire to keep Gordon in the fold. The Hornets believe that Gordon and 10th overall pick Austin Rivers can play in the same backcourt.