It has been a while since we have gathered enough Orange Slices to get some juice out of them. There was a lockout suggestion to rename the blog "Orange Rinds" and we could not argue with it. Pickings were slim.
Today, beyond the article on Sebastian Telfair’s imminent signing, we offer up some slices of the orange:
* Telfair won’t automatically get the rotation job to back up Steve Nash at the point. Zabian Dowdell might not have a guaranteed contract like Telfair will but he has earned respect and will get the chance to compete for the job. Dowdell was one of the first three (along with Steve Nash and Robin Lopez) to arrive when voluntary workouts began last week. Dowdell never gave up on his dream to get to the league and you can imagine he won’t let this opportunity go easily. His defense will always give him a chance.
* Grant Hill has been working out at US Airways Center daily for the past week and those close to him believe he will return. but there is also a New York Post report saying he is leaning toward the Knicks. It is hard to assume anything, given the tenuous nature of negotiations and how this was the dance in 2009, when he initially was underwhelmed him with a Suns low-ball offer, was courted by other teams and then re-signed an improved offer with Phoenix. the Suns believe they are giving Hill a fair offer but they did the last two times too and they proved to be bargain contracts for his value to the team. It seems hard to imagine that the Hills would return to the Valley in August, put their daughters in school and then leave but the semester would be a clean break if the family was to move. It seems hard to imagine that Hill would leave the athletic trainers who helped restore his health to remarkable levels the past four years but he knows his routine and body well now. It is hard to imagine that Hill would leave Alvin Gentry, who he has played for since his Detroit days, but he has a great affinity for Mike D’Antoni too. It is hard to imagine that Hill would leave Steve Nash but he surely wonders how long Nash will be here too. Hill said last week that there were "good chances" he would return and the Suns have said he is their top free agency priority. There is even a belief that Hill could remain with the organization in some way beyond retirement. as for basketball reasons, a team trying to get better defensively can’t afford to lose its best defender. the Bulls and Clippers also have been mentioned as finalists. maybe he just does not want to have to guard Blake Griffin any longer.
* Friday could be a busy day for signings. Telfair should be signing with the Suns. Hill could be signing. And don’t be surprised if a shooting guard, the Suns’ next immediate position target, winds up quickly in the mix too. the Suns seem happy with their frontcourt for now. And Friday should also be the day that Vince Carter is waived, cutting him a check for his $4 million in guaranteed salary rather than the season’s $18 million salary.
* the Suns will meet as a team for dinner Friday night, do physicals and such Saturday morning and open training camp Saturday night at Grand Canyon University Arena. the Suns usually leave town for camp but the unusual lockout circumstances prompted them to stay in Phoenix, although they still will be housed at a Valley hotel during the six-day camp.
* Elston Turner, the Suns’ new defensive coordinator, will be the new lead assistant coach this season. With his addition, the assistants will have to rotate seats this season because one of them will have to sit in the back row each game. Mercury Coach Corey Gaines was a regular aide to Alvin Gentry last season but will be taking on more regular role with the staff this season, including road trips.
* Jared Dudley, who apparently has stood out in the closed voluntary pickup games, on his offseason work: "I tried to have the ball in my hand a lot more. I did a lot of one-on-ones, trying to bring the ball up and work on my ball-handling. going into my fifth year, a confidence. I know my role in the league. I know when I’m aggressive, where my shots will come from. It’s just being more assertive and being more confident with that. More of your game shows."
Dudley expects to compete for the starting off-guard spot being vacated by Vince Carter, who will be waived as soon as Friday for the Suns to save $14 million of his contract’s $18 million salary (he has $4 million guaranteed).
* A trim-looking Marcin Gortat on whether he has a Dream Shake after his week with Hakeem Olajuwon: "I know people expect a lot from me right now. they expect I’m going to start showing Dream shakes and pump fakes and anything. I think we’ve just got to slow down and take a deep breath. if there’s going to be an opportunity that I can hit someone with some Hakeem stuff, then I’m going to try to do it. but I’m just going to play a simple game — score, play defense."
* Suns single-game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. For tickets purchased in the first 48 hours, fans will get a mailed voucher for a free ticket to chose from one of a few selected home games.
* There is some remodeling going on in the floor-level halls of US Airways Center. the area that players, including opponents, is being beautified with photos of the city and the franchise’s history. some photos in the locker room have been removed because they included opposing players like Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion.
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Enough Orange Slices for juice
