New Orleans Hornets lead assistant coach Alvin Gentry resigned to become an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. An official announcement will be made by the Phoenix organization Tuesday, after the holiday weekend.

Gentry sought permission from the New Orleans front office to seek other job opportunities May 7, when former head coach Tim Floyd was fired.

New Orleans named Byron Scott, a former New Jersey Nets head coach and Sacramento Kings assistant coach, its coach earlier in the week.

The rest of Floyd's assistant coaches -- Kenny Gattison, Jan Van Breda Kolff, and Jeff Bower -- remain on the team's payroll and will be given an opportunity to be retained by Scott.  In the meantime, they have been assisting in pre-draft workouts for the Hornets.

Gentry is a former head coach with the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat, and has extensive assistant coaching experience with San Antonio, the Clippers, Detroit, Miami, and New Orleans.

According to Kori Ellis from SpursZone it appears the San Antonio Spurs are on the radars of both Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant.  Bryant, one of the league's best players, could end up in either Phoenix or San Antonio if he leaves the Lakers, with the Clippers a longshot according to a source of Peter Vescey of the New York Post.

Vescey's source was also cited as saying "I know he wants out of L.A. in the worst way.

"If he goes, it wouldn't surprise me if Kobe chooses between the Suns and the Spurs."

It was also said that the Jazz and the Nuggets, two other teams with cap room, have no shot at the All-NBA guard.

The Suns held pre-Draft workouts at America West Arena yesterday.

St. Joseph?s pointguard Jameer Nelson, Xavier guard Romain Sato and Seton Hall center Ales Chan showcased their skills for Suns? staff prior to the June 26 NBA Draft.

?They want to see you shoot,? Nelson said about the workout. ?They want to see you match up against certain guys. You just have to go out there and play your game. You do everything they ask you to do, to the best of your ability. Just go have fun and that?s what I love to do.?

Sato said, ?I feel I have a lot of things to prove. I?m just going to work hard and see what I can do. Xavier?s had a lot of guys who?ve gone pro and are now playing in the NBA. The NBA is the best place to be.?

The Suns have another workout scheduled for early June.

Bill 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.

Suns forward Amare Stoudemire was officially added to USA Basketball's Olympic team on friday.

This gives the Suns to players on the team with forward Shawn Marion being the second.

Unlike the players who keep pulling out, Stoudemire is thrilled to be going to Athens, greece.

"This means so much to me," Stoudemire said in a statement. "I said earlier that I would absolutely love to play for my country and I meant it. This will be my first time playing for USA Basketball but I'm ready for it. I'm looking forward to being part of the U.S. Olympic team and playing some of the best players in the world."

The Phoenix Suns signed Mike D'Antoni to a two-year contract extension.
 
D?Antoni is a 31-year veteran of professional basketball in playing, coaching, scouting and front office capacities.

He is a native of West Virginia and a dual citizen of the United States and Italy.

"Mike did an outstanding job teaching, developing and motivating our young core this last season," said Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo.

Star forward Amare Stoudemire told ESPN.com that he is eager for a spot on the USA Basketball squad.

"I would absolutely love it." Stoudemire said.  "It would mean so much to me."

Stoudemire is hoping to get late consideration from a selection committee trying to plug holes in the team's roster.  USAB officials have been assuming that neither Kevin Garnett nor Shaquille O'Neal will accept their invitation, and Karl Malone is expected to pull out.  

Stoudemire believes his size and skills make up for his lack of national-team experience.  "I wouldn't be nervous," Stoudemire said.  "Regardless of how young you are, if you're playing up to an Olympic level, you should be able to showcase your talents."

It looks like Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni will be getting an extended stay in Phoenix as the two sides are working on a contract extension.

"It isn't complete, but we're working on it now," said Warren Legarie, D'Antoni's agent.

Said D'Antoni, "I don't think anything is definite. But we're definitely talking." D'Antoni has only the upcoming season left on his contract. He originally signed the deal to be an assistant coach; his salary was bumped up when he replaced Frank Johnson as head coach in December.

Legarie is hoping he can get D'Antoni a two-year extension to the one year he already has.

Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire has joined BDA Sports Management, an agency headed by well known agent Bill Duffy, it was announced Friday.

Stoudemire parted ways with agent John Wolfe in Stoudemire's rookie season amid reports of friction between the agent and Stoudemire's mother, Carrie according to a report by Mike Tulumello in the East Valley Tribune.

In a statement released by BDA, Stoudemire said, "I'm looking for representation who is interested in helping me on and off the court. After meeting with Bill Duffy and spending considerable time with him and his staff, I had a chance to learn their short and long term basketball and marketing plans for me, and I know that BDA is the perfect fit."

Said Duffy, " ?We are ecstatic to represent a player of Amare?s stature. In my opinion, as Amare learns and develops he will be in the company of Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. His prowess on the court speaks for itself."