Suns' forward Amar? Stoudemire could miss some time with a left-ankle sprain when the team begins 5-on-5 play next week, according to Arizona Republic.

"It gave him enough discomfort to want to check it out," Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said.

Stoudemire suffered the ankle sprain while scrimmaging in late July and recovered after rehabilitation, but he aggravated the injury in a pickup game with Suns players two weeks ago.

"We just want him to take it easy so it doesn't linger throughout the season," Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson said.

In an effort to keep Grant Hill fresh, the Phoenix Suns are planning on lowering Grant Hill's minutes and perhaps bring the former All-Star off the bench, the Arizona Republic is reporting.

If Hill is being used as a sixth man, free agent acquisition Matt Barnes is believed to be the favorite to start at small forward.

The Suns plan on doing the same thing with two-time league MVP Steve Nash, with the focus being on the playoffs.

The Suns have signed Slovenian guard Goran Dragic to a multi-year deal, according to an Associated Press report on Monday.

The Suns acquired rights to the 22-year-old in a draft-day trade with the Spurs. The contract is for three years, with a team option for a fourth.

The Suns see the 6-foot-3, 190-pound European as a backup and eventual replacement for veteran point guard Steve Nash.

Reviews out of voluntary workouts in Phoenix lately say that rookie big man Robin Lopez has been tremendous, according to Arizona Republic.

Some within the organization are now wondering just how good of a player he can be in the NBA.

Goran Dragic is still in the process of officially becoming a member of the Suns as he is waiting on small details of his buyout with Tau Ceramica to be finalized, according to Arizona Republic.

The Suns are still confident the buyout, travel and visa needed for Dragic to play will be completed before camp starts.

Goran Dragic still hasn't signed a contract with the Suns after negotiating a buyout that would allow him to leave Tau Ceramica, according to Arizona Republic.

The negotiated buyout reportedly took place last month.

Dragic was granted an exemption to participate this month in the NBA's Rookie Transition Program despite being unsigned.

The Suns have invited former Heat guard Robert Hite, former Jackson State star Trey Johnson, and summer-league participant Jiri Hubalek to training camp, according to Arizona Republic.

With thirteen players under contract, the three camp invitees will have a tough time making the team.

Rookie Sean Singletary is the only roster member with a partially guaranteed deal, which becomes a full guarantee if he makes the opening-night roster.

Shaquille O'Neal has stated that he intends to play out the remainder of his contract and then call it quits.

"My basketball career will be over in 735 days, and being an educated man, I've always had things to fall back on. So one of my options is law enforcement.  But if Jerry Demings is going to be the sheriff I would love to work for him," O'Neal said.

The Suns have five new players among the thirteen on their roster, and they hope to bolster their defense this season, according to Arizona Republic.

"Our defense will be better just because we're going to have different schemes," said new Coach Terry Porter. "It's always a challenge when you get a new group together. You have to see how everyone responds and plays off each other. From an energy standpoint, we're going to be solid. Effort is going to be consistent. It really comes down to having more of a presence at the defensive end."

Lopez will bring a hard-working attitude off the bench, as will defensively-oriented guard Sean Singletary.

"I don't foresee scoring to be a problem going forward," Porter said. "Are we going to be scoring 115 a night? Probably not. I'd like to be a team that defends a lot better. That's going to be a focus of ours. And a team that scores in the 100s.

"I'm more of a traditional type of guy about guys playing the same positions and traditional sets. I'll be running pretty basic NBA sets but just have different wrinkles than they've had in years past."

Suns' point guard Steve Nash received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in downtown Toronto on Saturday, according to C-FAX 1070.

Nash was one of eight celebrities who had stars unveiled on Saturday, bringing the total number of honorees up to 115.

The two-time NBA MVP was born in South Africa but grew up in Victoria.