Steve Kerr informed Jared Dudley and Robin Lopez on Wednesday that the Suns were picking up their 2009-10 contract options. He also told guard Alando Tucker that they were not exercising his 2009-10 option.

"Because of our current roster and the future implications for the salary cap, it makes the most sense for us not to pick up the option," Kerr said.

The Suns claimed Jarron Collins off waivers on Monday and he may take the court against the Clippers on Wednesday night.

He practiced with his new teammates on Tuesday.

"A lot of cramming," Collins told the Arizona Republic. "It's like studying for a midterm. I've run the sets before. I just have to pick up the language. I really don't think it'll take that long for me to pick it up."

Collins will help give Phoenix a defensive presence with center Robin Lopez out with a foot injury.

"I wouldn't write it off," coach Alvin Gentry said of Collins playing in the season opener. "If we can stay out of foul trouble, maybe not. We still might put him in there a few minutes and let him bang around. He's a real smart player. He picked up what we're trying to do quickly.

"He has a toughness and smartness about him that could help our team."

The Phoenix Suns today announced that the club has been awarded the rights to center Jarron Collins.  Collins, who spent the preseason with the Portland Trail Blazers, became available after being waived October 22, 2009.

The 6-11, 249-pound Collins is an eight-year NBA veteran who has spent every career regular season with the Utah Jazz.  The 30-year-old owns career averages of 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 16.9 minutes in 480 games (206 starts).  Collins, who has averaged 8.8 rebounds per 48 minutes over the course of his NBA career, is a durable post player who has appeared in 70 or more games in five of his eight NBA seasons.

Suns center Amare Stoudemire is getting closer to 100 percent and he's excited about the team's chances this season.

Phoenix has reinstalled their run-and-gun system under head coach Alvin Gentry.

"The Nash-and-Stoudemire era is not over yet," Stoudemire told the Arizona Republic. "We're still here. We're still improving. We're still getting better as a unit. We're bringing the Phoenix Suns team with us. I'll tell you what: We're definitely focusing in on the defensive end and it's going to show this season."

The Suns are believed to be interested in center Jarron Collins, who was released by the Blazers on Thursday.

Phoenix could sign him to a non-guaranteed deal if one of the many teams ahead of him in the waiver order doesn't claim him.

Suns center Amare Stoudemire has made "unbelievable strides" in his recovery from eye surgery earlier this year.

Stoudemire, who had both eyes operated on, was forced to lay down for a majority of the day immediately following the procedures.

"You can see he's making unbelievable strides," coach Alvin Gentry told the Arizona Republic. "He had some pop back.

"He's still got a way to go but he's getting there. As long as he's working as hard as he is right now, I don't have any doubt that he'll return back to his true form."

Stoudemire claims that his conditioning has fully returned.

The Phoenix Suns today announced that the club has waived guard Dan Dickau and forward Carlos Powell.  

Dickau and Powell each appeared in five preseason games for the Suns.  Dickau averaged 2.8 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 7.8 minutes.  Powell tallied averages of 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.6 minutes.

The Suns lost Steve Nash to an injured right ankle, but were still able to hang 143 points on the Kings on Tuesday night.

Nash left in the second half with the injury and was replaced by Goran Dragic.

Phoenix scored 42 points in the third quarter en route to defeating Sacramento 143-127 at US Airways Center.

Suns forward Jared Dudley is trying to extend his career by improving both his defense and shot.

"For me to play a long career, I have to defend like that and shoot the ball," Dudley told the Arizona Republic. "I'm not someone who will take you off the dribble. For me to play 10-12 years, I have to do that and knock down 3s."

Paul Coro of the Republic points out that Dudley is basically trying to follow a similar path to former Spurs forward Bruce Bowen.

Suns center Amare Stoudemire can opt out of his contract and become a free agent after the season.

However, Stoudemire told NBA.com that he no longer worries too much about his future.

"Honestly, I don't think about it as much as I used to this past offseason," he admitted. "I'm more focused, really, on just trying to get back into shape and trying to enjoy my teammates. I've been gone from these guys for so long. But I really think I'll be back here all season. The organization has been very supportive, my teammates and coaching staff are very supportive. It's just a matter of winning now."

Stoudemire is still not back to 100% after having surgery to repair a detached retina earlier this year.