The Suns were expected to remove the interim tag from coach Alvin Gentry's title shortly after the season, but two weeks have passed without any change.

Phoenix owner Robert Sarver told the East Valley Tribune that he is still reviewing the team's effort this past season.

"It's always good to step back for a couple of weeks and approach things with a fresh view," Sarver said.

Sarver then made it clear that Gentry isn't a lock to return to the bench for the Suns next season.

"I'm hopeful he will be," Sarver responded. "But there are no guarantees."

Robin Lopez of the Phoenix Suns received one second-place vote for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, leading Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic to deduce that a voter mistakenly picked him instead of his brother.

Brook Lopez of the New Jersey Nets, Robin's brother, finished third in voting.

Suns general manager Steve Kerr doesn't believe that he needs to blow up the team and start from scratch in order to contend again.

"I don't think you blow up a team that's pretty good, that has a chance to be very good," Kerr said. "You try to improve that team. We have to make every effort to do so under some difficult circumstances."

Last offseason Kerr brought in coach Terry Porter for more of a defensive philosophy, but he didn't pan out and they regress further defensively.

"There was kind of hangover effect this year," Kerr said. "We've been a championship contender the last three or four years. We never got to the Finals but always felt like we had a chance. This year, we were hanging on to that hope. The reality was we were a good team but we weren't a title contender. I think that was hard for all us to accept - our players, coaches, those of us in management, our fans especially."

According to a report from the New York Daily News, Shaquille O'Neal believes he's going to New Orleans in a deal for Tyson Chandler.

The Hornets traded Chandler to the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of the deadline, only to later have it be rescinded.  New Orleans still appears motivated to deal Chandler and would like Shaq's expiring contract.

Amare Stoudemire ripped former coach Terry Porter recently, saying that he wasn't allowed to apply some things he worked on last offseason.

"Stay tuned," Stoudemire said. "I've worked on so many aspects this last summer until, when I came back this year, Terry Porter wouldn't allow me to do it. Hopefully I can work on some more things this summer, and then wherever I am and whoever the coach may be - I hope it's (interim coach) Alvin (Gentry) - then I'll be able to implement that for next season. I was working on everything. Offensive stuff. Defensively. It wasn't quite what I envisioned, but I made do."

Stoudemire, who maintains that he wants to remain in Phoenix, has been out for roughly two months after having eye surgery in February.

It has been a season of disappointment for the Suns, but two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash still wants remain in Phoenix.

"I still want to make it work in Phoenix," Nash told the Arizona Republic.

He is entering the final year of his contract, a team option worth $13.125 million, and could discuss an extension with general manager Steve Kerr.

"My first priority is to sit down and listen to Steve and (Suns Managing Partner) Robert (Sarver) and hear what their wish is and what their plan is for the team," Nash said. "I can be a part of us revamping here.

"I'm under the impression they want to talk an extension, and I do, too. Hopefully we can find ourselves in a position where we can revamp and be back in the playoffs and hopefully be a contender. Hopefully I'll be a part of the plan."

Phoenix are one of the 12 to 15 teams who are taking advantage of a $200 million NBA line of credit, the Arizona Republic is reporting.

According to the report, the offer by the league was not a bailout, as many may believe with the economic crisis.

The Suns did not add debt. They replaced debt at a cheaper rate that the NBA had the borrowing power to negotiate when credit was hard to acquire.

"It's like refinancing your house," Suns President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts said. "It was really good news.

"It was the worst reported story of the year. What was really, in our view, a sign of strength and a vote of confidence in the business of the NBA by the financial community in the worst possible economic times somehow got characterized as a bailout."

As the trade deadline approached one of the scenarios involving Suns' star forward Amare Stoudemire was the All-Star to Memphis for a first-round draft pick, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley.

According to the Arizona Republic, one person who is glad the trade did not go through is Memphis coach Lionel Hollins.

"You can make a trade like that and it looks good on the surface but we're not a winning team," said Hollins.

"You're trading your nucleus for one player who's probably not going to take you over the hump. I love Amare Stoudemire as a player but he's not Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) when Shaq was in his prime. He's not LeBron James. He's not Kobe Bryant. Even those guys need players around them.

"If we trade a huge core of our nucleus and a first-round pick, Amar? is sitting here by himself unhappy, and we're still a losing team. So what benefit did a trade make? It would have helped Phoenix."

Even though Mark Cuban wouldn't completely rule out a deal for Shaquille O'Neal this summer, the likelihood is very small.

Dallas intends to be active in trade talks, but sources indicate that O'Neal would be a second-tier choice for the Mavs.

Assuming at least some of the current pieces are still in Phoenix, Grant Hill wants to play for the Suns again next season.

"It depends on what the goals and objectives are," said Hill, still looking to advance in the playoffs for the first time in his career. "I think we can still be competitive in the West. My gut tells me they want to continue to compete in the West. I get the feeling they want me back and I want to be back."