Jermaine O'Neal openly talked about returning to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason as a free agent.

O'Neal was a first round pick by the Blazers in the 1996 NBA Draft straight out of high school.

“I'm very open to Portland. They're definitely a team I'm looking forward to having talks with this summer,” O'Neal said. “LaMarcus [Aldridge] and Damian [Lillard] along with [Nicolas] Batum are some great pieces to build around. All they need to do is shore up the bench and add a paint presence on defense and they'll be right there. It's hard to put that type of stress on your starting five and I know I can help ease some of that stress.”

O'Neal played for the Phoenix Suns this past season.

“Portland is a team I have to look at this summer. That city has always been in my heart because one: Mr. [Paul] Allen gave me my opportunity, and two: that city took me in as their second child,” he explained. “I didn't play for two or three years but you couldn't tell. The organization and the fans really allowed me to grow at my own pace. It's a special place to me. I met my wife in Portland. At this point for me, it's all about competing and winning and the Blazers are doing those things.”

Lindsey Hunter will interview for the Detroit Pistons’ vacant head coaching job.

“It’s just an interview, like any other,” said Hunter, who interviewed for the Orlando Magic’s head coaching job last summer. “They (the Pistons) have a coaching opening and I was fortunate that they’d consider me. Hopefully, I’ll continue to gain interest from other people.”

Hunter, 42, served as the Suns’ interim coach this season.

Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby said Hunter remains a strong candidate for the full-time job.

“From talking to him, I do feel that way,” Hunter said of Babby’s statement. “I think he still feels I’m a strong candidate. Although Lance and I were really close, I felt like I was equally respected in the organization by all parts. I was hurt for my friend  but I wasn’t concerned about anything.”

Jeff Weltman is considered by many around the NBA to be the frontrunner to replace Lance Blanks as general manager of the Phoenix Suns.

Weltman is currently assistant general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Lon Babby remains president of the Suns.

Lindsey Hunter has asked the Phoenix Suns to allow him to interview for the Detroit Pistons' head coaching vacancy and will likely be granted permission soon, according to a source.

Hunter was named interim coach of the Suns in January, replacing Alvin Gentry.

As an NBA player, Hunter spent 12 of his 17 seasons with the Pistons.

The Pistons fired Lawrence Frank last week.

Lance Blanks will no longer serve as general manager of the Phoenix Suns.

“Lance has been a trusted friend and colleague,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “I thank him personally and professionally for his hard work on behalf of the Suns. We will continue to prepare for the offseason even as we look for his replacement.”

Blanks was originally named to the post on Aug. 5, 2010, after serving in the front offices of the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs.

Phoenix Suns center Jermaine O'Neal is leaning strongly towards playing next season.

The 2013-14 campaign would be his 19th NBA season.

The 34-year-old has played in 55 games for the Suns this season, a three-year high.

Phoenix Suns forward Michael Beasley scored 25 points against the Golden State Warriors on Friday and said afterward that he was more productive because he decided to tune people out.

Beasley's teammate, Jared Dudley, told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf that he doesn't understand why he would stop listening to the coaching staff.

"I don't know why he would be tuning out the coaches because sometimes when he may be tired of people getting on him all the time, they're trying to stay on him to become a better basketball player," Dudley said. "He shouldn't take it as a negative, it should be a positive.

"I would say there's got to be a better balance. Don't tune them out, listen to them but play your game in a concept of what the team wants you to do."

The Phoenix Suns have assigned guard Diante Garrett to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.

Garrett will spend his second stint in Bakersfield after he was originally assigned to the Jam on Jan. 10, where he averaged 15.1 points, 7.4 assists and 1.7 steals while appearing in seven games for the Jam (five starts). During his seven-game assignment, the Jam compiled a 6-1 (.857) record, including a season-best six-game win streak.

The Phoenix Suns Suns announced on Tuesday that president of basketball operations Lon Babby and the team have agreed upon a two-year contract extension. The new contract guarantees that Babby will remain with the team through the 2013-14 season.

“Lon has led our front office during this important transition period for the organization and he has my full support as we continue to rebuild,” said Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver.

“I greatly appreciate the faith that Robert Sarver and the entire Suns organization have demonstrated with this new contract,” Babby said. “We have begun the heavy lifting needed to rebuild our team. While the transition is often painful, I am entirely confident that we are taking the necessary steps to regain elite NBA status. I fully embrace the opportunity to continue on that path.”

Babby's long-term status had been put into question this season, prior to he and the team signing a new deal.