Jan 31, 2002 11:44 AM EST
A 2 1/2-month mini-tournament is shaping up in the Western Conference for the final three of eight playoff spots, and the Suns and Blazers are in the thick of it with the Utah Jazz, Seattle SuperSonics and Los Angeles Clippers.
All are near the .500 mark and likely will battle it out for those final playoff spots or draft lottery balls.
The Arizona Republic reports that help could be on the way.
Talks continued Wednesday with the Warriors about a trade for Marc Jackson, a 6-foot-10, 270-pound center/forward who has been at odds with the Warriors since the off-season when he signed an offer sheet with Houston.
Sources said the Warriors and Suns still were haggling over a first-round draft pick that would have to be included in the deal. The Suns are likely to want protection if the pick they surrender should end up among the top picks in the draft this year or next.
As for players who would be involved, only a few fit the criteria reportedly sought by the Warriors - players whose contracts expire this summer.
The Suns are not likely to give up a key player in their rotation, which would rule out forward Rodney Rogers.
Forward John Wallace is likely to be included if a deal is made because Golden State wants a player whose contract ends after the season. A second player might have to be included to make the salary-cap numbers add up.
The Suns' chances may have improved when the deadline for a trade exception that Memphis hoped to use on Jackson expired Wednesday.
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Rick Bucher writes for ESPN the Magazine. He's a Peter Vescy wannabe and was the guy who floated the Karl Malone trade rumor earlier this year. Here's his latest:
"Denver, Phoenix and Golden State have discussed a three-way deal moving former Nugget Rodney Rogers back to Denver, Marc Jackson to the Suns and Raef LaFrentz to the Warriors. The decision facing Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe is to move LaFrentz to clear cap space (Rogers' deal is up at the end of the season) or acquire cornerstone talent. Don't look for a decision until after the All-Star weekend, at the earliest."
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Jan 30, 2002 11:18 AM EST
The Arizona Republic reports that Suns forward Tom Gugliotta's return to the active roster has been delayed by pain in his right foot.
According to team physicians, Gugliotta suffered a stress reaction in the foot after he practiced Monday for the first time since he was placed on the injured list three weeks ago with tendinitis in his left quadriceps muscle.
Gugliotta, who had hoped to return Thursday at Portland, has suffered repeated setbacks since he suffered a serious injury to his left knee in March 2000.
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Suns Jan 2002 Archive
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| Jan 29, 2002
Tom Gugliotta worked through about half of the scrimmage in an ongoing attempt to re- establish the consistent scoring and rebounding that have been lost since he underwent serious knee surgery in March 2000, according to the Arizona Republic.
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| Jan 26, 2002
The East Valley Tribune is reporting that Marc Jackson, the forward/center of the Golden State Warriors, has added the Suns to his list of possible trade destinations, NBA sources said Friday.
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| Jan 25, 2002
Rodney Rogers was suited up and said he could have played in Thursday's improbable 96-91 loss to the New York Knicks, but coach Scott Skiles elected to play it safe with him, according to the Arizona Republic.
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| Jan 25, 2002
Is Stephon dreaming of orange and blue?
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| Jan 20, 2002
Onetime Suns forward A.
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| Jan 20, 2002
Peter Vecsey of the New York Post has a collection of rumors for the general fan base to pick apart.
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| Jan 19, 2002
In a game aching to belong to someone, anyone, Stephon Marbury was the obvious choice to grab it.
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| Jan 17, 2002
Forward Tom Gugliotta is eligible to come off the injured list for Friday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it won't happen, according to the Arizona Republic.
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| Jan 13, 2002
Dan Majerle sat by the Heat bench 90 minutes before Saturday's game at America West Arena and laughed.
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| Jan 13, 2002
Pedro Gomez writes in the Arizona Republic: The only thing worse than watching the Suns roll over in recent weeks has been the laissez-faire attitude of coach Scott Skiles.
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| Jan 13, 2002
Here's something different: A former Heat player who does not rip coach Pat Riley.
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| Jan 13, 2002
The Phoenix Suns got the remedy they needed.
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| Jan 12, 2002
In a season of continued disappointment for the Heat, two of Pat Riley's former players, Tim Hardaway and Anthony Mason, added to the negativity by openly criticizing him.
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| Jan 12, 2002
For a change, the Heat tonight will meet up with a former player who is not going to criticize Pat Riley.
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| Jan 12, 2002
The Arizona Republic reports that the Suns of late have become a comedy of errors, a gang that can't shoot straight.
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| Jan 11, 2002
Scott Skiles returned Rodney Rogers to the bench, moving Bo Outlaw into the starting five, according to the Arizona Republic.
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| Jan 10, 2002
Amid speculation that coach Scott Skiles' job might be in jeopardy in the wake of the Suns' four-game losing streak and 10 losses in their past 16 outings, general manager Bryan Colangelo gave Skiles a vote of confidence during Wednesday's practice, according to the rizona Republic.
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| Jan 9, 2002
They're the new fan darlings, the shock troops Jazz coach Jerry Sloan sends into games to stir things up, energize a stagnant offense.
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| Jan 9, 2002
The Jazz were down early, seemingly headed for a loss.
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| Jan 9, 2002
HIGH POINT
Scott Padgett stayed hot.
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| Jan 9, 2002
Utah Jazz guard John Stockton, left, chases Phoenix Suns guard Stephon Marbury, right, asMarbury drives to the basket in the second quarter Tuesday, Jan.
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| Jan 9, 2002
The bench party that began in Portland two weeks ago is still going strong for the Utah Jazz.
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| Jan 9, 2002
The Phoenix Suns' continuing struggles have spurred speculation about coach Scott Skiles, who has said he is not "disheartened.
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| Jan 8, 2002
Not to blow our own horn (well, that's exactly what it is) but the same corner that suggested Dave Cowens would be fired about a week before he was now has Scott Skiles in the crosshairs.
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| Jan 8, 2002
Anyone who saw the look on Jerry Colangelo"s face when those home runs sailed out of Yankee Stadium during the World Series would have recognized his facial expressions this past week.
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| Jan 6, 2002
PHOENIX -- A team struggling on the road finds motivation wherever it can.
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| Jan 6, 2002
According to the Arizona Republic, Suns coach Scott Skiles has been threatening to make changes in his starting lineup.
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| Jan 4, 2002
Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo said he is as disgusted as anybody when he sees the Suns struggle as they did Wednesday night against Philadelphia.
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| Jan 3, 2002
There were only two dissenters last night: Dikembe Mutombo and Matt Harpring.
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| Jan 3, 2002
MVP! MVP!
