Bob Young writes in the Arizona Republic that the Suns are only too familiar with how much Antonio McDyess has struggled with his career decisions. He left them in the lurch after the 1999 lockout when he decided not to re-sign with the Suns and instead returned to Denver as a free agent.

Now McDyess may have another difficult decision ahead. He has an early termination clause in his contract at the end of next season, at which time he can declare himself a free agent. He already has said that if guard Nick Van Exel is traded, he might not want to play for the Nuggets. And Van Exel has demanded a trade.

For now, McDyess is on the club's injured list because of a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee. So what are the chances he'll test the market? "Right now, I don't know," he said. "I just have to see how the next year goes and decide."

But he said that if the Nuggets get rid of Van Exel and don't replace him with a comparable point guard, he would consider using the option. "I think he (Van Exel) is definitely one of the top 10 point guards. If we don't get somebody at least as good as him, there's no way we're going to be a winning franchise, so I definitely think I'm going to have to exercise the option."