Steve Nash last talked to Shawn Marion in July, after trade rumors had ?The Matrix? heading to Boston in a Kevin Garnett deal.

?It?s sad to hear he wants to go,? Nash said after Wednesday?s workout with his teammates on the Suns? practice court. ?We have a great team; we?re very close to winning a championship and we want everyone on board.

?All his teammates love him. Apparently he wants to be traded, but if he wants to come back, he?s got a bunch of guys who want him to be part of this. We have one goal, and when we get together (Monday) that will be the focus ? not what?s happened or what?s been said in the papers.?

Jerry Colangelo's creation to honor the legacy of members of the Suns organization now will recognize his contributions.

On Nov. 4, Colangelo will be inducted into the Suns' Ring of Honor. He helped create the ring in 1999 to honor players without having to retire their numbers.

"It seems strange to have been part of initializing and developing that whole concept, and now the shoe's on the other foot," said Colangelo.

A sampling of executives and agents said it is unlikely that the Phoenix Suns would move disgruntled forward Shawn Marion before Monday's mandatory reporting day.

After Monday, according to the Arizona Republic, it appears the Suns could stop exploring trade possibilities.

League insiders did not believe that Marion's trade request hurt the chance to move him. Two insiders said it might prompt more offers.

With Marion back, the Suns would be deemed a contender as long as the damage to team chemistry, a point of emphasis for new General Manager Steve Kerr, is minimized.

"It's a distraction if you let it be a distraction," Suns guard Raja Bell said shortly after coach Mike D'Antoni said, "Once we start playing basketball, it won't be a distraction."

One NBA executive did not believe that Marion's issues would be resolved, but Marion has played well with a chip on his shoulder.

According to HoopsHype.com former Iowa forward Doug Thomas will be in training camp with the Phoenix Suns next week. The 6-foot-8 Thomas, who was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year in 2006, played last season in the Swiss League. Thomas' agent Brian Elfus told HoopsHype.com of the agreement.

Steve Nash, Mike D?Antoni and Raja Bell all held out hope that the relationship wasn't beyond fixing ? and that Suns forward Shawn Marion will show up at US Airways Center for Monday?s media day ready to resume the team?s quest for an elusive NBA title.

?It?s sad to hear he wants to go,? Nash said after Wednesday?s workout with his teammates on the Suns practice court. ?We have a great team, we?re very close to winning a championship and we want everyone on board.

?All his teammates love him. Apparently he wants to be traded, but if he wants to come back, he?s got a bunch of guys who want him to be part of this. We have one goal, and when we get together (Monday) that will be the focus ? not what?s happened or what?s been said in the papers.?

D?Antoni said Marion?s public request to leave the Suns didn?t come as a surprise, since he had already made his wishes clear to management long before he shared them with SportingNews.com on Tuesday.

Shawn Marion wants out of Phoenix and is interested in becoming a member of the Lakers.

"I'm definitely interested in the Lakers," said Marion.

He also said he talked to Kobe Bryant, and Bryant "embraced it."

Said Marion: "He wants to make it happen."

If Bryant cares about what trades the Lakers make and thinks adding Marion would help, at least it's an indication that he's thinking about the Lakers as "we" not "them."

After eight years in Phoenix, Shawn Marion wants to leave the Suns and has let the team know in recent weeks.

"I'm tired of hearing my name in trades," Marion said by phone from his Chicago home Tuesday night. "I love my fans in Phoenix but I think it's time for me to move on."

There are two known trade suitors in the Utah Jazz (for Andrei Kirilenko, if not others) and the Los Angeles Lakers (for Lamar Odom and a teammate), with Marion showing an interest in the latter because of a friendship with Kobe Bryant.

"Regardless of everything that went on with the extension, I'm tired of hearing my name in trade rumors," Marion said. "It's time for me to move on. I felt like they tried to force my hand to Boston with the (Kevin) Garnett stuff."

In June, there was the possibility of a three-way trade sending Garnett to Phoenix, a Boston pick package going to Minnesota and Marion to Boston with a contract extension but the Marion camp killed it.

"I haven't done anything wrong," said Marion, a four-time All-Star. "I leave it on the floor night in and night out. Sometimes, it's just time, and it's time to go. "It's been like a nightmare. It hurts me making this phone call. It's hurting me in my stomach."

According to several Suns sources, Shawn Marion seems to be unhappy that the team will not talk about a contract extension.

Apparently Marion wants $60 million over three years. Marion, already the highest-paid Suns player, will make $16.4 million this season and $17.8 million for 2008-09.

Trade rumors might not bother Marion much anymore, because there are indications that he would welcome a deal.

The two top trade possibilities involve Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, who is even more disgruntled with his team, and Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom and a teammate, possibly forward Brian Cook.

Eight-year veteran Brian Skinner and the Suns agreed to terms Monday on a one-year veteran's minimum deal, half of which is guaranteed. If Skinner remains on the team when opening day rosters are set Oct. 29, his $1.1 million salary will be fully guaranteed.

Skinner was the best of the big man prospects the Suns considered because he can offer Phoenix rebounding and defense with enough speed to play at the Suns' pace.

Skinner is accepting of the part-time role and had Phoenix atop his wish list because he wanted to play for a title contender after missing the playoffs last season, when he had 44 starts for Milwaukee.

"This is an opportunity to be on the inside looking out," Skinner said after his Thursday workout for Phoenix.

Center Brian Skinner and the Suns do not have a contract, but they have agreed on one thing: Each is at the top of the other's wish list.

The Suns likely will not fill their reserve big-man void until at least Monday but would feel complete and content to have Skinner signed up for their Oct. 2-7 training camp.

Skinner is weighing one other NBA offer. Phoenix's trio of candidates - Skinner, Esteban Batista and Vitaly Potapenko - are vying for as much of a guaranteed contract as possible in a market that includes teams over or near the tax threshold.

Skinner, who started 44 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, worked out in Phoenix on Thursday and said the Suns are at "the top of my list" because they are a title contender. He turned down a better offer this summer from a non-contender.