The Suns and forward Jared Dudley's camp continue to discuss a contract extension, but nothing appears close.

ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported the progress on Sunday.

Amar'e Stoudemire left the Suns as a free agent and decided to join the Knicks for fame, fortune and a better chance to win an NBA title.

New York doesn't have the core needed to contend now but even after signing Stoudemire to a $100 million contract, they have the future cap space to make a splash.

Stoudemire also left Phoenix because he felt the Suns were watching their window to contend close.

"From my standpoint it's longevity and being able to build a team for a championship-caliber team," Stoudemire said. "That was my goal in Phoenix."

"I wanted to make sure that we're looking forward to the future and being able to bring in other star players to help win a championship," Stoudemire added. "I felt that wasn't going to happen in that situation. I wanted to go to a team willing to build a championship quality team."

Suns forward Grant Hill says that the possibility of a lockout pushing back or eliminating the 2011-12 season won't affect his future.

"You just don't get out of shape," Hill said. "I don't take time off in the summer, so I'd just have a longer summer.

"I know they'll eventually figure it out. It's just a matter of when."

Suns forward Jared Dudley is eligible for a contract extension, but the team appears unlikely to give him one.

Dudley's agent, Mark Bartelstein, has discussed a potential deal with Phoenix, but the 2007 first-round pick isn't expecting anything to happen by the Nov. 1 deadline.

"You've got to understand where the Suns are coming from," Dudley said. "I'm going to be a restricted free agent. In the collective-bargaining agreement, you don't know. I can understand. Our class might have only two guys (Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah) that sign. I heard Al Horford might sign soon, so that's three. The CBA has a lot to do with it. We have a new GM and president, so I think they'll wait and see."

"It doesn't really matter for me because my value is only going to go up every year because I'm getting more comfortable with another year in this system. I don't mind waiting a year if the Suns wanted to do that. But I'm not someone who is willing to take a whole, whole lot less just because of the collective bargaining agreement. I'm expecting a big year from myself and my team and playing a bigger role. If they take care of me like Channing (Frye) and Josh (Childress), I'll be back."

The Phoenix Suns have exercised the fourth-year option on the contract of center Robin Lopez for the 2011-12 season, the team has announced.

Originally the Suns' first-round pick (15th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, the 7-0, 255-pound center blossomed in 2009-10 after being inserted into the Suns' starting lineup midway through the season.  Lopez, who became a starter on Jan. 18, helped lead the Suns to a 22-9 (.710) record in his starts while averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 24.5 minutes as a starter.

Jason Richardson is eligible for a contract extension, as he is entering the expiring season of his current deal that will pay him $14.4 million in 10-11.

"We've had a number of preliminary discussions regarding Jason," agent Dan Fegan said. "We expect to resume talks to determine a direction in the near future."

Erick Dampier remains a free agent and the Suns are high on his list of potential teams.

Dampier is expected to make his decision before Monday.

"We are continuing to explore ways to improve our roster," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said.

"Phoenix is certainly one of the top teams he's considering," said Dampier's agent, Dan Fegan.

The Suns have released guard Zabian Dowdell and forward Dwayne Jones.

The move likely means that rookies Matt Janning and Garret Siler will make Phoenix's 14-man roster for the regular season.

Suns forward Josh Childress broke his right index finger in Tuesday night's win over the Warriors.

Childress will have no basketball activity for a week, then he'll be re-evaluated.

He was injured when he was fouled on a drive to the basket with 7:54 left in the game. Childress returned later in the contest.

Hedo Turkolgu was predictably booed in his first return to Toronto on Sunday.

"People have to realize it's not always the players," said Turkoglu. "People just got to see what's really going on and make a judgment after that. I'm not a random guy. Chris (Bosh) was an all-star. Other guys, all-stars, too. You have to ask them what was the reason that they left. Then people will realize . . . instead of just going after the players. (Vince) Carter, Tracy (McGrady), whatever. I know (Bosh), I hope he doesn't get booed. He gave a lot of good stuff for this organization. I think he deserves to be welcomed in a nice way."

Turkoglu will return to Toronto again on February 25th, which will be a meaningful regular season game.

"I've got to come here one more time . . . and get booed again," he said. "When I came here, people think that I wasn't paying attention or I wasn't serious. But this is how I play. And if you look at it in the past, that?s how I do. I enjoy the game, and I go out there and I try to do my best. But here, I guess they misunderstand."