By STEVE RIVERA

srivera@tucsoncitizen.com

Steve Kerr said he would have loved to have joined Lute Olson’s staff at Arizona as an assistant coach if his NBA career hadn’t lasted as long as it did.

“When I first left for the NBA, I didn’t expect to play more than a couple of years, so my options were different then,” said the UA grad, in town for his annual Camp Kerr at St. Gregory College Preparatory School.

“But as I continued my career, now I know the NBA more than the college game. That’s where all my contacts are. My career changed drastically.”

Kerr, 38, lasted 15 years in the NBA and was on five championship teams. And that knowledge and those contacts have helped him in his second career.

He works for TNT as a color analyst on the network’s NBA coverage, and he is an adviser to new Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, also a UA grad.

“I never hoped for any of this. I never dreamed any of it,” he said.

His involvement with Sarver and the Suns was apparent yesterday because his campers were sporting purple and orange reversible uniforms.

Kerr’s involvement with the Suns started with a phone call in January from Olson, Sarver’s friend. Olson asked if Kerr would help Sarver look into purchasing an NBA franchise. Olson said that knowing Sarver is a go-getter and that he would definitely get an NBA team.

“I just kind of opened the right doors and saw the right people,” Kerr said.

First and foremost was a visit with NBA commissioner David Stern, who said that Colangelo, the longtime majority owner of the Suns, might be interested in selling the franchise. The deal was announced in April.

“One of the first things that Jerry told me when we were meeting (when Sarver was looking into purchasing the team) and before everything happened was, ‘you started out here(with the Suns) and now here we are again,’ ” Kerr recalled.

Sarver was the lead investor in a group that paid a record $401 million for an NBA franchise. He fully takes over in three years.

“Now I get phone calls from Robert asking my advice,” Kerr said. “It’s fun seeing the business from a different angle.”

And Kerr sees his camp, which he has run for 12 years, from a different angle.

The ultimate team player’s life has changed, but his philosophy for Camp Kerr hasn’t.

“It’s probably clearer now than what it was because we have experience with the camp now,” he said. “In the first years I’m not sure I knew how to teach certain things. But after 12 years of doing something you get better at doing it and you get more comfortable. But it’s still the same things.”

And the message is: “To work hard, to prepare yourself and to enjoy yourself.”

Vintage Kerr.

PHOTO CAPTION: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson Citizen

Steve Kerr watches a game yesterday at his annual Camp Kerr.

Suns hope to run, gun

Addition of Richardson has them reminiscing about heady days with Barkley aboard.

The Associated Press

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns believe the signing of Quentin Richardson heralds a return to their run-and-gun days when a strong backcourt and Charles Barkley at power forward made up for the lack of a dominant center.

There also may be a return to the flamboyance that marked Barkley’s years in Phoenix.

Richardson showed up for a news conference yesterday with actress-singer Brandy on his arm, sporting an 11 1/2-carat engagement ring valued at $1 million.

“Getting engaged,” Richardson said, was about the best thing that happened to him this week.

For the Suns, the best thingwas the Los Angeles Clippers’ refusal to match Phoenix’s $43.9 million, six-year offer to the shooting guard, one of four in the NBA to average 17 points and six rebounds last season.

Richardson signed his contract Thursday.

He averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 281 career games over four years with the Clippers, with career-bests of 17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season. He said he believes his best years are ahead.

“The biggest thing I take away when I talked to (Michael) Jordan is, he was the best player in the world, and he felt like he could get better,” Richardson said. “So I feel like I definitely could be better at everything I do – even the things I do well.”

The Suns signed free-agent point guard Steve Nash on July 14, and Richardson gives them potentially their best backcourt since Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle in the early 1990s. They and Barkley, who joined the Suns in 1992, were major factors in the Suns’ run to the 1993 NBA finals.

Amare Stoudemire, the NBA’s 2003 rookie of the year, is established at power forward, and Richardson said he is excited to play with Stoudemire.

“He’s still developing,” Richardson said. “Once he starts getting that much better and he continues to grow, I don’t think he’ll ever lose the nastiness, you know?”

But the 6-foot-10 Stoudemire has no intention of playing center, leaving Jake Voskuhl, Maciej Lampe and rookie Jackson Vroman in the middle.

Coach Mike D’Antoni said the team gained leadership, a better work ethic and young talent this summer, and he declared himself satisfied about playing fast and small.

“A lot of these guys, as soon as you get their contract in front of them, you go, ‘Now, how can you get rid of them?’ “D’Antoni said. “We didn’t want to do that, and it would have been easy to do just by panicking, because everybody says we need a center.

“I believe what we have is good enough, and I think what we have on the perimeter is really good. So I’d rather go that way and take my chances of going into battle with these guys.”

Raptors keep Peterson

NEW ORLEANS – Morris Peterson will stay with the Toronto Raptors, who are matching New Orleans’ three-year, $15 million offer sheet, Hornets general manager Allan Bristow said.

The Raptors wouldn’t confirm that they’re keeping Peterson, but Bristow said Toronto general manager Rob Babcock told him of the decision and sent along the paperwork.

Peterson was Toronto’s first-round pick in 2000. He played in every game for the Raptors last season, starting 29, and averaged 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Suns spend $44M to bolster backcourt with Richardson

By PAUL CORO

The Arizona Republic

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns had to wait, but now guard Quentin Richardson is the newest member of the team.

The Suns learned yesterday that the Clippers declined to match Phoenix’s six-year, $44 million offer sheet to the 24-year-old swingman.

Yesterday was the deadline for the Clippers to decide on Richardson, a restricted free agent who signed the offer sheet with Phoenix on July 14.

“I’m elated, but I’m already working on the next deal,” said Suns president and general manager Bryan Colangelo.

Richardson gives the Suns a loaded backcourt with Steve Nash, Joe Johnson and Leandro Barbosa.

Richardson is coming off a career-best season in his first year as a full-time starter. He averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

He became expendable to the Clippers after they made a trade with New Jersey to acquire shooting guard Kerry Kittles.

Elsewhere

NETS: New Jersey continued to dismantle its roster, trading Kittles to the Clippers for a future second-round draft pick.

Kittles is the second starter to leave the Nets this month. Power forward Kenyon Martin went to the Denver Nuggets for three first-round draft choices.

To fill the void left by Kittles, who spent eight years with the Nets, the club signed free-agent guards Jacque Vaughn and Rodney Buford.

Kittles has career averages of 14.3 points, 2.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds.

Fitzsimmons known for skill, spirit

The Associated Press

PHOENIX – Players and fans will say goodbye tonight to former Phoenix Suns coach Lowell “Cotton” Fitzsimmons at a memorial in Mesa.

The service at St. Timothy Catholic Community, 1730 W. Guadalupe Road, is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Fitzsimmons, 72, died Saturday at his Phoenix-area home of complications from lung cancer. The burial is scheduled for tomorrow in a private service.

The three-time Suns coach and two-time NBA coach of the year was remembered yesterday as a straight-shooting, feisty fixture of the franchise for more than 30 years.

“He has always been a great friend, and I appreciate him bringing me to Phoenix. It changed my basketball career forever,” said Charles Barkley, who went to Phoenix last week to visit Fitzsimmons in the hospital. “I’m glad I got a chance to tell him that before he passed away.”

Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo has jokingly said that Fitzsimmons was the only man he’d given a lifetime contract. Both said they’d never had any agreement beyond a handshake in Fitzsimmons’ years with the franchise.

Colangelo lured Fitzsimmons to the Suns in 1970. He left to coach Atlanta in 1972. He became coach of the Suns for the second time in 1988 after serving one year as the franchise’s first director of player personnel.

Colangelo credited Fitzsimmons with rebuilding the Suns, starting in February 1988. The Suns won 55 games in the 1988-89 season, 21 more than the previous season.

Fitzsimmons left the sidelines in 1992 after guiding Phoenix to four straight 50-win seasons and two trips to the Western Conference finals.

He moved to the Suns’ front office, but took over as coach again when Paul Westphal was fired in January of 1996. When Phoenix got off to a 0-8 start the following year, Fitzsimmons turned coaching duties over to Danny Ainge and returned to his position as senior vice president.

“To be honest, he won a lot of basketball games, and I mean a lot of basketball games, with very mediocre teams,” said former Suns forward Connie Hawkins.

Most recently, the colorful coach was a television and radio commentator for Suns games.

He was nicknamed “Cotton” for his fluffy white hair, and players and coaches said Fitzsimmons didn’t take himself too seriously.

“Cotton brought color to everything he touched,” Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. “Whether it was the office or the arena, you always knew when he was in the room.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Associated Press photo

“Cotton” Fitzsimmons, who died Saturday, was associated with the Phoenix Suns for more than 30 years as a coach, executive and TV and radio commentator.

Fitzsimmons known for skill, spirit

The Associated Press

PHOENIX – Players and fans will say goodbye tonight to former Phoenix Suns coach Lowell “Cotton” Fitzsimmons at a memorial in Mesa.

The service at St. Timothy Catholic Community, 1730 W. Guadalupe Road, is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Fitzsimmons, 72, died Saturday at his Phoenix-area home of complications from lung cancer. The burial is scheduled for tomorrow in a private service.

The three-time Suns coach and two-time NBA coach of the year was remembered yesterday as a straight-shooting, feisty fixture of the franchise for more than 30 years.

“He has always been a great friend, and I appreciate him bringing me to Phoenix. It changed my basketball career forever,” said Charles Barkley, who went to Phoenix last week to visit Fitzsimmons in the hospital. “I’m glad I got a chance to tell him that before he passed away.”

Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo has jokingly said that Fitzsimmons was the only man he’d given a lifetime contract. Both said they’d never had any agreement beyond a handshake in Fitzsimmons’ years with the franchise.

Colangelo lured Fitzsimmons to the Suns in 1970. He left to coach Atlanta in 1972. He became coach of the Suns for the second time in 1988 after serving one year as the franchise’s first director of player personnel.

Colangelo credited Fitzsimmons with rebuilding the Suns, starting in February 1988. The Suns won 55 games in the 1988-89 season, 21 more than the previous season.

Fitzsimmons left the sidelines in 1992 after guiding Phoenix to four straight 50-win seasons and two trips to the Western Conference finals.

He moved to the Suns’ front office, but took over as coach again when Paul Westphal was fired in January of 1996. When Phoenix got off to a 0-8 start the following year, Fitzsimmons turned coaching duties over to Danny Ainge and returned to his position as senior vice president.

“To be honest, he won a lot of basketball games, and I mean a lot of basketball games, with very mediocre teams,” said former Suns forward Connie Hawkins.

Most recently, the colorful coach was a television and radio commentator for Suns games.

He was nicknamed “Cotton” for his fluffy white hair, and players and coaches said Fitzsimmons didn’t take himself too seriously.

“Cotton brought color to everything he touched,” Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. “Whether it was the office or the arena, you always knew when he was in the room.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Associated Press photo

“Cotton” Fitzsimmons, who died Saturday, was associated with the Phoenix Suns for more than 30 years as a coach, executive and TV and radio commentator.

But the proposed Rio Nuevo structure has other suitors

By CRAIG HARRIS

The Arizona Republic

Looking to expand their role in the entertainment business, the Phoenix Suns are among the finalists hoping to manage a proposed arena in downtown Tucson.

However, the competition is stiff. The other suitors have experience with major construction projects across the country.

The Suns have teamed with Phoenix-based Arena Management & Construction, which hopes to build the facility on the southeast corner of Congress Street and Interstate 10. They and the three other development teams will make presentations Wednesday to the Tucson Convention Center selection committee.

In addition to building and managing the arena, the winner would be responsible for finding a major tenant such as a minor league sports team, city officials said.

“We are looking for them to be the backbone of the financing. Until we get a real proposal in hand, we do not know what the city involvement will be,” said Rich Singer, Tucson Convention Center director.

Singer hopes to break ground within two years. The arena would replace the roughly 8,500-seat facility inside the convention center, which likely would be used for convention space. The new arena, which could have more than 10,000 seats, is part of the city’s Rio Nuevo downtown revitalization plan.

The Suns’ sister company, Sports & Entertainment Services, would book shows in the Tucson arena. Sports & Entertainment Services already schedules events in Phoenix’s America West Arena, Bank One Ballpark and Dodge Theatre.

Managing the Tucson arena would give the Suns an upper hand in securing concerts and family shows at America West, which has been in competition with the Phoenix Coyotes since they moved to the Glendale Arena last December and began booking similar shows there.

“We book a lot of nonbasketball events at America West Arena. We will be able to control more events by having both venues,” said Robert Sarver, the basketball team’s new owner.

While Sarver is from Tucson and the Suns original owners are from the Old Pueblo, the team is going against some development giants. The other players are:

• Los Angeles-based AEG, the sports and entertainment unit of Anschutz Corp., which also is working on a $1 billion development around Staples Center. AEG also owns the Los Angeles Kings and several Major League Soccer teams.

• Northbrook, Ill.-based International Facilities Group, whose staff has worked on projects like the United Center in Chicago; the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.; and the Pepsi Center in Denver.

• Dallas-based Garfield Traub Development, which is going by “Team Zocalo.” The company has developed public schools in Los Angeles, a 7,000-seat performing arts center in San Jose, Calif., and a convention center hotel in Overland Park, Kan.

But the proposed Rio Nuevo structure has other suitors

By CRAIG HARRIS

The Arizona Republic

Looking to expand their role in the entertainment business, the Phoenix Suns are among the finalists hoping to manage a proposed arena in downtown Tucson.

However, the competition is stiff. The other suitors have experience with major construction projects across the country.

The Suns have teamed with Phoenix-based Arena Management & Construction, which hopes to build the facility on the southeast corner of Congress Street and Interstate 10. They and the three other development teams will make presentations Wednesday to the Tucson Convention Center selection committee.

In addition to building and managing the arena, the winner would be responsible for finding a major tenant such as a minor league sports team, city officials said.

“We are looking for them to be the backbone of the financing. Until we get a real proposal in hand, we do not know what the city involvement will be,” said Rich Singer, Tucson Convention Center director.

Singer hopes to break ground within two years. The arena would replace the roughly 8,500-seat facility inside the convention center, which likely would be used for convention space. The new arena, which could have more than 10,000 seats, is part of the city’s Rio Nuevo downtown revitalization plan.

The Suns’ sister company, Sports & Entertainment Services, would book shows in the Tucson arena. Sports & Entertainment Services already schedules events in Phoenix’s America West Arena, Bank One Ballpark and Dodge Theatre.

Managing the Tucson arena would give the Suns an upper hand in securing concerts and family shows at America West, which has been in competition with the Phoenix Coyotes since they moved to the Glendale Arena last December and began booking similar shows there.

“We book a lot of nonbasketball events at America West Arena. We will be able to control more events by having both venues,” said Robert Sarver, the basketball team’s new owner.

While Sarver is from Tucson and the Suns original owners are from the Old Pueblo, the team is going against some development giants. The other players are:

• Los Angeles-based AEG, the sports and entertainment unit of Anschutz Corp., which also is working on a $1 billion development around Staples Center. AEG also owns the Los Angeles Kings and several Major League Soccer teams.

• Northbrook, Ill.-based International Facilities Group, whose staff has worked on projects like the United Center in Chicago; the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.; and the Pepsi Center in Denver.

• Dallas-based Garfield Traub Development, which is going by “Team Zocalo.” The company has developed public schools in Los Angeles, a 7,000-seat performing arts center in San Jose, Calif., and a convention center hotel in Overland Park, Kan.

Fitzsimmons’ health continues to worsen

By NORM FRAUENHEIM

The Arizona Republic

PHOENIX – The health of former Phoenix Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons has taken a turn for the worse, according to team officials close to him.

Fitzsimmons, 72, has been a patient at an undisclosed Phoenix-area care center since suffering a stroke within the last couple of weeks.

A malignant tumor was found on Fitzsimmons’ lung, near his heart, on April 7 when he saw a throat specialist because of a persistent cough.

Fitzsimmons, who had been doing color commentary on Suns telecasts, also has suffered from circulatory problems. He has been undergoing radiation and taking blood-thinning medication.

A blood clot below his left knee in February forced him to quit traveling with the Suns, because flying aggravated the problem.

Fitzsimmons coached the Suns three times. He arrived in Phoenix for the first time in 1970 and became the third coach for a franchise that was beginning only its third season. He succeeded longtime and current Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo, who had finished the prior season as the interim coach.

Through two decades as an NBA coach, he was 832-775, among the all-time top 10 in NBA victories. He was voted NBA coach of the year twice, 1979 in Kansas City and 1989 with the Suns.

Elsewhere

LAKERS: Vlade Divac has reached a deal to rejoin Los Angeles, leaving Sacramento after six seasons, an NBA source told The Associated Press.

Earlier yesterday in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro, Divac said he was leaving the Kings.

“It was a great six years in Sacramento,” he said. “I’m sad that I’m leaving, but the Kings did not show any interest to keep me.”

The Lakers drafted Divac in 1989, and he spent seven years in Los Angeles until the team traded him to Charlotte for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant.

HORNETS: New Orleans signed frontcourt reserve Chris Andersen to a two-year contract.

Andersen, who has played primarily power forward and some at center, has averaged 4.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.31 blocks in his three years in the NBA, all with Denver.

BOBCATS: Rapper Nelly is a part-owner of the NBA’s expansion Charlotte Bobcats.

“This is a great opportunity for both the Bobcats and Nelly,” Robert L. Johnson, the team’s majority owner and the founder of Black Entertainment Television, said yesterday in a news release.

“Nelly is a great entertainer and a smart businessman and those two traits will serve us well as we prepare to tipoff our inaugural season this fall.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Fitzsimmons’ health continues to worsen

By NORM FRAUENHEIM

The Arizona Republic

PHOENIX – The health of former Phoenix Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons has taken a turn for the worse, according to team officials close to him.

Fitzsimmons, 72, has been a patient at an undisclosed Phoenix-area care center since suffering a stroke within the last couple of weeks.

A malignant tumor was found on Fitzsimmons’ lung, near his heart, on April 7 when he saw a throat specialist because of a persistent cough.

Fitzsimmons, who had been doing color commentary on Suns telecasts, also has suffered from circulatory problems. He has been undergoing radiation and taking blood-thinning medication.

A blood clot below his left knee in February forced him to quit traveling with the Suns, because flying aggravated the problem.

Fitzsimmons coached the Suns three times. He arrived in Phoenix for the first time in 1970 and became the third coach for a franchise that was beginning only its third season. He succeeded longtime and current Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo, who had finished the prior season as the interim coach.

Through two decades as an NBA coach, he was 832-775, among the all-time top 10 in NBA victories. He was voted NBA coach of the year twice, 1979 in Kansas City and 1989 with the Suns.

Elsewhere

LAKERS: Vlade Divac has reached a deal to rejoin Los Angeles, leaving Sacramento after six seasons, an NBA source told The Associated Press.

Earlier yesterday in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro, Divac said he was leaving the Kings.

“It was a great six years in Sacramento,” he said. “I’m sad that I’m leaving, but the Kings did not show any interest to keep me.”

The Lakers drafted Divac in 1989, and he spent seven years in Los Angeles until the team traded him to Charlotte for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant.

HORNETS: New Orleans signed frontcourt reserve Chris Andersen to a two-year contract.

Andersen, who has played primarily power forward and some at center, has averaged 4.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.31 blocks in his three years in the NBA, all with Denver.

BOBCATS: Rapper Nelly is a part-owner of the NBA’s expansion Charlotte Bobcats.

“This is a great opportunity for both the Bobcats and Nelly,” Robert L. Johnson, the team’s majority owner and the founder of Black Entertainment Television, said yesterday in a news release.

“Nelly is a great entertainer and a smart businessman and those two traits will serve us well as we prepare to tipoff our inaugural season this fall.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Associated Press

Former University of Arizona star Michael Wright has made the Phoenix Suns’ summer league team.

Wright, who has played overseas since leaving UA after the 2000-01 season, is one of 12 players to make the roster.

The team plays in Las Vegas today through Saturday, then in Salt Lake City from Saturday through July 24.

The other players are Leandro Barbosa, Brett Blizzard, Derrick Dial, Jerry Holman, Casey Jacobsen, Arthur Johnson, Maciej Lampe, James Moore, Austin Nichols, Yuta Tabuse and Jackson Vroman.

PHOTO CAPTION: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson Citizen

Former UA basketball player Michael Wright is one of 12 players on the Phoenix Suns’ summer league team.