Scott Williams, the center who was popular with teammates, coaches and the front office in his season-and-a-half stint with the Suns, appears to be the final player on the team's radar screen before the season starts.
Williams, who was released in January so he could join the Dallas Mavericks, is a free agent who might sign soon with the Suns, club president Bryan Colangelo indicated.
"We have expressed an interest in doing something with Scott Williams," and the Suns hope to "finalize discussions with him shortly," Colangelo said. In his previous Suns stint, "I think he was a good influence on the team," Colangelo said. So good that the Suns talked about making him an assistant coach someday.
This time around, "If it works out and he signs, it will be a good addition."
HANDLING TRANSITION
Jerry Colangelo indicated he will run the Suns in a cooperative fashion for the next three seasons with incoming owner Robert Sarver.
Sarver already has paid 65 percent of the $401 million purchase price. The rest is due in the summer of 2007.
At that point, Sarver will be in full control, though Colangelo retains the title of chairman for five more years. Colangelo indicated there are no plans to move the timetable up.
"The reality is the asset has been sold," Colangelo said. "It was an installment purchase.
"There's still a substantial amount of money to be paid three years down the road. I have a fiduciary responsibility to my partners and to myself to make sure I am involved for the next three years."
For the next three years, the Suns will be run by a six-member management committee, which includes Colangelo, who would break any tie votes (a scenario Colangelo thinks is unlikely).
"Quite honestly, Robert Sarver is going to put his stamp on this franchise and should because of the commitment he's made,” Colangelo said. “I will be there to be supportive, participate on a local basis.”
At the same time, Colangelo said he intends to be extremely active at the league level, where he serves as chairman of the league's board of governors.
"I'm going to be as active as I've been on a league-wide basis. And commissioner (David) Stern wants me to be very active. He's made that very clear."
PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED
The Suns have announced the promotions of four members of their basketball staff: Dick Van Arsdale goes from senior vice president of player personnel to senior executive vice president; David Griffin from assistant director of player personnel to director of player personnel; ex-player Rex Chapman goes from college scout to director of basketball operations; and Marco Crespi from international scouting consultant to director of international scouting.
