LOS ANGELES - The Suns are the second-oldest team in the NBA and with that comes whispers of closing championship windows. But ex-Sun Sam Cassell, who is now in his 14th NBA season and has championship rings on his 38-year-old fingers, isn’t buying into the theory.

Cassell scores 32 points to lead Clippers past Suns

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“They’re going to win their 50-60 games again and if they get a decent bounce in the playoffs they can get there,” Cassell said. “If they can keep Steve Nash from bleeding out (from) his nose and stuff, they might get a good break.”

Cassell said the acquisition of Grant Hill makes the Suns better, but the offensive development of Amaré Stoudemire is also a reason why Phoenix is a solid contender.

“Amaré is just a beast,” Cassell said. “The things he’s doing on the floor now — hitting jumpers and making the coverage roll to him, all that. I judge a big guy by how many balls he keeps alive. Any 6-foot-10 guy four feet from the basket is supposed to score, but how many balls does he keep alive. I think he’s one of the best centers out there.”

Stoudemire averaged 29 points in the first three meetings with the Clippers this season — all Suns wins.

EYES ON THE WIRE

The Suns remain in the market for a backup point guard — they were outscored 21-6 in the seven minutes Nash rested in the first half on Tuesday — and are monitoring the situation in Memphis, where veteran Damon Stoudamire is on the trading block.

If they can’t find a taker, the possibility of the Grizzlies buying out his contract ($4.35 million this year, $4.65 million next year) remains, which would leave the ex-Arizona Wildcat available at the prorated minimum salary.

Stoudamire played with Suns general manager Steve Kerr and was coached by Mike D’Antoni in Portland. At 34, he would be yet another veteran bench player and his 3-point shooting would be welcome. But he is also another small guard (5-foot-10) on a team that is already small in the backcourt.

SAM I AM ON THE MOVE?

Speaking of veteran point guards who might be on the move, Cassell isn’t playing in the fourth quarter as much as he would like and thinks he might be better suited to be elsewhere than on an injury-riddled Clippers team that is 13 games under .500.

“I’m not asking to be out … I’m here and I’m a Clipper and playing the minutes they allow me to play,” Cassell said. “But you know I can help somebody. You know the answer to that question.

“The jury is still out. I enjoy my teammates, but this isn’t the team when I first came here. Elton Brand, Shawn Livingston (both out all season), Chris Kaman is playing phenomenal, but also too many minutes.”

SHIRT OFF YOUR BACK

Take a popular player, trade him to a new team and you get huge jersey sales. That’s a big reason why sales of Kevin Garnett jerseys have tripled over last year and made the new Boston Celtic the No. 1 seller for 2007.

Nash’s No. 13 jersey ranks fifth in the league in terms of sales following Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and LeBron James.

The Suns rank sixth in the league in team merchandise sales behind the Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, Bulls and Heat.

SUN SPOTS

Did you see that?: Boris Diaw had one rebound in 37 minutes. Uno. One more than none.

Player of the game: Sam Cassell wrung 33 minutes out of his 38-year-old body and butchered the Suns for 32 points – three off his season high – on 15-for-21 shooting from the field. He added seven assists and six rebounds for good measure.

Unsung hero: Chris Kaman missed 11 of his 14 shots from the field, but he hauled down 18 rebounds and his put-back with 2:10 left gave the Clippers a six-point lead and proved to be the back-breaker.

Thumbs up: You’ve got to do some real searching on a night when you score 90 against the Clippers. Maybe 14 points and 17 rebounds by Shawn Marion, who at least appeared to be trying hard. But even he couldn’t stop Cassell.

Thumbs down: Steve Nash and Raja Bell were a combined 10-for-29. Marcus Banks was a minus-15 in his eight minutes on the floor. Take your pick