Suns hope Nash can save energy with Dragic aboard

The buzzwords for the Suns this season have been energy conservation - whether it entails bringing solar power to US Airways Center or resting their aging starting lineup.

Suns guard Steve Nash threw his support behind the latest "green" effort by the Suns, who are spending $1.5 million to put atop the parking garage solar panels that will produce enough energy to power the center's pavilion area for 26 home games beginning next year.

Nash is also all for the idea of conserving the two-time NBA MVP's energy this season by cutting his minutes and having him sit out selected back-to-back games - even if he's somewhat skeptical about the postulate in practice.

"It's a great idea. Everyone would love to go into the playoffs rested, and it makes a lot of sense," said Nash. "But competition being what it is, especially in the West, we'll have to see if it's plausible."

Nash admitted he was worn out at the end of last season, more than he had been in past seasons. But rather than blaming age, he said it was a matter of circumstance.

"I handled the ball a lot, probably abnormally compared to other guards," he said. "It was a grind, and I was a little tired and yeah, there is a lot of mileage. But there was no time to rest. Either we were behind or adding Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) or fighting to get into the playoffs or fighting for seeding ... it's tough.

"If we can avoid those situations, that's great. But you can't plan for everything."

Nash said he likes what he's seen of his new understudy, rookie Goran Dragic, in drills and offseason pickup games. The plan is for Dragic to play 18-plus minutes and give Nash more rest time.

"From what I see, I think he's got a great game and great potential," Nash said. "The difficult thing for him is that this is quite a change. The (NBA) game is different than Europe. The rules are different. The referees don't care who you are or where you're from, and the rookies have to get up to speed on that stuff.

"Hopefully it takes two weeks, but it could take him two months or a year. Hopefully his experience and intelligence and feel for the game will allow him to adapt quickly, but we shouldn't put too much pressure on him."

Dragic said he wants to soak up everything he can from the two-time MVP, and Nash - who hasn't always had a close relationship with his backups - is willing to be a teacher.

"If I can help him as a player, I'm here if he wants my help. I'd love to share with him," Nash said. "He's a great kid and a talent and, for me, such a huge component of any player is their hunger, desire and willingness to learn. If he has those things, which it appears he does, he'll have a great career."

Nash, who said he trained more than normal this summer and is in "great shape," was pleased with the Suns' offseason additions (Dragic, Matt Barnes, Robin Lopez and Louis Amundson) and that the team's top seven players will return intact.

"We didn't have a lot of cap space or ability to do much, from what I know, so to get what we got is pretty impressive under the circumstances," he said. "It could really help us."

BONUS SHOTS:The Suns will bring 16 players to Tucson for training camp. In addition to the 13 players under contract, Phoenix will invite three nonroster players, all long shots to make the club.

Robert Hite, a 6-foot-2 combo guard from the University of Miami who played 12 games with the Miami Heat in 2006-07. He started last season the New Jersey but didn't see any time and wound up playing in Europe.

Jiri Hubalek, a 6-11 forward/center from Iowa State who averaged six points and two rebounds while playing four games with the Suns in the Vegas Summer League. Hubalek, a 25-year-old native of the Czech Republic, averaged 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds at Iowa State last season but went undrafted.

Trey Johnson, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Jackson State who played five preseason games for New Orleans last season before being released.