Suns notebook: Nash not planning on retiring soon

Grant Hill celebrated his 36th birthday with the final two-a-day workout of training camp that included a public scrimmage Sunday night at US Airways Center.

Meanwhile, Steve Nash is just four months away from turning 35. But the two-time MVP has no plans to hang up his sneakers in the near future.

Nash, who has an all-but-guaranteed team option for next season, said he knows he wants to play two more seasons beyond that contract — which would take him through the 2011-12 season and his 38th birthday — and he might play longer if he still feels healthy and passionate about the game.

“I know I want to play four more years. That’s my goal, to sign another two-year contract. After that, I’ll evaluate where I am and how I feel,” Nash said. “I know I feel great right now and I think I have a lot left.”

Nash said the Suns haven’t come to him to talk about any contract extension, which is understandable since they haven’t officially exercised the option for next season. But $7.5 million of the $13.125 million he is due is already guaranteed whether he plays or not, so barring any serious injury, that figures to be a slam dunk.

Nash said his preference would be to continue and even complete his career in Phoenix. “My number one priority would be to stay here, but I’ll think more about that when the time comes.”

SUNS FEEL PINCH

The poor economy and the recent bailout of Wall Street is trickling down to the Suns and all pro sports franchises.

Suns president Rick Welts said that while 94 percent of Suns season-ticket holders put down deposits to keep their seats in the spring, that number shrunk to 90 percent when it came time to pay balances at the end of the summer.

“That’s something we’ve never experienced before. But in talking with other teams, it’s pretty much happening everywhere,” Welts said. “If you’re putting down money in the spring and then walking away from it … that’s a sign of where people are right now and how their outlook has changed.”

That leaves about 500 more tickets available for single-game sale and mini-season packs — which the Suns are offering for the first time in a long time this year. But Welts said that the individual game sales, while brisk, wasn’t as strong as it had been in past season and that most every game still had tickets available.

“I think what we’re seeing there is people are waiting longer to make commitments further out,” Welts said. “Our numbers show people are buying the early-season games more than those that are further out. They want to make sure they have a handle on their personal situations.”

Welts said the Suns haven’t lost any of their wide range of corporate sponsors, but aren’t adding more companies to the fold. “I haven’t talked to one group that’s said ‘Yeah, we have an extra $20,000 in the marketing budget this year.’ When it comes to new money, that’s virtually nonexistent,” he said.

HOLDING COURT

The Suns will be using a brand-new court for the outdoor game on Saturday in Indian Wells, Calif. And that same court, which will be blank for the Suns-Denver Nuggets game, will be painted and used for All-Star weekend and the 58th annual NBA All-Star Game, which will be held Feb. 15 at US Airways Center.

Welts said the court won’t stay in Phoenix, but will be sold in pieces through the NBA as memorabilia.

BONUS SHOTS

Rookie Robin Lopez has come on strong at the end of camp and looked impressive in Sunday’s scrimmage — scoring on hooks, short jumpers and put-backs while defending well. Coach Terry Porter said he wants to see more in the preseason games, but he’s pleased to this point. “He’s done a good job grasping things. He’s been in the right positions and now he’s getting more aggressive offensively,” Porter said. “He’s practiced very hard, he has all our defensive schemes down. He’s going to get his chances.” …

Hill was given a birthday cake at the end of Sunday’s public scrimmage. The rookies were forced to sing “Happy Birthday” in front of the crowd and no one distinguished themselves, least of all guard Goran Dragic. …

The five rookies on the Phoenix roster endured their share of hazing during camp. At Thursday’s team dinner, center Shaquille O’Neal turned the evening into a fraternity pledge drive — with the rookies forced to sing, dance and otherwise embarrass themselves before not only their teammates but surprised diners in the main restaurant.