Suns make deal with Hill; Nash next?

Grant Hill is staying in Phoenix.

The Suns are also "progressing" on a two-year contract extension for point guard Steve Nash, team owner Robert Sarver said.

And free agent forward Channing Frye, a Phoenix St. Mary's and University of Arizona product, is close to signing a two-year deal worth approximately $3.8 million with Phoenix.

Hill's contract is worth $3 million this season with a $3.24 million player option for the 2010-2011 season. He opted to remain in Phoenix after considering offers from Boston and New York.

Bordow: Locking Up Nash is right thing to do

Minor eye surgery for Stoudemire

Suns add Japanese guard to summer team

Will Stoudemire stay a Sun? He'd like to know?

Lon Babby, Hill's agent, said the veteran forward could have earned more next season in New York, where the Knicks offered the full midlevel exception, about $5.8 million, for one year or $10 million for three.

The Celtics and Knicks both provided the chance for Hill to reunite with former coaches: Doc Rivers in Boston and Mike D'Antoni in New York. The Celtics had under $2 million to offer and couldn't guarantee Hill a starting spot, but Babby said all three teams were willing to give Hill everything he asked for.

"I will say this. He thought long and hard about the alternatives. He did not come to this decision easily or lightly," Babby said. "The places had a lot to offer and very different things to offer and that's what made it challenging for us to work our way through this."

Hill has played the last two years for the Suns and averaged 12 points in 2008-09 while playing in all 82 games for the first time in his 14-year career. Though Phoenix missed the playoffs last season, traded Shaquille O'Neal and listened to offers for Amare Stoudemire, Babby said Hill expects both Stoudemire and Nash to remain in Phoenix.

Nash's contract runs out after the 2009-10 season, but a source told the Tribune that his extension would be for two years at about $11 million per season. Sarver refuted a Yahoo Sports report that said Nash's deal was for three years at $33 million.

"(Hill is) quite confident the team that's coming back next year is going to be a highly, highly competitive team and obviously that would include Steve Nash," Babby said. "But you need to get those specifics from the Suns."

The Knicks, previously turned down by Jason Kidd, hoped Hill would be intrigued by the opportunities the city could provide. His wife, Tamia, is a Grammy-nominated recording artist.

"New York offers many things, including an important platform off the court as well as on the court," Babby said. "I think the obvious advantages of each place were given careful consideration."

Hill is a seven-time All-Star who has averaged 18.5 points for Detroit, Orlando and Phoenix. Most of his six seasons with the Magic were ruined by injuries before the Suns signed him 2007. Babby said Hill considered the faith the Suns had in him two years ago, saying Hill, "didn't want to leave Phoenix on a sour note."

And the Suns strengthened their case with a late recruiting pitch after Hill had what Babby called a "very, very impressive visit" to New York. Team president Steve Kerr, owner Robert Sarver and coach Alvin Gentry then visited Hill, which Babby said might have been the deciding factor.