Hoopsworld did a great interview with Steve Kerr yesterday; hope you enjoy.
Summer league means different things to different teams. For some, like the Portland TrailBlazers, it means a chance to see one of the next true impact players, Jerryd Bayless, take the court against other NBA players for the first time. For the Detroit Pistons it was more about giving their young second unit a chance to get out and play full court basketball together in the summer league setting. For most teams, though, it's more about getting a couple of players some experience in an environment where wins and losses aren't really the point.
The Suns were in that last category, as GM Steve Kerr told HOOPSWORLD.
"It's important, especially for our young guys. We have three guys who will be on our regular roster: Robin Lopez, DJ Strawberry, and Alando Tucker. It's great for them. They get to play, they get to learn the NBA game, they get the experience, and it will help them prepare for training camp. It's an important deal for us to be here."
Tucker was part of a backcourt duo that made some noise in Las Vegas. He and DJ Strawberry had the Suns' team running like they were the real Suns, and personally averaged 21.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while connecting on 57% of his shots . . .many of which were fastbreak lay-ups. Does that mean he's ready to crack the rotation in November?
"We'd like him to be," says Kerr. "Tuck can score. He's just one of those guys who can put the ball in the hole. The question is whether we can make that translate into what we're trying to do as a team with Steve (Nash), Amare (Stoudemire) and Shaq (O'Neal). He's not a great shooter, he's a decent shooter, but he's a great scorer. We've got to figure out how to make that fit."
At the point guard position for the Suns was DJ Strawberry, who was a steal by any measure in last summer's draft. The Suns got him with the 59th overall selection, which normally would have been a player headed to Europe or the NBDL. After a brief mid-season stint with Albuquerque in the D-League, where he averaged 32 points in five games, Strawberry spent most of the season with the Suns. He put up 18 points per game for the summer league squad.
"He's been playing well," admits Kerr. "He's very good defensively, he's tough, he can play either guard spot. We're pleased with what we've seen from DJ. He still needs to get more experience, get smarter with the game, learn to control the game from the point guard spot. He's playing well and he's got a chance to be in our rotation this year, too."
As much as Tucker, Strawberry, and newcomer Robin Lopez are expected to help the Suns next season, their title hopes are centered around Shaquille O'Neal. After being injured for much of his post-title stay in Miami, Shaq was acquired by the Suns in hopes he would put them over the top in their quest for an NBA championship. That didn't happen, of course, and the Suns were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. Still, Kerr believes Shaq's presence in Phoenix is yet to be truly felt.
"I think it's a big deal to have Shaq for the whole year next season. We'll be able to establish our defense and what we're trying to accomplish in October rather than trying to do it on the fly in February. Hopefully with a full year under his belt Shaq can really make the adjustment. I thought he played well for us last year; unfortunately our season ended a little earlier than we had hoped, but we'll be better this year because of that experience and the fact that he'll have a training camp with us."
Finally, in addition to the acquisition of Shaq and the drafting of Lopez, the Suns are counting on new head coach Terry Porter to guide them to the next level. Porter made it to the Finals twice as a player with the Portland TrailBlazers, when he was part of the best back court in the NBA (with Clyde Drexler), and spent several seasons playing with Kerr in San Antonio, just missing a title there. Now he's hoping to finally get that elusive championship as a head coach.
"All of our guys were really excited about the hire," beams Kerr. "Terry's a guy who is well-respected around the league, he carries himself with a lot of confidence, and he's a guy who's had some experience as a head coach in Milwaukee and the last couple years as an assistant in Detroit. I think Terry is primed to really become a great head coach and I'm excited for him to have the opportunity."
The Suns aren't finished making moves, and continue to be a part of many scenarios making their rounds in the rumor mills. Their best hope for a title, however, is already safely secured in a Phoenix jersey. They will go as far as Shaquille O'Neal takes them, and the Suns hope that's all the way.
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