MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
His defense remains a disappointment and his attitude is still in need of a monkey wrench. But Amare Stoudemire once again (post-microfracture) established himself as a scoring machine (25.2 points per game, fifth in the league) and ended the season with a string of 18 straight games of at least 20 points.

After moving to the power forward spot when Shaquille O'Neal hit town, Stoudemire averaged 28.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.66 blocks. If O'Neal comes back in shape and Stoudemire can maintain those numbers over a full season, the Suns will have a dominant Kobe/LeBron/Carmelo-type scorer.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
Lots of candidates here. Raja Bell wasn't healthy much of the season. Steve Nash faded in the second half of the season. Boris Diaw didn't come close to living up to his $9 million contract.

But the winner has to be Leandro Barbosa, went from Sixth Man of the Year and the toast of Phoenix to likely trade bait after a disappointing season in which his shooting percentage dropped, his defense again failed to improve to NBA level and his third chance to serve as Nash's backup at point guard again fell flat. At season's end, the forever smiling, affable Barbosa had turned moody and sometimes sullen. With his biggest cheerleaders -- the D'Antoni brothers -- headed elsewhere, his time in Arizona could be up.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
The Suns' top seven players are all signed through at least the 2008-09 season if, as expected, Grant Hill exercises his player option. Rookies Alando Tucker and D.J. Strawberry will return. That leaves three spots to fill.

Eric Piatkowski, 38, won't return after two uneventful seasons in Phoenix and is leaning toward retirement. Sean Marks, a good teammate and hard worker in practice, might be invited back with D'Antoni -- who didn't like him and didn't play him for two seasons -- moving on. The Suns liked what they saw in Gordan Giricek after picking him up at the trade deadline and would like him back, but he can't make much more than the veteran's minimum. The same holds for Brian Skinner, who played well but had his role diminished after Shaquille O'Neal arrived.

Linton Johnson also might get a look if the incoming coach is looking for defense and athleticism.

PLAYER NOTES

--F Grant Hill turned down more money from other teams to sign a one-year deal -- with a player option for next year -- with Phoenix. And despite a frustrating end to his season -- he missed much of the playoffs with a possible second sports hernia -- he wants to return to Phoenix.

"Hopefully they want me back here because I want to be back," Hill said. "I'm disappointed I couldn't play when it really mattered, but I want to make sure I have a chance to make it right. I played 70 games and I was happy with the results, and I think I have a lot left to give."

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