HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Suns will interview Houston assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Friday and have permission from the Los Angeles Lakers to talk to their assistant, Steve Clifford, a source said in confirming a Yahoo! report. The Suns also expect to interview Utah assistant Jeff Hornacek, an ex-Sun who lives in the Valley, and Quin Snyder, who resigned at Missouri amid an NCAA probation in 2006 and turned to a pro career as a D-League coach, NBA assistant and currently CSKA Moscow’s assistant. Arizona Republic

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Coaching, Jeff Hornacek, Quin Snyder, JB Bickerstaff, Steve Clifford 

The Phoenix Suns recently asked and received permission from the Lakers to talk with assistant coach Steve Clifford about their vacant head-coaching position, according to Lakers spokesman John Black. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Steve Clifford 

Houston Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff will meet with Suns officials on Friday in Phoenix, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Suns have also received permission to interview Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, sources said. Bickerstaff (Detroit and Milwaukee) and Clifford (Charlotte and Milwaukee) have each interviewed for two other jobs in recent weeks. Yahoo! Sports

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, JB Bickerstaff, Steve Clifford 

The Suns are also interested in speaking to CSKA Moscow assistant coach Quin Snyder, sources said. As a Lakers assistant last year, he received interest for the Charlotte and Orlando coaching jobs. Utah assistant coach Jeff Hornacek is also on the Suns' short list. Yahoo! Sports

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Russia, Jeff Hornacek, Quin Snyder, CSKA Moscow 

Markieff Morris already has played for the Suns longer than Dumas did. Dumas’ 128 games, including 23 in the 1993 playoffs, left everyone, except Dumas, wanting more. Dumas let it all go with amazing ease and lives simply now. He scraps to make a living with more appreciation than regret about his fame, which was fleeting in the NBA, even though it is everlasting in Suns lore. “I just played for fun and was blessed to do it,” said Dumas, who turned 44 on Sunday. “I didn’t get caught up in all that. People took it more serious than I wanted. Basketball ain’t my problem. Life was. It was off the court that I had my problem. That’s been a lifelong thing.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Richard Dumas 

Dumas went astray again in 1998 for a cocaine arrest. He tried comebacks in Croatia, where he played center until he hurt his knee, and the minors, where he never showed up to play because he said he hurt his knee a day before his trip to Westchester, N.Y. More honestly, he said he had lost his passion. That kneecap sticks out of a bony joint today, but Dumas said hard-labor jobs have kept him in shape. “I don’t want to be sitting there looking like Charles Barkley on a Weight Watchers commercial,” Dumas said. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Charles Barkley, Richard Dumas 

Dumas said he lost all his NBA fortune on drugs, back taxes and a divorce but said he never played for riches. Today, he is trying to wipe the slate clean with basketball. He has started Richard Dumas and Friends Athletic Association, with the help of old friends for sponsors — Mark West and the Suns, Dan Majerle and his Majerle’s Sports Grill chain and Miller, who sells cars at Superstition Springs Chrysler Jeep Dodge. Dumas and Friends organizes sports camps and clinics, including Dumas coaching. At 6 feet 7, Dumas’ frame begs the question about whether he played basketball — most do not recognize him from the best season in Suns history. “I used to, back when I was young,” Dumas tells them. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Mark West, Dan Majerle, Richard Dumas 

Dumas is living backward, finding joy on the court like a kid and reveling in chances to attend Suns games in the building he helped open. “I’m enjoying life,” Dumas said after a long pause of reflection. “I traveled the world. I’ve done what a lot of people wanted to do. “I did it the opposite way. Now I’ve got to work for a living.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Richard Dumas 

On the head-coaching search front, McDonough said his list expands as he narrows it because new names are cropping up as possibilities. The scheduling of interviews is complicated by the number of coaching vacancies, which could wind up being one-third of the league’s teams. Some candidates are also with active playoff teams and that becomes an issue with draft prospects possibly starting to come to Phoenix next week for individual workouts. “Ideally, I would like to have a guy in place for the draft workouts but I’m not going to rush the process just to hire a guy to run the draft workouts,” McDonough said. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Ryan McDonough 

Goran Dragic: "We all loved playing for coach Alvin Gentry. He didn't fulfill the club's expectations although all of us players wanted him to stay in charge! He still ended up being fired. Lindsey Hunter became the new head coach, but he didnt have any coaching experience prior." Kosarka.si

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Goran Dragic, Alvin Gentry, Lindsey Hunter 

Dragic feels sorry that players themselves contributed to the departure of Alvin. He doesnt hide the fact that he wanted Dan Majerle as a head coach. Kosarka.si

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Goran Dragic, Alvin Gentry, Lindsey Hunter 

Chad Ford: Mock Draft 3.0 coming. Sneak peak at Top 5. 1. Cavs - Noel 2. Magic - Burke 3. Wizards - Porter 4. Bobcats - McLemore 5. Suns - Oladipo Twitter @chadfordinsider

Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, Draft, Nerlens Noel, Trey Burke, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter 

Paul Coro: #Suns GM McDonough on #5 pick: "We're excited about it. We're going to get a good player. There are more than 5 good players in this draft." Twitter @paulcoro

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Ryan McDonough 

Paul Coro: #Suns GM Ryan McDonough: "My philosophy is always to draft the best player available." Twitter @paulcoro

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Ryan McDonough 

Dumas is fidgety and scattered at times in conversation but exudes an overall calm. He said he has been clean for so many years that he does not recall when he took his last drug hit. “He turned out to be a good kid until he got in trouble,” said Ted Hooks, 59, a Tulsa neighbor and friend of Dumas’ grandfather. “Everybody was a Suns fan on this street. He’s a nice person who just got caught up in the wrong stuff. That’s what I hate about it. When he was on the court, he was a totally different person.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Richard Dumas 

Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Malone and San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer are the top candidates, one executive said. Former Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry and Indiana Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw are being considered as well, another executive said. Los Angeles Times

Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Byron Scott, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Alvin Gentry, Mike Budenholzer, Mike Malone 

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, part of the discussion between Howard and Kupchak centered around Howard's frustration with D'Antoni -- particularly how the center felt marginalized as the coach looked to Bryant and Steve Nash for leadership and suggestions and discounted Howard's voice. ESPN.com

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash 

If the Suns hadn’t been in the Finals, and Jerry Colangelo hadn’t attended that game, who knows whether he would have warmed up to an idea that led to the expansion Diamondbacks? Michael Jordan’s 55 points led to a Bulls victory in Game 4 and left the Suns on the brink of vacation. An incident during the game left Colangelo with a double-dose of ill feelings. He was sitting with his son, Bryan, when he heard a commotion behind him where his wife, Joanie, and mother were. “What’s going on?” Colangelo asked. “The guy behind us told your mom to shut up and sit down,” Joanie said. Arizona Republic

Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Michael Jordan, Jerry Colangelo, Bryan Colangelo 

Colangelo was livid and told the man to apologize. He wouldn’t. Colangelo sent his wife and mother away from the seats. “You don’t want to do this, Mr. Colangelo,” a security guard told him. As the game ended, the fan gave Colangelo the finger. Colangelo leaped over a row of seats and grabbed him. He got a punch in before security pulled him away. “It’s a Chicago story,” Colangelo said, smiling. Later, the man who owned the seats occupied by the culprit called Colangelo to apologize. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Jerry Colangelo, Bryan Colangelo 

Suns scouts have held a high interest in Len since before the past college season. “I think I have the biggest upside in this draft from the big guys,” Len said. “Maybe 10 years from now, I’ll be the best player in this draft.” The combine benefited Zeller, younger brother of ex-Suns player Luke Zeller. He did not show much improvement in his sophomore season or the shooting range that he needs to be an NBA face-up power forward. But Zeller measured 7 feet in shoes, although his wingspan is an inch shorter, and he had the best standing vertical leap (35 1/2 inches) and fastest lane agility drill time of all combine participants. His three-quarter court sprint was sixth fastest. “I have the ability to shoot,” Zeller said. “I didn’t show it as much this year. We needed more of a low-post player. We had so many outside shooters. I think I’ll be able to show more of that ability in individual workouts.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Alex Len