<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"We are already looking at guys, contacting agents," Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. "I think it's safe to say we're looking for a wing defender/shooter. Obviously, losing Shawn, Grant (Hill) moves into that role considerably in terms of the versatile defender. You saw (Wednesday vs. New Orleans), he slides over and guards Chris Paul in crunch time and does a great job, but we don't want to run Grant out there for 38 minutes, either. "D.J. (Strawberry) can also fill that role. Excellent defender. I would think we will add somebody like that. Preferably a guy who's played a bit." Untainted MVP Suns center Shaquille O'Neal was quoted a year ago in Dallas as questioning how the media votes for the league MVP and that Suns guard Steve Nash's two MVP awards were tainted. "No, I never said that," O'Neal said Thursday. "Did I? If I said that, delete it from the files." O'Neal broke out into a big smile, because he relishes the chance to play with Nash, noting how much easier it will be for him to run on offense when he knows the ball will come to him. "He's one of the only guys who I feel beat me out for the MVP fair and square," O'Neal said. "No questions asked. A lot of guys were like, 'Come on.' But this guy, look at what he can do and what he's done. When they asked me about it, I just had to give it up to him. He's a great player. Very, very unselfish. Too unselfish at times. "I haven't had that in a while, so I look forward to getting easy baskets. When I get easy baskets, I shoot a hell of a high percentage. I just look forward to getting a couple lobs and easy passes." The Miami fallout O'Neal won a championship in his three-plus years in Miami, but his relationship seemed to sour with Heat coach Pat Riley during their struggles this season. Asked about that relationship, O'Neal said it remains professional. "He's a great coach; he's had an illustrious career," he said. "He's won a lot of championships. I don't take anything personally, because he actually helped me (possibly get championships) Number 5 and Number 6." Free throws Suns All-Star Amaré Stoudemire, ex-Suns player Eddie Johnson and Mercury player Cappie Pondexter will represent Phoenix in the Shooting Stars competition Feb. 16 during All-Star weekend in New Orleans. • O'Neal Suns jerseys can be ordered at suns.com and will be shipped Feb. 19. O'Neal jersey sales ranked 12th in the NBA at the end of last season.</div> Source: AZ Central
