By Paul Coro

If the eye test, September optimism and pickup games count, a recipe for
more exciting times is brewing at America West Arena.

The start of the third week of informal workouts yielded the best turnout
yet. Twelve of the Suns' 14 players under contract attended Monday.

Maciej Lampe is away to help Poland try to qualify for the European
Championships. Howard Eisley, who no longer fits Phoenix's high-octane
formula, is
with his expectant wife.

Four of the participants have never played a regular-season game for the
Suns. A fifth, Steve Nash, last did so in 1998, and that was with less fanfare
than the two-time All-star experienced shooting commercials Monday.

"It feels new and I feel old," Nash, 30, said after playing with a roster
with an average age of 24.5. "We have a young team. It's changed so much
since I was here last. It's a totally different perspective. It's a big
change
but also a homecoming in some ways. I'm excited about it."

The Suns' big-dollar additions, Nash and Quentin Richardson, make even
voluntary scrimmages look and feel different. Nash brings direction to the
floor,
in subtle and flashy ways.

"I see it happening," forward Amaré Stoudemire said. "The chemistry is
going to get a lot better. We've got a floor general who will slow it down
when
we need to and get us in a good play. That's what we need to be a good team."

Richardson arrived Monday with a board-crashing, post-playing,
sweet-shooting style that cranked up the intensity. Signs surfaced for a happy
coexistence with fellow swingman Joe Johnson.

"The best sign that comes of all of this is that everyone is here," said
Bryan Colangelo, Suns president and general manager. "Everyone's here putting
in the time and effort and getting to know each other. That can only lead to
better preparation and chemistry for camp."

Nash has participated in the past two weeks of workouts to get a jump on
conditioning and familiarity before heading to Flagstaff on Oct. 4.

"We've got a lot of capable players," Nash said. "It's just a matter of how
hard we work and how we play together. Guys have to make sure the team is
greater than the individual parts."

Colangelo said the 14 signed players have the only guaranteed contracts the
Suns will give.

He likes the team's depth and what the Stephen Hunter signing provides at
center with Jake Voskuhl. Lampe, rookie Jackson Vroman and Stoudemire also can
play there.

"There will be quite a bit of wrestling for minutes on this team," Colangelo
said.

Two players likely will be added for training camp in October. One of the
summer Suns, veteran guard Derrick Dial, is a possibility to go along with
another big man.


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