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PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns will have salary cap "flexibility" in the off-season but wont be out spending money just to spend it. Mike Wallace Jersey . Lon Babby, president of basketball operations, said in a luncheon with Phoenix area reporters Wednesday that theres "a distinct possibility" that the team might hold off with any major spending another year if the right situation doesnt come up this summer. "We worked hard to put ourselves in this position, to have this kind of flexibility, to have a range of opportunities," Babby said, "but I am absolutely determined that we are going to be disciplined in how we approach this because we cannot get ourselves right back in the same spot that we were in by doing bad contracts, not assessing value properly, not making the right choices in terms of personnel." Babby also said that both the organization and Steve Nash are open to the possibility of the star point guards return for a ninth straight season with Phoenix, although that will depend on a number of factors involving Nashs and the teams desires. Nash is a free agent and says he will explore what options he has around the NBA. "What I would say about it at this very early stage is that every indication weve gotten from Steve is not only is our spirit willing to make this happen but his spirit is willing as well," Babby said. "That doesnt mean its going to happen. We respect his right to look around. We will work hard with him to find common ground and well see where that goes." It is not as simple, he said, as Nash saying he wants to come back. There are other issues, such as the amount of a contract and its length. "Weve got to go down a road with him and see if we can find a common path, a path that makes sense for him and then makes sense for us," Babby said. "Everybody here wants Steve Nash to retire as a Phoenix Sun and were going to work very hard to work with him to see if that can happen, but its got to be good not only for him but its got to be good for us, and he understands that." Babby is aware of criticism that the Suns erred by not trading Nash this season, thereby getting some value for him rather than see him walk away as a free agent. The Suns executive, a former sports agent for the likes of Tim Duncan and Grant Hill, said that by not trading him, the team got the benefit of another season at which Nash played at a high level. Left unsaid was the fact that there was no way the Suns would get anything close to high value in such a deal. Besides, Babby said, "if he doesnt come back, were going to have $10 million more of cap space." Babby completed his second season as head of basketball operations following the departure of Steve Kerr after the teams surprise run to the Western Conference finals. Phoenix has missed the playoffs the past two seasons and three of the last four. In other personnel matters, Babby said the 39-year-old Hills return largely would depend on health issues. He said he couldnt imagine Hill re-signing with anyone but Phoenix. He also said he would be inclined to match any offer to restricted free agent centre Robin Lopez. Babby said the teams biggest need is for a "dynamic scorer," preferably one in the post. Thats not an easy find in any year and this is not considered a great season for free agents. Babby said that rather than sign a free agent, the Suns could use some cap money for "one-sided trades." He also said the team needs to do better in the draft. Only two players on the roster, Lopez and rookie Markieff Morris, were drafted by Phoenix, discounting Nash, who was selected by the Suns but traded to Dallas before returning to the desert as a free agent. Babby said that his experience as an agent has shown him how teams that feel desperate to do something will sign free agents to contracts far too high than would seem logical. "As the pressure builds to do something, you get teams to make some very bad decisions, and were not going to do that," Babby said. "Im not going to sell false hope. Were going to move forward and were going to build this thing brick by brick." Reggie Wayne Jersey . The Rangers are the top seed in the East for the first time since they won their last Stanley Cup title in 1994, but New York was forced to stave off elimination in Game 6. Lance Ball Jersey . The first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship aggregate final pits MLS rivals Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps against one another at BC Place to determine which club will represent the country in the CONCACAF Champions League. Peyton Manning Jersey . Nadal advanced to the final without dropping a set when he beat Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-4 in his semifinal on Saturday, while Djokovic earlier rallied from a set down to beat Tomas Berdych 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and reach his second final at Monte Carlo. Tracy Porter Broncos Jersey . A favourite at Fenway Park for so long, he wanted a final chance to say so long. The Boston Red Sox traded away the hard-nosed Youkilis on Sunday, sending the three-time All-Star infielder and cash to the Chicago White Sox for utilityman Brent Lillibridge and right-hander Zach Stewart. Rob Gronkowski Youth Jersey . - The Chicago White Sox just kept pecking away at Chad Billingsley until they scraped across enough runs to give Philip Humber an early cushion to work with.UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Jack Capuano was rewarded Tuesday by the New York Islanders, who removed the interim tag from their head coachs job title after he led a second-half improvement in an otherwise disappointing season. New York (30-39-13) finished last in the Atlantic Division for the fourth straight season and were 14th in the 15-team Eastern Conference. But under Capuano, who replaced the fired Scott Gordon on Nov. 15, the Islanders went 26-29-10, including a 25-21-8 mark over the final 54 games. "It was almost a tale of two seasons," general manager Garth Snow said. "He took over a team that was really down in the dumps emotionally, mentally. He did an excellent job getting the best out of our players. You could see it in the way our team played from December on. "As our players gained confidence and performed at a high level, and our team started having success on the ice, it became apparent to me that Jack is the right coach for this team." Snow declined to reveal the length or financial terms of Capuanos contract. The Islanders were hit by injuries, although that alone did not account for a season in which they missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year. They finished with 73 points, six fewer than last season, and only three teams had less points. But Capuano and Snow believe this team has a real chance to make the playoffs as soon as next season. "I feel very strongly moving forward," Capuano said. "We have a young group of guys, and if we continue to make the strides that were going to make, there is no question I think we can be a post-season team." This season was ultimately doomed during a stretch from Oct. 23 until Dec. 13 when the Islanders lost 20-of-21 games and picked up only five of 42 points (1-17-3). That sealed the fate for Gordon, in his third season. Capuano brought a gregarious personality and open lines of communication, a marked change from Gordons more rigid structure. "The guys loosened up a little bit and weere able to play a little more freely," forward Kyle Okposo said. Dwight Freeney Jersey. "We were able to communicate some things to Cappy. "Its never an easy situation when somebody leaves, especially a coach, but I thought the guys handled it very well and Cappy did a great job." Capuano, an NHL head coach for the first time, was 133-100-8-14 in four seasons at Bridgeport. He did well with the Islanders young roster, leading many players that he also coached in the minors. That familiarity convinced Snow that Capuano was the right man. "Jack had a big role in getting the best out of this group," Snow said. "When you watched how our team played, it was a team that played with a lot of passion, a lot of structure, they played for each other. "That gives a lot of credence to how well Jack has done." Capuano was originally hired by the Islanders as an assistant coach for the 2005-06 season. Before coming to New York he was general manager of the ECHLs Pee Dee Pride, and coached the team, as well, several times. The Islanders were undercut by a slew of ailments that began even before the season started. Capuano insists that is no excuse. "It was my goal to move forward and try to win hockey games and get this team in the post-season," he said. "I am not happy that we fell short of that." Okposo and top defenceman Mark Streit sustained devastating shoulder injuries in the preseason. Okposo made it back in late January, but never reached his usual high level of play. Streit missed the entire season and led a long list of defencemen who were nicked up all year. "Were in the process of evaluating why those injuries happen," Snow said. "Its going to take some time. "I firmly believe that we had a team that wouldve been in the playoffs if we didnt sustain the injuries that we had. Its when our depth started sustaining injuries that it became more and more difficult for our team to gain wins." ' ' '