So, if we have seen the last of #13, then the question becomes who will we be seeing mining the point guard position next season?

The Suns have shown interest in unrestricted free agents Goran Dragic and Raymond Felton. Plus, they just drafted Kendall Marshall, North Carolina's floor general, with the 13th overall pick in last week's draft.

But might there be another option, one already on the roster?

Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said after signing Sebastian Telfair last year, "I think we've got a chance to catch lightning in a bottle."

The problem -- at least initially -- was that Telfair hardly produced anything that amounted to a storm.

He began the season as the team's third point guard. It wasn't until after the All-Star break -- 7.9 points per game and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 45.8% -- that he really came into his own.

"Second half of the season I came out played with a lot of confidence, got a lot better, was a lot more consistent," the eight-year veteran said the day he and his teammates cleaned out their lockers.

And it's how he closed the season, scoring double figures in eight of the final 11 games, including two 20-point performances, that has the 2012 Dan Majerle Hustle award winner believing he is ready to lead a team.

"Absolutely. Absolutely," said Telfair. "I think I've been waiting for this opportunity to lead a team and be in the playoffs and get an opportunity to play for the gold with me being the guy out there contributing to getting them wins."

With his play late in the season, Telfair earned the full confidence of head coach Alvin Gentry going into next season. But whether that means Gentry will hand over the keys to the offense is still to be determined.

"Steve here or if it's another guard here, I think my role here is going to be huge: back up point guard, starting point guard," said Telfair. "It means a lot at that position as far as what you do for the team to be successful."