"I'm going to shop (Steve) Nash immediately," he said, bringing a roar of laughter from the media and team officials attending his introductory news conference at U.S. Airways Center today.

When the laughter subsided, Kerr said he plans to tweak the Suns, not tear them apart.

"We've had a great team for three years," said Kerr, who agreed to a three-year contract. "This is not something that needs an overhaul."

The 41-year-old Kerr will take the general manager duties from coach Mike D'Antoni, who had added the responsibilities after Bryan Colangelo left for Toronto in February 2006.

"This is the best of all things that could happen for me," D'Antoni said.

Kerr's hiring was made official today. But it has been in the works since managing partner Robert Sarver bought the club three years ago.

Sarver had University of Arizona season tickets when Kerr helped lead the Wildcats to their first Final Four in 1988. When Sarver was looking into buying the Suns, Arizona coach Lute Olson introduced him to Kerr, who helped make introductions within the NBA and eventually became an investor in Sarver's group.

"This wasn't a case where I'm coming in cold turkey and trying to figure out what's going on," Kerr said. "I know pretty well what's going on, and I'm very comfortable with it. I love the style of play. I love Mike's coaching abilities. I love the players. It's an incredibly talented group."

The Suns have two first-round picks and a second-rounder in the upcoming NBA draft, and Kerr said "we anticipate using those picks."

Kerr spent 15 seasons as a guard in the NBA, winning three titles with the Chicago Bulls and two more with the San Antonio Spurs. Kerr, who retired as a player in 2003, holds the record for career 3-point field goal percentage (.454, 726-of-1,599).

Kerr has spent the last four years as a television analyst. But Sarver said Kerr's lack of front-office experience won't slow him.