Phoenix Suns coach Terry Porter will be fired today and replaced by assistant Alvin Gentry, a person familiar with the decision said last night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the official announcement had not been made.

The move was first reported by The Arizona Republic on its Web site yesterday.

The Suns were attempting, without success, to avoid making news over the All-Star weekend being staged on their home turf. The franchise also is in talks with numerous teams about trading Amare Stoudemire, a starter in last night's All-Star game.

Porter was four months into his first season on the three-year, $6 million contract he got to replace Mike D'Antoni, who left after four highly successful seasons to coach the New York Knicks.

Gentry, extremely popular with Suns players, has been a coach in the NBA for 20 years, including interim head coaching stints with Miami and Detroit. He was head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers from 2000 to 2003.

"I think Alvin is a great players' coach," Stoudemire said after the All-Star Game. "He gets along with his players well. Of course, he'll have a great game plan from a basketball standpoint. I think it will be somewhat up-tempo."

Asked if the coaching change was needed, Stoudemire said, "Only time can tell."

"I think Terry Porter definitely put a lot of hard work in here to try to get us on the right track," he said, "and I'm pretty sure Alvin's going to do the same."

TRADE

PISTONS TO DEAL ACKER

The Detroit Pistons will trade seldom-used guard Alex Acker to the Los Angeles Clippers for an exchange of future draft picks, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press yesterday.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the trade hasn't been announced.

The 6-foot-5 Acker played in just seven games for the Pistons this season, averaging 1.3 points.

ALL-STAR GAME

ROSE LOOKING TO FUTURE

Chicago's Derrick Rose played in the rookie challenge Friday night and won the skills challenge Saturday night, capping his victory with a reverse double-pump dunk.

Rose is hoping that next year he can move up to All-Star weekend's main event.

"Oh, man, I really can't wait," he said. "Of course the season isn't over with, but next year — this summer, I'll work harder, work on my weaknesses and just go hard throughout the whole summer, because playing in the big game is real important to me. One day I wish that I could be playing in it."