Setting Sun? (Excerpts)

by Net Income on Feb 6, 2010 12:14 PM EST in NetsDaily Blog

BY CHRIS MANNIX

With potential suitors wary of his salary demands, Phoenix is having trouble moving Amar'e Stoudemire.

It's like the Craigslist ad that you refresh twice to be sure it's not a put-on: Used All-Star center. Runs the floor like a gazelle, attacks the rim and knocks down the midrange j's. Equal value not required! As the Suns fade in the Western Conference race, the rest of the league is keenly aware that 6' 10" power forward Amar'e Stoudemire is on the market. While it seems like a no-brainer for Phoenix to swap Stoudemire—a potential free agent who has been dogged by questions about his attitude--the team is finding that offering a star at deep discount leads to one thing: a slew of unacceptable, almost insulting offers.

Stoudemire's contract is not the only concern for would-be suitors. "He's a handful," says a source familiar with the Suns. "Great talent, lot of baggage." Some Phoenix teammates privately wonder whether his commitment to winning (read: defense) will ever match his drive to fill a stat sheet. What's more, Stoudemire missed 29 games last season with a partially detached retina after sitting out all but three games in 2005-06 while recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee.

"That's two serious injuries in five years," says an Eastern executive. "If you are a G.M., you have to consider that before you commit to him for the long term."

Add it all up and it equals a lukewarm market. While at least eight teams have expressed interest in Stoudemire (including Chicago, Cleveland, Golden State, New Jersey and Washington) none so far have offered anything to get Phoenix's attention.

The last-place Nets, however, should. Mikhail Prokhorov, the team's deep-pocketed new owner, wants to make a splash, and signing Stoudemire to an extension accomplishes that. Stoudemire's attitude is likely to improve in a new environment, and he could be a perfect complement to uptempo point guard Devin Harris
and low-post threat Brook Lopez.

The cost would be steep; any deal for Stoudemire is likely to include New Jersey's first-round pick, which would give them the best chance at the No. 1 choice. But cornerstone power forwards in the prime of their careers don't become available every day. With a top pick in their pocket the Suns would give their fans hope for the future. And Stoudemire, finally, could move on.

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Chris

What are you smoking? Seems like it is working

by ron on Feb 6, 2010 1:53 PM EST reply actions

Chris,do you have pics of anybody over S.I. or you are related to Isiah Thomas perhaps you should write a new article retracting your genius idea

by rubenp3 on Feb 6, 2010 3:10 PM EST reply actions

“As the Suns fade in the Western Conference race…”

Yeah, they’ve won 5 in a row and moved up from 9th seed to 5th seed. Sure sounds like fading..

by joe on Feb 6, 2010 4:34 PM EST reply actions

Why should Nets want to trade for Amare? A Nets Insider revealed last week that they aren’t interested in trading for him – period.

If Nets want Amare, they can wait until July, since Phoenix wouldn’t take a chance to trade him for little in return.

Even if a contender were to somehow get Amare before deadline, he would still be a FA this summer.
Noone would offer much for him without the desire, guarantee and ability to re-sign Amare to a Max contract.

And even in July, Amare would be my last choice, only if DLee refused to sign with Nets and then Boozer wouldn’t sign with Nets. Amare is damaged goods. He is 3rd choice in July.

by jerry25 on Feb 6, 2010 5:37 PM EST reply actions

damaged goods??? you must’ve not watched Amare this season.

by joe on Feb 6, 2010 7:50 PM EST reply actions

@joe
It was written the Amare will need another knee surgery at some point.

He is playing good in his “contract” year. Steve Nash forces him to be a better player on offense.

I don’t think Amare has the determination to play near 100% at all times, the way someone like DLee does.

It has already been said by many that he doesn’t have a high basketball IQ. Also, not sure how he would coexist with BLopez.

by jerry25 on Feb 6, 2010 9:27 PM EST reply actions

Amare is a diva. Basketball players with heart win championships. Do not need the clown.

by Dziedzic on Feb 9, 2010 4:05 PM EST reply actions

Just draft well in 2010 along with trading Yi, C.Lee and J.Boone with future number one picks to get more picks this year to make us young and talented.
Getting a Diva or a overpriced free agent is not going to work. We have three years to develope the young talent in Newark and be up and running in 2013 in Brooklyn.
This is the only option that makes sense.
Example:
Trade to Minnesota Yi and a future number one for their 2010 draft pick. (Draft C.Aldrich to back up B.Lopez and help out at PF)
Trade our 2010 Dallas number one and a future number one to move up and get a top seven pick. (Draft D.Cousins to start next to B.Lopez)
With our number one take J.Wall. (D.Harris and K.Dooling to teach him for a year or two)
Trade to a Utah/Knicks #1 Pick) C.Lee and our future G.S. number one pick. (Draft E.Turner to back up C.D.Roberts along with playing the three)
It is time to get greedy in this years draft and be ready to develope this team for the Brooklyn move.
By drafting the above players we are getting not just top talent but high character guys whom would blend in towards future championships.
Drafting W.Johnson by trading future picks makes sense to.
This can be done by sending Yi and C.Lee out of here to get even younger but more talented.
2010 Nets Team:
1st UNIT:
PG/D.Harris
SG/C.D.Roberts
SF/W.Johnson
PF/D.Cousins
C/B.Lopez
2nd UNIT:
PG/K.Dooling……J.Wall
SG/E.Turner…….T.Williams
SF/J.Hayes……..T.Williams
PF/K.Humphries
C/C.Aldrich
Start trading future picks for the next couple years along with Yi and C.Lee and we wil have room for a future F/A in 2013 that just might be that one piece needed then to dominate for the championship.