Arizona Republic: Amare asks for less than max

[Xylus]

Coro's Suns dish

Paul Coro's Phoenix Suns' blog appears on azcentral.com. He covers the Suns for The Arizona Republic

Latest Amar'e trade talk

Amar'e Stoudemire lives to play another game as a Phoenix Sun tonight.
Monday passed and Stoudemire joined teammate Steve Nash on an evening flight to Memphis, where they joined their Suns teammates in preparation for tonight's game at Memphis. Everything Stoudemire does as a Sun comes with the backdrop of how long he will remain a Sun with the Thursday trade deadline looming.

The latest with his trade possibility is that the Cleveland deal we have been talking about in recent weeks is still very much at the forefront. This is a known option: Stoudemire to Cleveland for forward J.J. Hickson, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, swingman Danny Green and Cleveland's first-round pick (assumably No. 30).

Cleveland has other options. Phoenix has other options. And so we wait, probably until Thursday unless some offer comes along that overhwhelms one or the other.

Cleveland's negotiations with Phoenix and Miami hot pursuit of Stoudemire has stirred others to make moves on Stoudemire as well. Now that there is more interest, the Suns will likely use the next two days to evaluate all of their options with Stoudemire.

Other than Cleveland, Miami's fervor for Stoudemire makes the Heat the next most likely destination even though Miami does not really have anything that interests Phoenix. The Suns are not big on Michael Beasley, Jermaine O'Neal's massive expiring contract ($23 million, requiring more than Stoudemire to be outgoing) or anything on Miami's roster that does not go by the name of Dwayne Wade. That does not mean Miami is out of the picture, though. The onus is now on the Heat to find a third party that can make a deal more attractive for the Suns, who would take one of Miami's first-round picks. The talk of Corey Maggette-for-Zydrunas Ilgauskas also could very well be a third-party situation.

Amar'e Stoudemire has been approached about his willingness to play for either team. Cleveland is attractive for the championship chance reason. Miami is attractive because it is his home state.

Stoudemire was doing nothing to squash the speculation Monday, when he wrote on his Twitter account, "I play very well with Shaq. I averaged more points WITH him & played better D. You guys can stop saying we don't play well together."

On the contract extension front, Friday's exchange of proposals will be the last negotiation until after the trade deadline. The Suns did their due diligence to make an offer but it was unsatisfactory to Stoudemire. Phoenix offered Stoudemire's $17.7 million option salary for 2010-11 and two more years, with each paying him less than that 2010-11 season. Those salary numbers would make Stoudemire an asset to the Suns whether he played for them at those numbers or not. Stoudemire's camp submitted a proposal too Friday but it was not for the maximum-level salary he used to state that he felt he deserved.

Asked Sunday if a contract extension with Phoenix is still a possibility, Stoudemire said, "Absolutely." Many close to Stoudemire feel like he does not want to leave the city where he has been raising a family and the only franchise he has ever known. However, he has also been wounded a bit by the team's interest in a trade involving him for a third consecutive winter.

Miami's fervent interest in Stoudemire is a lot like Cleveland's. Pat Riley has to keep Dwayne Wade happy to stay in much the same way that Danny Ferry has to do it for LeBron James to stay in Cleveland. But no matter how much Miami keeps calling, they need to call back with something more creative in a three-way deal to make it work for the Suns. And the Heat has the ability to do it because it can save money for other franchises.

Philadelphia is not as strongly in the picture as it once was but the 76ers could get back into the mix at any time, most likely with Andre Iguodala involved. That is, if Philadelphia is willing to involve him after saying it would not. Philadelphia also could benefit from bring a three-way deal to Phoenix, which stands to benefit from any deal involving a third team. Chicago has been more active on Stoudemire and Boston has shown a good deal of interest with no package to pull it off.

And so we wait.

C'mon guys, just compromise and extend Amare. 3 yrs/$51 mil. Voila!

[23LeBronJames23]

Who said that he didnt want to play for the Cavs?

[lurker]

I think in the back of Amare's mind, he's worried about not having a point guard like Nash anymore. As he should be.

[Mel_13]

Gasol signing a less than max extension didn't help Amare's bargaining position.

[23LeBronJames23]

No one does.

There was a thread about it.

[Fpoonsie]

I think in the back of Amare's mind, he's worried about not having a point guard like Nash anymore. As he should be.

Yep.

[Jeremy]

The talk of Corey Maggette-for-Zydrunas Ilgauskas also could very well be a third-party situation.

Does this mean Maggette would come to the Suns?

[pauls931]

Gasol signing a less than max extension didn't help Amare's bargaining position.

Did kobe threaten Gasol if he costs the Lakers money to resign him for max?

[redzero]

I think in the back of Amare's mind, he's worried about not having a point guard like Nash anymore. As he should be.

He would have LeBron.

[Thunder Dan]

I think in the back of Amare's mind, he's worried about not having a point guard like Nash anymore. As he should be.

Lebron is a better point guard than Nash

[Thunder Dan]

:nope

averaged 13 assists as a part time point guard.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I think in the back of Amare's mind, he's worried about not having a point guard like Nash anymore. As he should be.


I agree. He won rookie of the year and had a 20 point 9 rebound season without Nash, that sucks.

[Mike D]

Lebron is a better point guard than Nash
Lebron is a better God than God.

He is a better chef than Emeril.

He is a better killer than Jack Bauer.

He's Tim Tebow's Tim Tebow.

Lebron is the bandage and the bane.
Lebron is the furor of the fires.
Lebron is the death that makes your life seem good.
Lebron is the pain that brings you close to God.
Lebron is the prophet warning of the flood.
Lebron is the answer you misunderstood.
Lebron does the evil that an honest man can't.
Lebron lives in shadows that the enemy casts.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Lebron is a better God than God.

He is a better chef than Emeril.

He is a better killer than Jack Bauer.

He's Tim Tebow's Tim Tebow.

Lebron is the bandage and the bane.
Lebron is the furor of the fires.
Lebron is the death that makes your life seem good.
Lebron is the pain that brings you close to God.
Lebron is the prophet warning of the flood.
Lebron is the answer you misunderstood.
Lebron does the evil that an honest man can't.
Lebron lives in shadows that the enemy casts.


That's cool and all, but he'd still get his ass kicked by Chuck Norris.

[JMarkJohns]

Supposedly the Heat are now offering Haslem, Beasley and both 2010 1sts that they own. If Wright is included, that's a quality offer. If they make the trade today, they could probably flip Haslem to a contending team in a one-for-one/late 1st deal where they receive a comparable expiring contract and a late 1st this or next year.

If the Suns can net Beasley, Wright and three 1sts, with one possibly being a lottery pick, that's something that can turn the talent foundation around in a hurry.

I'm not opposed to re-signing Amare, but this is the best package offered, and I think the Suns, if a trade is going to be made, should do this NOW, not wait for less, or wait for nothing...

[Thunder Dan]

Lebron is a better God than God.

He is a better chef than Emeril.

He is a better killer than Jack Bauer.

He's Tim Tebow's Tim Tebow.

Lebron is the bandage and the bane.
Lebron is the furor of the fires.
Lebron is the death that makes your life seem good.
Lebron is the pain that brings you close to God.
Lebron is the prophet warning of the flood.
Lebron is the answer you misunderstood.
Lebron does the evil that an honest man can't.
Lebron lives in shadows that the enemy casts.

I agree with all of the above.

[ClippersDynasty]

I agree with all of the above.

At least until he leaves in the offseason.

[Thunder Dan]

At least until he leaves in the offseason.

you had to sign into a troll to give that zinger? really? that's funny

[ClippersDynasty]

you had to sign into a troll to give that zinger? really? that's funny

I'm not a troll, faggot, I'm a clipper fan. I actually root for my team when they suck ass, I don't just show up when they suck into a once and a generation talent and start winning, like some people here.

[cobbler]

I'm not a troll, faggot, I'm a clipper fan. I actually root for my team when they suck ass, I don't just show up when they suck into a once and a generation talent and start winning, like some people here.

cause you have never started winning...

Your team is the laughing stock of the league... noooo... let me rephrase that... laughing stock of all professional sports!

move along loser boy.

[Smooth Criminal]

That's cool and all, but he'd still get his ass kicked by Chuck Norris.

Did you know there are 11 people in the world named Chuck Norris. Once he hears of this, give him a week and it will be down to one...

[Jeremy]

ESPN.com (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=TradeTalkRoundup-2010) is now talking about Amare/J-Rich for Q-Rich/Cook/Chalmers/Wright/O'Neal + draft picks. Cook is the only one with a guaranteed contract for next season.

Here's an even better idea:

Amare/J-Rich/Barbosa

for

Q-Rich/Chalmers/Wright/O'Neal + draft picks

That would leave the Suns with only about $24 million in guaranteed contracts (7 players) for next season. Plenty of cap room.

Or even ask for Beasley (although Suns don't seem to want him).

[JMarkJohns]

^ That's interesting, but I'd rather acquire Haslem, as he is more easily moved for a comparable expiring contract and a late 1st from some contending team.

O'Neal/Haslem/Richardson/both 2010 1sts and a future 1st (no protection)

For

Amare/Richardson/Barbosa

Heat get to keep some cheap talent, get to keep Beasley and add three proven scorers to Wade.

I would still rather the deal be O'Neal, Haslem, Beasley, Wright, 2010 1sts for Amare, Richardson, Barbosa

While I think Beasley will be mazing out around 17 ppg or so and 7/8 rpg, he's a quality comboforward and a capable starter. Flip Haslem into a late first and expiring contract and the Suns have a talent core of Dragic, Dudley, Clark, Beasley, Lopez and three 1sts to add to Nash and the possibility of a MAX contract (Bosh?). See if the Suns can't package Clark and some of those picks for a proven SG or SF or all the picks and Clark for a shot at Cousins in the draft.

PG: Nash, Dragic
SG: trade or draft
SF: Beasley, Dudley, Clark
PF: Bosh, Beasley
C: Lopez, draft or trade

That's solid for now and potentially great for the future.

That could really change the fortunes of the Suns, despite the best attempts of the owner and GM to sabotage such...

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Barbosa, J-Rich, Hill and Nash are the 4 players who need to be traded if the teams wants to successfully rebuild. If they plan on trading the one asset other teams would be interested in, they better make sure J-Rich and/or Barbosa is involved since no other team would want those scrubs.

[Xylus]

^ That's interesting, but I'd rather acquire Haslem, as he is more easily moved for a comparable expiring contract and a late 1st from some contending team.

O'Neal/Haslem/Richardson/both 2010 1sts and a future 1st (no protection)

For

Amare/Richardson/Barbosa

Heat get to keep some cheap talent, get to keep Beasley and add three proven scorers to Wade.

I would still rather the deal be O'Neal, Haslem, Beasley, Wright, 2010 1sts for Amare, Richardson, Barbosa

While I think Beasley will be mazing out around 17 ppg or so and 7/8 rpg, he's a quality comboforward and a capable starter. Flip Haslem into a late first and expiring contract and the Suns have a talent core of Dragic, Dudley, Clark, Beasley, Lopez and three 1sts to add to Nash and the possibility of a MAX contract (Bosh?). See if the Suns can't package Clark and some of those picks for a proven SG or SF or all the picks and Clark for a shot at Cousins in the draft.

PG: Nash, Dragic
SG: trade or draft
SF: Beasley, Dudley, Clark
PF: Bosh, Beasley
C: Lopez, draft or trade

That's solid for now and potentially great for the future.

That could really change the fortunes of the Suns, despite the best attempts of the owner and GM to sabotage such...

I'm perfectly fine with all of this. In fact, this was close to the same plan I outlined in another topic (though I traded Beasley away in mine). But it's only worth it if we could actually get Bosh.

[JMarkJohns]

It's more dire to trade Barbosa than Richardson, as the latter has but one year remaining on his contract after this year, and could potentially fetch a comparable expiring contract/package of contracts and late 1st from a contending team next trade deadline. Barbosa has a reasonable contract for his "healthy" production, but it extends too far for these Suns.

Amare/Barbosa for Richardson/Haslem/Beasley/2010 1st(s) works and makes sense. The Heat are basically exchanging Beasley's contract and 1 million or so of CAP space for Barbosa's contract, but such should be mandatory for securing Amare.

If that goes down, then, depending on if Hill and Frye opt out and the amount of 1sts and their salary slots, the Suns could still have enough to offer a MAX contract.

Then next season, look to trade Richardson for expiring contracts and Nash for expiring contracts... then again, have enough for a MAX contract after resigning Dudley (should they so desire, which they should).

They could build around Dragic, Clark, Dudley, Beasley, Lopez, four to five 1sts and two Max contracts. That would be an unbelievable success. Keep Dragic, Dudley and Lopez for sure, offer up Clark and/or Beasley and 1sts for a legit, good-shooting SG/SF and also a quality PF or C prospect, look to sign Bosh and then either a SG or SF the next offseason.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

It's more dire to trade Barbosa than Richardson, as the latter has but one year remaining on his contract after this year, and could potentially fetch a comparable expiring contract/package of contracts and late 1st from a contending team next trade deadline. Barbosa has a reasonable contract for his "healthy" production, but it extends too far for these Suns.

Amare/Barbosa for Richardson/Haslem/Beasley/2010 1st(s) works and makes sense. The Heat are basically exchanging Beasley's contract and 1 million or so of CAP space for Barbosa's contract, but such should be mandatory for securing Amare.

If that goes down, then, depending on if Hill and Frye opt out and the amount of 1sts and their salary slots, the Suns could still have enough to offer a MAX contract.

Then next season, look to trade Richardson for expiring contracts and Nash for expiring contracts... then again, have enough for a MAX contract after resigning Dudley (should they so desire, which they should).

They could build around Dragic, Clark, Dudley, Beasley, Lopez, four to five 1sts and two Max contracts. That would be an unbelievable success. Keep Dragic, Dudley and Lopez for sure, offer up Clark and/or Beasley and 1sts for a legit, good-shooting SG/SF and also a quality PF or C prospect, look to sign Bosh and then either a SG or SF the next offseason.


I have a feeling Nash isn't going anywhere. Wishful thinking and it would make sense to trade him for an expiring contract next year when we have our draft pick, but who do you think would trade for Nash next year?

[Rogue]

Amaré asked for less but the Suns still are trading him regardless on the only purport of shedding salaries.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I'm surprised the Republic even reported this, their campaign this entire season has been that "Amare is not a max player!!!" trying to justify it when Kerr and Sarver trade him for nothing just to shred payroll. I wonder what the new excuse is that Coro and Co. will cook up if they trade Amare for Jungle Juice Hickson.

[JMarkJohns]

I have a feeling Nash isn't going anywhere. Wishful thinking and it would make sense to trade him for an expiring contract next year when we have our draft pick, but who do you think would trade for Nash next year?

I think the Lakers would acquire him this year for Morrison, Fisher and Farmar. Suns keep Farmar, let Morrison expire and buyout Fisher so he can return to LA to backup Nash.

Lakers add a quality shooter to their offense, add a proven facilitator and shore up their only below average offensive position, while the Suns clear the CAP and receive a quality backup PG prospect for the trouble.

It would never happen, but Nash could hold some value. They may not be able to clear his entire salary as early as next offseason, but crazier things have happened, and Nash is popular, flashy and would put buts in the seat, so he'll have his suitors assuming the price isn't too steep.

Suns really shot themselves in the foot (I know, like it's the first time) by re-signing Nash. DUMB! They would be in PRIME position to build a three-year plan had they NOT sacrificed their future to "assure" and assuage fans that they were "committed" to winning.

Yeah, maybe winning just enough to look competitive, but not actually contend.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I think the Lakers would acquire him this year for Morrison, Fisher and Farmar. Suns keep Farmar, let Morrison expire and buyout Fisher so he can return to LA to backup Nash.

Lakers add a quality shooter to their offense, add a proven facilitator and shore up their only below average offensive position, while the Suns clear the CAP and receive a quality backup PG prospect for the trouble.

It would never happen, but Nash could hold some value. They may not be able to clear his entire salary as early as next offseason, but crazier things have happened, and Nash is popular, flashy and would put buts in the seat, so he'll have his suitors assuming the price isn't too steep.

Suns really shot themselves in the foot (I know, like it's the first time) by re-signing Nash. DUMB! They would be in PRIME position to build a three-year plan had they NOT sacrificed their future to "assure" and assuage fans that they were "committed" to winning.

Yeah, maybe winning just enough to look competitive, but not actually contend.


They gave the wrong player an extension, anyone other than Sarver and Kerr would know that. Right now they're trying to trade Amare and are realizing it'd be A LOT easier if they extended him so teams wouldn't have to worry about him bolting. Next year when they suck more and are trying to trade Nash, they'll realize a 37 YO PG with another year left on his contract isn't easy to unload.

[Jeremy]

The problem with all of our great ideas is that I just don't think Kerr/Sarver are smart enough to pull it off.

[JMarkJohns]

The problem with all of our great ideas is that I just don't think Kerr/Sarver are smart enough to pull it off.

I think they are plenty smart. Sarver willing... NO... Kerr able to stand up to an unwilling owner... NO...

Kerr isn't stupid, but is allowing Sarver to pull his strings.

Kerr had a returning package of Camby and Mike Miller coming to Phoenix in return for Marion two years ago, but Sarver nixed it because of the long-term salary. It was a brilliant three-team deal that got Denver CAP relief (exactly what they wanted for Camby, see later trade for nothing to Clips) and Memphis CAP relief (exactly what it wanted, see trades of Gasol and Darko).

Sarver killed it.

Like he prolly killin' this.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I'm not sure how much that trade would have done for Phoenix. The time to trade Marion was after the 2007 season. D'antoni is just as much to blame as Sarver IMO, the difference is he had a charming personally and is fwiends with M-V-Steve, so the fans love him. Over the years, Phoenix fans have given plenty of nice sports figures passes for certain things because they come across as nice people on TV.

[Jeremy]

Robin Lopez with his first double-double of the season tonight: 18 points and 10 rebounds.

[Jeremy]

I can't wait until 1 pm Thursday, when all this speculation will be over. Every news source contradicts each other.

[Xylus]

The Suns are looking really good right now. It'd be a shame to trade Amare at this point in the season.

Amare and Rolo combined for 39 points and 20 rebounds. The Suns outrebounded the Grizzlies and held them to 35.6% shooting. What defense?

[Xylus]

5 straight road games.

Don't fuck with me, Kerr. Don't do it.

[Pero]

I wonder if when Nash stops playing he'll get Gentry fired and install himself as the coach.

[pauls931]

I wonder if when Nash stops playing he'll get Gentry fired and install himself as the coach.

Haven't had my coffee yet this morning so on this Nash getting coaches fired stuff. Shut the fuck up please...

[Pero]

Haven't had my coffee yet this morning so on this Nash getting coaches fired stuff. Shut the fuck up please...

:lol

[pauls931]

Ok, one mug of coffee now... Just saying multiple factors got Porter fired, not winning, bad chemistry with shaq, Kerr/Sarver being cheap morons putting the wrong pieces together, etc. Sorry about being rude a while back, you fuckers...

[Pero]

Ok, one mug of coffee now... Just saying multiple factors got Porter fired, not winning, bad chemistry with shaq, Kerr/Sarver being cheap morons putting the wrong pieces together, etc. Sorry about being rude a while back, you fuckers...

LOL.. Actually I didn't even think of that, it was just an idea that popped into my mind. :)

[pauls931]

LOL.. Actually I didn't even think of that, it was just an idea that popped into my mind. :)

Ok, two mugs now, I'm to the point where I can refrain from swearing, you fu.... arrrggh!!!