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Perhaps signaling a willingness to dismantle their roster, the Phoenix Suns have begun exchanging trade proposals with teams for All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire, league executives told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday.
With dysfunction and dissension reigning within the Suns, rival front-office executives believe general manager Steve Kerr is determined to move Stoudemire and others before the Feb. 19 trade deadline.
While Stoudemire, 26, is the Suns’ most valuable asset, sources say Kerr has told teams that he’s willing to trade anyone on his roster except for point guard Steve Nash.
“Everyone is on the table but Nash,” one executive said.
Phoenix owner Robert Sarver has been more reluctant to part with Stoudemire and still hasn’t yet given his blessing to act on a Stoudemire proposal. Nevertheless, most believe that Sarver will inevitably do so.
While there will likely be some interest in a rejuvenated Shaquille O’Neal, it is Stoudemire, the enigmatic 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward, whom most NBA teams have an interest in acquiring.
If Kerr and assistant GM David Griffin do trade Stoudemire, a four-time All-Star, they want a combination of expiring contracts, a talented young player – preferably a forward – and draft picks. Stoudemire is expected to opt out of his contract for the historic free-agent summer of 2010. He makes $15 million this season and $16.3 million next season. His relationship with Suns management has steadily deteriorated and few expect that either side is interested in a contract extension.
Phoenix made the biggest move of the trade deadline a year ago, trading Shawn Marion for Shaquille O’Neal in a deal that the Suns believed could help them overtake the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference. Yet, the Suns lost to the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, which turned into a prelude to an acrimonious exit with coach Mike D’Antoni.
This season, Phoenix has struggled to a 26-21 record, which leaves them tied for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Suns were blown out Wednesday night in Golden State, 124-112.
With O’Neal clogging the middle, Stoudemire has expressed frustration with a diminished offensive role. Stoudemire still flusters his GM and coach because of an unwillingness to commit to anything but scoring. Stoudemire’s scoring and rebounding averages have dropped this season, and he recently told Yahoo! Sports that he was struggling with an offense that features fewer pick-and-rolls for him, fewer touches in the low post.
“It is harder,” Stoudemire said. “When you’re in the flow, everything flows. When you’re not, sometimes it’s hard to get involved.”
After the loss to Golden State, Stoudemire told reporters, “To keep losing these games the way we are, it’s not fun. I’m not used to it. It’s almost against my religion.”
Sources believe the Suns are more apt to shop Stoudemire to the Eastern Conference, where Toronto and New York are natural possibilities. Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo drafted Stoudemire for the Suns, and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni helped turn him into an All-Star. Still, the acrimonious nature of Colangelo’s and D’Antoni’s departures could lessen Phoenix management’s willingness to deal with them.
Nevertheless, Phoenix promises once more be at the center of the league’s biggest trade talks leading up to the deadline.
I dunno why they weren't considering this move sooner. Amare is the biggest problem with that locker room chemistry. He wants to be THE MAN, yet is incapable of sustaining any sort of defensive intensity which the Suns are desperately searching for. Had Amare played half as hard as he could on D all these years, the Suns would have never traded for Shaq and may have won a le.
Amir Johnson and Allen Iverson for Amare and Leandro Barbosa.
your not only preaching to the converted here, you're preaching to the priest.
I'd think the Suns might be interested in AI's or Wallace's expiring contract.
I want Sheed money so the Amare re homers will see how good this team can be with a PF and C who play defense......but anything to get A'm'a'r'e out of town works for me.
That should remove his "black jesus" tattoo and replace it with one that says "black judas".
D'Antoni is looking like a better and better coach in retrospect.
I already posted the best trade for both teams, this helps both teams for this year:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/feature...~5~5&te=&cash=
Cleveland finally has good chemistry and good role players that fit next to LeBron. I doubt they blow it up, even if they do end up with more talent in that scenario.
First of all, I think the Suns would take that in a second, don't you? Secondly, do you think that if the Suns would take that, that the Cavs really would not do that?
I wonder what xylus and DOK think about this trade...
And Kerr is looking like a worse and worse GM.
Complete hypothetical but if he were to come back, Amare would still act like a 5 year old and not improve at all, and then people would be calling for his head because he would be Amare's newest scapegoat after Amare threw him under the bus again. He is a way better coach than Porter but it's not like this team would be on pace to shatter the Bull's 70 win mark with him as coach.
I can see why Nash is not on the block, he represents the Suns rise to elite level in the later part of this decade, but at this point he is hardly the player he was. I am sure he would love to go play for a couple more years in NY with D'Antoni, and the Knicks would do that trade in a second. The Suns could get some nice players in return anyway. I say Nash should be on the block as well.
The trade does make some sense. I know the Cavs and Verajao aren't exactly happy over their last contract negotiations. Suns getting back Verajao + Cap space ain't too bad for them.
But the Cavs are on a roll and Verajao is a key component, I don't see them getting rid of him this year.
lmao Steve Kerr
I would do that Cleveland trade w/o Gibson I'm not a fan of players like him having long term contracts.
And I think it would be hilarious for Amare to be the driving force that gets LeBron to leave Cleveland just so the whole country sees how much of a wad Amare is.
The suns get their upside forward with Hickson. They get a guy to fill in for Barbosa that is a better pure shooter to go with Nash. They get Anderson and Wally to help out this year with hustle, defense, rebounding and shooting then get 18+ million off the books for next year.
Cleavland does not play Wally and JJ that much, so that does not hurt their chemistry. I think having Barbosa helps them more than Gibson because he is better at point and slashing. Then they get Amare who could use a change of scenery and can still be a force. He is young as well so there is future and he is tradeable if it does not work out bc teams will always gamble on him.
I don't want Verejao on the Suns. The thought of of two big uncoordinated doofuses with hair (Lopez and him) on the court at the same time as the players who are supposed to protect the paint is unfathomable.
Hey DPG, remember how I told you about that Amare trade proposed to me in fantasy?
Well someone actually traded Billups and Durant for Amare......I guess it takes a re to want a re .
Amare and barbosa for Dirk. That almost mean WCF champion
LOL, Amare and J-Ho on the same team.
That would suck for Dallas fans.
I don't think either side would be too thrilled with that trade. Taking on Gibson's long, bloated contract negates most of the positives from the Suns' side. And the Cavs are built on selfless role playing defenders next to LeBron. Getting two horrible defenders and one guy who is anything but selfless goes against what they are trying to do.
vaughn, the rights to some unknown argentians and hariston for amare?
why the would they trade Hairston for Amare?
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