ESPN: KG wants Phoenix

[SpursIndonesia]

I know, but he took a significant amount less to play for the Spurs over the Heat and the Suns. Each of the latter teams were offering deals for close to the full MLE over several years. He signed with the Spurs for roughly half the amount because of their le prowess.



Then why even talk of opting out? If he's not going to sign with a contending team for the MLE, then he may as well just rot in Minny for the remainder of his productive career. No contending team will have the CAP space to sign him to a MAX contract and he's no longer a player that can single handedly make a team a contender.

Also, it wouldn't cost Phoenix both Amare and Marion. If the Suns happened to bite the bullet and traded Amare for Garnett, it would likely be an Amare/Banks for Garnett type deal.

This deal gives them a frontcourt rotation of Garnett, Marion, Diaw, Thomas, plus a few late-1sts. Throw in Nash, Bell, Barbosa and Jones on the wings, and you have plenty to contend with.

First, AFAIK, Finley's contract in 2005 is not dictated by the amount of money he got from the team he signed in for. Say he got full MLE from the Heat -should he have chosen them that summer- then he'll receive LESS money from the Mavs proportional to what he got from the Heat -the total amount would still be the same.

Second, the SPURS would have a considerable amount of cap space in summer 2008, should they prefer to take that path. Not a max money, but certainly more than any MLE that the Suns could offer, and the chance to play with the Spurs BIG three, which is BETTER than what your team line up could have offered in the first place.

And if i'm not mistaken, Orlando's quite warm, and Josh Howard would certainly appreciate KG presence there.

[RonMexico]

If Suns get #14 pick, they better not get any of the people JMark listed... Josh McRoberts over Acie Law? The Suns finally getting a PG with some balls who can run the offense better than Barbosa?

IS EVERYONE FORGETTING that Barbosa did NOT show up at all for the Spurs series?? They need a backup PG in there who isn't trying to jack up 3 pointers every time or driving right into Tim Duncan.

[ArgSpursFan]

i'd trade Amare for KG, especially when you consider Nash isn't getting any younger. gotta try and win it in the next 2-3 years...

Neither is Garnett.If Kerr trades KG for Amare He´ll become the dumbest GM for the next 10 yrs in the NBA,just behind the Lakers GM.

[Taco]

Phoenix with Amare scare's me more than Pheonix with KG

[ArgSpursFan]

Phoenix with Amare scare's me more than Pheonix with KG

that´s what I´ve been trying to explain these Kids in this thread,but they seem to think that great players last forever.If that the case let´s bring DRob back.

I say the only team that would take KG is the Lakers,and that would make Kobe stay there for atleast 2 more years.
Other teams will have to give up to much in order to get a 30+guy.It would be deferent if it is D.Howard and not KG,them I would give up Amare and Barbosa+draft picks+whatever the Magics would want.

[monosylab1k]

So, where else are you getting this "Amare has a ty at ude" from? You are basing your opinion from statements in a book unrelated to his desire to win, his work ethic, his drive to be a better player and teammate, etc. that you have completely taken out of context.

That explains why Amare has publicly disparaged McCallum for what he wrote about him.

[ArgSpursFan]

That explains why Amare has publicly disparaged McCallum for what he wrote about him.

yeah,and don´t forget the Black Jesus tatto.................

[monosylab1k]

Neither is Garnett.If Kerr trades KG for Amare He´ll become the dumbest GM for the next 10 yrs in the NBA,just behind the Lakers GM.

THe fact that you named Mitch Kupchak as the worst GM shows what a moron you are. He's not great, but he's far better than Billy Knight or Kevin McHale or Danny Ainge. I won't even bother seeing if you know what teams those guys are GM's for because I doubt you've ever heard of those guys.

"Kevin Garnett can't handle a fast paced offense"

[ArgSpursFan]

"Kevin Garnett can't handle a fast paced offense"

emmmmm,for the untire reg season+playoffs
NOO.
listen,get over with the KG pimpin .He is a good player,but It takes a dumb like you,to trade Him for one of the best big man in the league(and still young) +the 6 st. man of the year(still young).
If kerr do that trade he´ll be putting a team together for the next 10 yrs for the T-volves not the Suns.

[SRJ]

Why do you suppose 31 years old is near death, ArgSpursFan?

Hakeem Olajuwon was 31 and 32 in the back to back years he won les.

Karl Malone was 34 when he won his first MVP, 36 with his second.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was 38 when he won the Finals MVP in 1985.

Michael Jordan was 33, 34, 35 when he won his last three les.

Kevin Garnett has at least a few elite-level seasons left.

[ArgSpursFan]

Why do you suppose 31 years old is near death, ArgSpursFan?

Hakeem Olajuwon was 31 and 32 in the back to back years he won les.

Karl Malone was 34 when he won his first MVP, 36 with his second.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was 38 when he won the Finals MVP in 1985.

Michael Jordan was 33, 34, 35 when he won his last three les.

Kevin Garnett has at least a few elite-level seasons left.

I´m not saying near dead,at all.I´m saying that I wouldn´t trade 2 of the most young talented players in the league,for KG.
Garnett has at most 5 more years in his carreer,and maybe 2 yrs at a high level,in the long run that trade will hurt the Suns.
But if the player is someone else Not Amare,I´d do it.
I love KG,but Let´s be realistic,Amare has at least 10 yrs of High level BB.
Now Amare and KG in the same team would be defenetly scary though.

[Don Quixote]

I totally understand why the S0ns would want to make this trade. If I'm them, I do it.

They think they can win the le NOW. Future schmuture. So what if Nash and KG are in their early 30's. In 5 years it won't matter. If they're this close, as they allegedly are, they need to put their chips in the middle of the table and win it now.

Best case scenario, they still lose to the Spurs in the playoffs, and cry about how Stern engineered the trade that screwed them up.

[ArgSpursFan]

I totally understand why the S0ns would want to make this trade. If I'm them, I do it.

They think they can win the le NOW. Future schmuture. So what if Nash and KG are in their early 30's. In 5 years it won't matter. If they're this close, as they allegedly are, they need to put their chips in the middle of the table and win it now.

Best case scenario, they still lose to the Spurs in the playoffs, and cry about how Stern engineered the trade that screwed them up.

it could be.But I haven´t heart Kerr saying he would do it.
So for now it´s all speculations.

[monosylab1k]

They think they can win the le NOW. Future schmuture.

Exactly.

Most won't admit it, but EVERY Mavericks fan thought that we had a guaranteed le last season as soon as we beat the Spurs. After that didn't work out, we thought our le was simply a year delayed, as nothing would stop us this year. Wrong again. Turns out that might be our only trip to the Finals with this team.

The only people that talk about playing for the "future" are losers. If you have the talent, you go for it now and worry about the future later.

[Don Quixote]

THe fact that you named Mitch Kupchak as the worst GM shows what a moron you are. He's not great, but he's far better than Billy Knight or Kevin McHale or Danny Ainge. I won't even bother seeing if you know what teams those guys are GM's for because I doubt you've ever heard of those guys.

"Kevin Garnett can't handle a fast paced offense"

Agree with Mavs Fan here. Kupchak is pretty bad, but he's not even close to the élite status reached by Billy King, Isiah Thomas, Billy Knight, Ainge, or the guy running Cleveland's front office. Those guys have run potentially very good teams into the ground with their disasterous work.

And don't discount McHale's ability to pull a terrible trade ... Kurt Thomas for KG, straight-up, for instance.

[ArgSpursFan]

Exactly.

Most won't admit it, but EVERY Mavericks fan thought that we had a guaranteed le last season as soon as we beat the Spurs. After that didn't work out, we thought our le was simply a year delayed, as nothing would stop us this year. Wrong again. Turns out that might be our only trip to the Finals with this team.

The only people that talk about playing for the "future" are losers. If you have the talent, you go for it now and worry about the future later.

you mean that one game Crawford stole us ejecting Duncan in the 4rd quarter for SMILLING?????
yeah,right.

[ArgSpursFan]

Agree with Mavs Fan here. Kupchak is pretty bad, but he's not even close to the élite status reached by Billy King, Isiah Thomas, Billy Knight, Ainge, or the guy running Cleveland's front office. Those guys have run potentially very good teams into the ground with their disasterous work.

And don't discount McHale's ability to pull a terrible trade ... Kurt Thomas for KG, straight-up, for instance.

but you and me know that wont happen,even on Kerr´s best dreams.

[Don Quixote]

I'll have to give Kerr the advantage on this one. Until he proves otherwise (e.g., signing Vin Baker to a 6-yr., $50mill contract), I'm more confident in his ability to make a deal than McHale's.

[Shred]

I´m not saying near dead,at all.I´m saying that I wouldn´t trade 2 of the most young talented players in the league,for KG.
Garnett has at most 5 more years in his carreer,and maybe 2 yrs at a high level,in the long run that trade will hurt the Suns.
But if the player is someone else Not Amare,I´d do it.
I love KG,but Let´s be realistic,Amare has at least 10 yrs of High level BB.
Now Amare and KG in the same team would be defenetly scary though.

I agree. KG for Amare, NO. KG for Marion, YES.

[Don Quixote]

I agree. KG for Amare, NO. KG for Marion, YES.

I think you've hit it on the head. To wit ...

McHale: We'll give you KG ... for Amare.

Kerr: No!

[monosylab1k]

you mean that one game Crawford stole us ejecting Duncan in the 4rd quarter for SMILLING?????
yeah,right.

ummm no I was talking about beating you guys last season in the WCSF. I figured that would have been clear when i wote that part that said "last year"

[Magic_Johnson]

Amare during this year's playoffs:

25.3 pts
12.1 reb
52.2% FG
77% FT
1.9 blk

Those stats are almost identical to KG's. Amare makes $12.5 mil. KG makes $21 mil.

KG is more a team player than amare. He will fit better with the suns' style of play. Amare has no passing game.

[JMarkJohns]

If Suns get #14 pick, they better not get any of the people JMark listed... Josh McRoberts over Acie Law? The Suns finally getting a PG with some balls who can run the offense better than Barbosa?

IS EVERYONE FORGETTING that Barbosa did NOT show up at all for the Spurs series?? They need a backup PG in there who isn't trying to jack up 3 pointers every time or driving right into Tim Duncan.

First off, about the picks, if you cared to notice, it was a BEST CASE hypothetical. Second, if you looked at the pre-pick roster, you'd see a VERY thin frontcourt rotation. I love Law. However, I'm not certain they could win with just Garnett/Amare or Garnett/Marion/Thomas. They need some depth. In case of fouls/injury...

If there were any quality big men available via free agency, and the Suns happened to get Maggette, and then drafted Law at #14, then sure. But who are these quality frontliners? There really aren't any. Not for cheap, so it's best if the Suns add some cheap wing depth via free agency, then address their frontcourt depth via the draft.

This all assumes the BEST CASE scenerio goes down, which it won't.

[Findog]

KG is more a team player than amare. He will fit better with the suns' style of play. Amare has no passing game.

Amare-KG is the more desirable pairing than Marion-KG. All the things Amare doesn't do well, KG can do. The Suns should at least try to entice Minnesota with a package centered around Marion, Diaw, Barbosa before biting the bullet and exhanging Stoudemire. Nash and Amare on the pick and roll is pretty much unstoppable.

[Warlord23]

I think the pro-Amare folks in this thread (especially ArgSpursFan) are assuming that an Amare/Barbosa led team will contend for the le once Nash retires.

Without Nash, the Suns are 4-11 in the last 3 seasons.

If the Suns think Amare without a premier set-up man can lead them to a le in a loaded conference, they'd need a new coach, a radically different offensive system, a steep rise in Amare's defense, post moves and IQ and a lot of luck. An Amare/Barbosa/Marion/Bell/Jones line-up may get past the Lakers/Warriors/Nuggets. But it's not good enough to get past the Spurs/Mavs/Jazz/Rockets.

Whereas Nash, without Amare, carried the Suns to the WCF and took the Mavs to 6 games in 05-06.

I say this again: unless the Suns attract a big-money free agent (note that they have a big payroll already) to replace Nash, or get a gem or two out of the 2008 draft, their championship window ends with Nash's decline. That's 2 years. And KG >> Amare for the next 2 years.