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With Amare's recent request to be traded, one of the options PHO fans seem to like over on their boards is Al Jefferson + Mike Miller.

Now, I don't think there's any way we could do a deal like this. Amare's got a new contract coming up, and he'd be extremely unlikely to re-sign in small market MIN. He seems to be half-assing it in PHO lately too, and tossing in Mike Miller, though he'd be a GOD in PHO, isn't something I'd want to do. Age, contract, etc are also factors.

However, I can't help but feel complimented here. Amare is perhaps a Top 5 player in the NBA, and two years ago, the Suns were unwilling to put him in a deal even for KG, when Garnett might have put those guys over the top. Is Al finally beginning to get the respect he deserves?

Shrink I tried to work a deal with Jefferson for Jeff Green & Russell Westbrook, but trade checker says Al is BYC and it makes things just about impossible.

Amare is one of the top 5 most hyped players but he isn't a top 5 talent, IMO. Compare Amare's and Al's stats and you will see they are almost identical. Amare scores a bit more, Al rebounds a bit more, PER are identical, neither play exceptional defense. Amare is more athletic and flashy but Al usually outplays him head-to-head. And, despite playing on a team with Nash and Marion, Amare has the same number of rings as Al. Because of attitude and contract issues, I wouldn't trade the two straight up, let alone throw in Miller. Al does tie us to the halfcourt game, though.

I wouldn't even do it straight up. I don't want to draft or trade for guys that aren't going to re-sign in Minnesota. There's no point.

^^amen..

How much of Amare is system/team?

Devilzsidewalk wrote:I wouldn't even do it straight up. I don't want to draft or trade for guys that aren't going to re-sign in Minnesota. There's no point.

this man is a wise man!

I wouldn't swap for amare straight up. I think he's a bit overrated

I love al's game, but a trade of al/mccants/smith for amare/lopez - would solve our love=al issues. Amare can legitimately play center.

amare
love
gomes
miller
foye

that lineup could play better d than what we have now, without losing offensive effectiveness.

bman wrote:I love al's game, but a trade of al/mccants/smith for amare/lopez - would solve our love=al issues. Amare can legitimately play center.

amare
love
gomes
miller
foye

that lineup could play better d than what we have now, without losing offensive effectiveness.

Could it? Amare doesn't guard anybody.

I would say yes on two accounts.

1. Other teams big men would not beat amare down the court every time.
2. Love to me is a better man defender than al.

Amare is a product of the system and Nash. He's got talent, sure, but not what Jefferson has. Also, Amare seems more of a high post player, not down in the block. Does Love now become our low post big man? He's most effective up top. Our rebounding is already ****, we'd be taking a downgrade in that catagory. Defense is harder to play when you're giving them multiple opportunities per possesion.

Amare does not play defense. amare scores most his points off nash or off pure athletic ability. Something that will not be around for ever.

Amare is not a defensive center by any means.

Al for Amare would be debated considering contract and skill. Add Miller and you must be drunk.

Keep Al. He wants to be here.

Biggest problem with Amare is the knee. I don't care how good it looks now, long term for microfracture is somewhere between "unknown" and "career shortening." I don't see Amare being an impact player at 32, let alone 36. Al, on the other hand, could be Karl Malone.

Al's skill set does not decline as fast. Regardless of if you do not see him as an alpha, he is a good piece who likes being here. Build around that.

Like I said in the first post, I don't see any reason to swap Amare for Al when he'd just walk. However, I agree that Amare is perceived as a Top 5 player, especially in PHO. Despite Amare's recent outbursts, I think its a compliment that Amare v Al is coming out wishfully from PHO. One proposal was Amare + Robin Lopez for Al + Mike Miller. It's not going to happen, but its still a sign that Al is getting respected outside of the state of Minnesota.

Whose perception? Fans? they respond to winning teams and sportcenter highlights.

shrink wrote:However, I can't help but feel complimented here. Amare is perhaps a Top 5 player in the NBA, and two years ago, the Suns were unwilling to put him in a deal even for KG, when Garnett might have put those guys over the top. Is Al finally beginning to get the respect he deserves?

Amare isn't a top 5 player in the league, I think even his most ardent fans are starting to realize he never will be. I think it's simply a case of Amare losing respect more than Al gaining it. Boy would that be a terrible trade for Nash as well, Al is about the opposite of the sort of player he needs to thrive. Maybe if they were certain Nash had nothing left to give they could do this.

I don't see how this trade offer shows respect for Al. I think Al+MM are clearly better than Amare. I wouldn't trade Al for Amare straight up either, even if Amare would re-sign. I agree with the fact that Amare relies too much on his atheticism and Al could be a Karl Malone. I like how Love is doing downlow. That's where he gets his valuable offensive rebounds and putbacks.

Yes, Al Jefferson has a way of taking his teams so far....

Jeezus you people are some homers.

hard49 wrote:Yes, Al Jefferson has a way of taking his teams so far....

Jeezus you people are some homers.

And Amare has? He's never been better than the third player on his team - anyone who says otherwise underestimates Shaq, Marion, and Marbury when he was a Suns player. Amare relies on his athleticism which will be wasted in down-tempo Minnesota without a good PG. Furthermore, as I pointed out before, the staying power of his athleticism is suspect due to his knees. Don't be surprised to see him fade quickly in his 30s.