Latest from Amare....

[Mr. Sun]

When asked if he was disappointed that he wasn't going to play with LeBron James and contend for a title, Stoudemire said the following:

"I don't think there is disappointment in the situation because I am still here with Phoneix and I think there is a great opportunity here to make a solid playoff push and try to take it a step further. There is really no disappointment, but being in Cleveland playing for a championship is definitely the ultimate goal, but I'm still not upset about the fact of me being here in Phoenix."

Take from that what you will. When asked whether he wanted to stay in Phoenix, Stoudemire said this:

"Well a little bit of both. I am still kind of halfway in the midpoint right now. I cant really make too much of a decision right now because we are doing so well or we may make the playoffs here and we may go a step further. I can't really make a decision based upon right now, but I figure to give me some time to see if I can figure it out and make a solid decision."

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... nclear.php

[blackjays1]

Well here he's hours away from being traded to the best team in the league record-wise. He's mentally prepared himself and he's probably started to pack things away too. Then they go around and mess it up for him. That's a huge "What if..." for him.

[DirtyDez]

I can see Amare tearin' it up for the simple fact that Cleveland chose Hickson over him as their PF of the future. Gonna be a fun 3 months in the dezzzzert...

[MaryvalesFinest]

I was reading somewhere a few days ago (forgot where) that if any of the max contract free agents opt out they would lose 30M? Can anyone clarify it?

[ruiner]

Mentally prepared himself for nothing too. Cav deal was never as close as media reported. And based on Kerr's vague comments afterwards, JJ Hickson was not gonna get it done either if included.

Hopefully, if it's true Sarver squashed the idea of trading him cuz how of well he's playing, they realize they need to sign him and worry about money later on.

[Mr. Sun]

I was reading somewhere a few days ago (forgot where) that if any of the max contract free agents opt out they would lose 30M? Can anyone clarify it?

Dunno, maybe talking about the fact a player who opts out can only be signed for 5 years and receive 8% salary raises vs. 6 years and 10.5% raises for signing with own team. That is assuming a team can be found willing to extend for more than 3 years with the CBA expiring.

[MaryvalesFinest]

I was reading somewhere a few days ago (forgot where) that if any of the max contract free agents opt out they would lose 30M? Can anyone clarify it?

Dunno, maybe talking about the fact a player who opts out can only be signed for 5 years and receive 8% salary raises vs. 6 years and 10.5% raises for signing with own team. That is assuming a team can be found willing to extend for more than 3 years with the CBA expiring.

Yeah maybe that was it

[OrangeNation]

Well, it seems like PHX is no longer his first choice and has made up his mind about playing for a legitimate contender As of yesterday, I might still believe Amare will remain a SUNS if Sarvar's willing to give him a reasonable extension but I'm not so sure right now .

[Mr. Sun]

Well, it seems like PHX is no longer his first choice and has made up his mind about playing for a legitimate contender

He left no such impression that was his decision.

[raff]

Well, it seems like PHX is no longer his first choice and has made up his mind about playing for a legitimate contender

How did you come about this conclusion?

[Qwigglez]

Lol. I think Suns will re-sign him for sure if they somehow make it to the second round. If not, it is questionable but I still wouldn't say for sure he is leaving.

[ma_falaa_50]

he really didnt answer the question, he just used big words that meant he hasnt really decided yet.

[JMac1]

[OrangeNation]

If you pay close enough attention throughout the season, his attitude towards the extension basically go from "hopefully, we can work something out here" to the "I don't know, we'll see" approach. And he no longer mentions PHX as his preference like he was in the beginnng of the season.

[lilfishi22]

I was reading somewhere a few days ago (forgot where) that if any of the max contract free agents opt out they would lose 30M? Can anyone clarify it?

Dunno, maybe talking about the fact a player who opts out can only be signed for 5 years and receive 8% salary raises vs. 6 years and 10.5% raises for signing with own team. That is assuming a team can be found willing to extend for more than 3 years with the CBA expiring.

That's it. That's also assuming it's a max contract.

[BVPN]

^^Not a big plus in this case though, since Phx will pay him nothing of the sort.

[Go7enKs]

Mentally prepared himself for nothing too. Cav deal was never as close as media reported. And based on Kerr's vague comments afterwards, JJ Hickson was not gonna get it done either if included.

Hopefully, if it's true Sarver squashed the idea of trading him cuz how of well he's playing, they realize they need to sign him and worry about money later on.

Sorry but Sarver is gonna worry about money NOW. And he should. Probably 20 NBA teams are losing money right now (if not all) and there are no guarantees the situation will get better. Actually, there's a very real risk of it getting worse since the new CBA will probably lower the Salary cap and then, if you have a huge and long contract on the roster, you're screwed.

I'm sure Kerr and Sarver would love to extend Amar'e, even considering his blatant deficencies and shortcomings. The fact is, though, that this team can't afford to sign him for more than 3 years or more than 15 m per year. Disrespecting those two limits would put this franchise in huge jeopardy for a player that, after all, is NOT a franchise player.

[Frank Lee]

To me, our front office has sent a much louder signal than Amare's 'its all up in the air we will see' comments. I applaud Stat for his tactful words this time around. Perhaps he learned a PR lesson from his summer 'i'd like to play here too' trip.

Amare has issued his price. Our boys turned it down. Surely, other teams realized what it will take to get Amare, and the fact that we are not comfortable signing him to the deal he requested. That, IMO, is the beginning bid. If we wanted him, we would have signed him. We could have signed him AND then traded him this off season. But they thumbed their nose and manure-ly claimed it wasn't about money.

I think Knobert and Kerr-plunk are comfortable with Stat opting out and utilizing their 'bird rights' as leverage for a sign and trade. I have a hard time imagining them matching an offer from a team under the cap, willing to spend, and in the process of getting shut out for a top free agent. They are banking on multiple, acceptable suitors for Amare, with one of them caving in to their S+T demands.


The writing is on the wall, Amare is gone......

and Knobert is the one with spray paint on his fingers.

[JMac1]

Resign Amare.

[RaisingArizona]

He's playing mind games. Whatever Amar'e do what you gota do, but if you started to play both sides of the court(like he has lately) then the suns could be a contender!