http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12707
We've already heard plenty of talk from Phoenix Suns All-Stars to make us wonder what the team will finally look like when the curtain goes up on the 2009-10 season. Shaquille O'Neal has questioned the team's commitment to winning, and even gone so far as to name Dallas and New Orleans as possible destinations for himself. More recently, Steve Nash has indicated that he's not willing to sign a contract extension or even talk about his future in Phoenix until he sees what the team looks like after free agency takes its toll. Today, Amar'e Stoudemire added his voice to the mix, talking to the guys at 790 AM The Zone in Atlanta.
"That's definitely not the business," said Amar'e, talking about being a part of a team that's slashing salary instead of building a contender. "That's definitely not what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to win a championship now. And, if the Phoenix Suns are trying to do that and they want to put the right pieces together to win a championship, we can, but if not, you'll find me elsewhere."
Stoudemire stopped short of saying he would demand a trade if key pieces of the team were removed this summer, and brushed aside talk of playing in a Hawks uniform since he spends a great deal of time in Atlanta. He did, however, admit that he would consider every option available to him in his pursuit of a championship.
"You always have to think about that. There are always options out there. My goal is to win a championship. Once I get 100% from this eye injury, which I'm pretty much there, then we look forward to the next move and whatever it takes to win a title. That's what I'm after."
Asked if anyone could stop him, Amar'e said he doesn't think it can be done.
"I personally don't think so. Just the fact that my size, quickness, and strength, the combination of those three things allows me to get around a lot of the big guys. You know what's tough for me at times when I post up? A smaller guy. You can shoot over the top of them, you know, but you never know if you give a small guy a little contact whether or not he may flop, you gonna take the offensive foul, he's very tricky, that sometimes throws you off a little bit."
The issue, of course, isn't whether or not Amar'e can score the basketball, but whether or not he will put forth the effort to stop anyone on the other end of the court. The Suns traded away their best defender in Raja Bell, and seemed content to play absolutely no defense for much of the 2008-09 season. Amar'e seemed downright inattentive, which is why the Suns came very close to trading him before the February trade deadline. It might also make him the most likely player to be traded if the Suns do, indeed, dump some salary.
Suns GM Steve Kerr continues to insist that the Suns are about competing for a championship, and not just cutting salary this summer. He also told HOOPSWORLD he recognizes the team needs to make a tweak or two to improve their overall defense. Whatever happens with Shaq and Nash, it wouldn't surprise us to see Amar'e moved in an effort to acquire a player or two who can instill a defensive mindset. Clearly, they're not going to win a championship - or even make the playoffs - without defense.
I could live without Nash. I could live without Shaq. I could live without Nash AND Shaq. But loosing Amare' would just be too much. If we traded Stat we could not get a good deal/what he's worth to us because of his eye injury, his micro-fiber surgery, and his defensive liabilities. All offers for Amare that i've seen have come up short on what I'd be willing to take in return. This is going to be a CRAZY off season. Either we keep the team we have (with very very minor tweaking) and continue getting creamed by teams with good PG's or its a blow-up.
