Stoudemire waiting for decision

[Mr. Sun]

Amaré Stoudemire's camp has not heard from any other NBA team about the possibility of acquiring him or any interest in securing his future with a contract extension.

Stoudemire's agent, Charles Grantham, said he would like to hear a commitment from one team in particular - the Suns.

"Either he's in or out," Grantham said Sunday while in Phoenix. "You're going to have to really make a commitment to him that he's part of your program going forward and that you're going to work around him. Those decisions seemingly are still up in the air. They are going to have to be made at some point. You'll have to talk about either committing to him or trading him.

"Those discussions haven't happened yet."

Discussions about trading Stoudemire have happened. A deal with Golden State unraveled after Thursday's draft over the Warriors' unwillingness to part with No. 7 pick Stephen Curry. A Suns-Warriors trade remains possible with something added to the package of Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli.

The commitment Stoudemire is seeking from the Suns is more than just being told he won't be traded. He wants a contract extension when he is eligible later this summer. Grantham considers Stoudemire a maximum-salary player worth an extension averaging more than $20 million per season.

Grantham and Suns General Manager Steve Kerr spoke Sunday and plan to talk more soon.

"This is all normal business," Kerr said. "I don't see any of this as out of the ordinary. We love Amaré. He's been an incredibly productive player for us. He's going to weigh his options, and he has the right to do it."

Stoudemire can opt out of his contract next year to be an unrestricted free agent, passing on a $17.7 million salary in 2010-11.

"One way or the other, they're going to have to commit to him," Grantham said. "Amaré would love to be a part of a championship team in Phoenix. That's his first option. He's 26. He's looking at the prime of his career right now. He'd like to win here if that's what their goal is - to win a championship.

"If it's not their goal, then I have to encourage him to think about other things. 'Where should you finish your career? Where could you go to be productive?' I would think any team that is seriously considering him would want to talk to us about an extension, as opposed to just renting him for a year."

Stoudemire was cleared to work out a week ago for the first time since February surgery to repair a detached retina. Grantham said Stoudemire's right eye will fully recover.

"I have no doubt he's going to play extremely well next season," Grantham said. "Hopefully, it's here for the Suns and they're moving toward a championship. If not, we're prepared and should be prepared to look at other options.

"His best years are ahead of him. We're all reasonable people. We should be able to sit down and figure this out."

Stoudemire commented this month to media in other cities about how well he would fit in with other teams if he was a 2010 free agent.

"It didn't come from Amaré saying, 'I don't want to be in Phoenix,' " Grantham said. "If the Suns are committed to him, he doesn't have to become an unrestricted free agent."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... e0629.html

[rsavaj]

Thanks for the article but i'm not too impressed w/ Coro's work here. Doesn't seem like we've learned anything new from this piece.

[collidingNeurons]

the relationship between Amare and the Suns is salvageable, that's what this says. That's still my wish in all of this speculation. You make him happy and build around him even if it takes a year or two.

[aIvin adams]

the relationship between Amare and the Suns is salvageable, that's what this says. That's still my wish in all of this speculation. You make him happy and build around him even if it takes a year or two.

of course it is.

max $ thats all it takes

[thamadkant]

I'm not liking the Josh Smith + Josh Childress rumours from Hawks.


Suns are in a real dire strait when it comes to Stoudemire.
As a fan, I THINK Stoudemire is 2nd option type player. You need a leader specifically who plays BOTH ends along him to be the 1st option.

I dont want a massive contract on Stoudemire, but I'd be leaning towards a similar contract, 3 year extension. 55 Million for 3 years, around the 18-19 Million range. That way the SUNS can surround HIM and/or sign another star along him also.


If HE wants to win a championship. then buckle up SACRIFICE 3-4 Million a year so the Suns can surround him with talent... because I sure heck know, his 25+ ppg and 8-9 rebounds with little DEFENSE isnt going to carry the SUNS towards a Championship.... in which his agent seems to have "emphasized". If Stoudemire wants a winning team, then Kerr should ask him to sacrifice $$$ to be able to afford other stars next to him...

[TASTIC]

Hmmm...a good read, nice find

Hope there's a quick solution to this. I have no problem giving him $100m over 5 years...any more meh...

tough situation to be in for Kerr. he doesn't want to lose Nash and Amare AND the fans...

[rsavaj]

I'm not liking the Josh Smith + Josh Childress rumours from Hawks.


Suns are in a real dire strait when it comes to Stoudemire.
As a fan, I THINK Stoudemire is 2nd option type player. You need a leader specifically who plays BOTH ends along him to be the 1st option.

I dont want a massive contract on Stoudemire, but I'd be leaning towards a similar contract, 3 year extension. 55 Million for 3 years, around the 18-19 Million range. That way the SUNS can surround HIM and/or sign another star along him also.


If HE wants to win a championship. then buckle up SACRIFICE 3-4 Million a year so the Suns can surround him with talent... because I sure heck know, his 25+ ppg and 8-9 rebounds with little DEFENSE isnt going to carry the SUNS towards a Championship.... in which his agent seems to have "emphasized". If Stoudemire wants a winning team, then Kerr should ask him to sacrifice $$$ to be able to afford other stars next to him...

Yesh.

[eastsidecrossover]

"This is all normal business," Kerr said. "I don't see any of this as out of the ordinary. We love Amaré. He's been an incredibly productive player for us. He's going to weigh his options, and he has the right to do it."

Kerr is a moron.

Its easy to say "sacrifice" a few million dollars as a fan. But as a player, its not as easy. Its like saying, "thamadkant, can you sacrifice 3-4 dollars per hour as a janitor?" Of course your going to say hell no. I know I want to get as much money as I can when I am looking for a job.

I know many will say Amare is not a max player. He is and should be the #1 option on offense. Thing is, he is a max player in this league. Realistically, only a few players are, such as Lebron, Kobe, Wade and Tim Duncan. But this is a market rate for one of the top PF in the game and he is going to get max money and we will have nothing to show for it. Amare is hitting his prime right now and he still is young to improve his all around game.

Now if Kerr has any brains from his UofA education, he might use these comments to shave 3-6 million off of this contract. Im not a fan of incentives because it shows the players is all about the money, but you have to pitch to him and say, TD is a max player, but has taken less. Why, because it is about winning championships. Do you want to win one here in Phx, because you beat your as* we want to, and think we can do it with you. However, we need that flexibility to build a team around you..........

Its easier to say than to be done, but everything from STAT is that he wants to stay a sun. Gambo was at the eye doctor and saw Amare and asked him straight up if he wants to be a sun, and he said with no doubt he wants to stay here. He loves the city, the fans, but am no sure the FO does.

Build around him and make smart basketball decisions.

[Azsports77]

I say fire Kerr and promote David Griffin before its to late because if they trade Amare its looking more and more like the Suns are going to get raped in any trade and Sarver will have to fire Kerr and he will lose boat loads of money. They need to sit down and work out an extension because there is no wauy Amare is stupid enough to think there is a team that will pay him the max its just not going to happen and he will end up making less the problem is if we try to trade him the teams will know that he intends to become a free agent and so they will not trade for him. If Sarver decides to be a cheap skate then you can bet Kerr will lose his job before the season even starts no way does he survive. The best option is to resign him and get his value back up and if he still a detriment then trade him at least then you will get close to equal vaule because right now all Sarver is going to get is raped up the butt from any potential trade they might get. By the way Gambo is an idiot if they wait till the deadline the offers will only get worse its time for Sarver to make up for the JJ debacle and not make the samme mistakes. Another reason Gambo is an idiot is that where are you going to find a player that plays both ends of the court even the Hawks who want to trade for Amare are still looking for that and look at Memphis they will never find it because there FO is a joke. Everyone needs to wake up and realize its going to be along time before we find a player that plays both ends of the court.

[BVPN]

I think the best idea would be to extend Amare this summer, get Chandler, make a last run this season (since we don't have a pick anyway) and then see where we're at. Likely we will have to endure a couple bad seasons after that because I don't see a Barbosa/Amare/Chandler team as being particularly great, but if Amare and Barbs are extended, we can ride it out, hopefully get someone good in draft/FA and get back into it.

[ray ray]

Any deal with the hawks should start with Al Harford not Josh Smith. I would personally would do a trade of Amare and Barbosa for Josh Smith and Al Harford and their pick next year unprotected.

[pidi]

the atl trades are boring. josh smith is an undesized pf - what in hell wants kerr with him??
trading lopez?? ain´t happening. we should realy start and put barbosa in a deal and look for real help at the four spot.

[InBoobieWeTrust]

If Amare wants to stay with you guys, I see no reason not to extend him. You could build around a guy like STAT.

[DirtyDez]

the atl trades are boring. josh smith is an undesized pf - what in hell wants kerr with him??
trading lopez?? ain´t happening. we should realy start and put barbosa in a deal and look for real help at the four spot.

I agree J Smith deal isn't exciting imo and Barbosa has the most trade value besides Nash and Amare. Somehow i don't see Kerr trading him cuz he's a fan favorite whata joke

[dantian]

posturing for negotiation from Amare's camp. it seems normal business practice nowadays to do so much of it publicly. I think the solution is either the parties agree to wait a year and see what FA brings for both, or they agree on a TD like contract, maybe with some incentive pays to save cap space. we'll see.

[floppymoose]

posturing for negotiation from Amare's camp.

dantian FTW

[Kerrsed]

Give STAT a max contract.

Trade JRICH to 76ers for Damelbert, Speights or Young, And Holiday

Trade Nash to NY for Lee(resigned), W.Chandler, T.Douglas(#29), Cash

Trade Lopez and Tucker to OKC for Sefolosha and our 2010 Pick back. OKCdid call about Lopez, but dont know what they Offered.

Sign FA Dahntay Jones to a 2yr. 2mill deal

Dragic/Holiday/T.Douglas
Barbosa/Jones/Holiday
W.Chandler/Sefolosha/Clark
STAT/Speights or Young/Dudley
Dalembert/Lee/Amundson

That gives us a young group with potential. We get our 2010 pick back . Team would be fun to watch and even if it bombs, we still get a good player in next years draft.

[DirtyDez]

Do you buy Amare 'wanting to see what PHX does by puting a winning team together' before he signs? Or once we make a MAX offer does it even matter...?

[SideSwipe]

I think the comments here are meant to be conciliatory so Stoudemire can protect his name. He is always very concerened about how people perceive him and his reputation. These conciliatory remarks are always a good sign. The truth will come out in how that translates into dollars. What if he accepted a flat $18million/ year over 6 years. 6 years $108 million. That is a heck of a lot of money. He would be 32 when his contract was ending. The team would always have at least $40 mil to spend on other guys and free agents for the team, and you give him incentive to perform. The other option is to set up an incentives based contract that gives him $18 million guaranteed with performance incentives that add up to another $2-$5 mil depending on what year. Make those incentives based on scoring, rebounding, blocked shots; possibly some other measure of defensive improvement. I think all of us would agree that an Amare that scored the way he does, but also averaged 10-11 boards, while getting 2 blocks is definitely worth paying max money to. Something like 25, 11, 2 He may never be the best defender, but you can definitely build around a guy averaging 25, 11 and 2. That dog will hunt.

My fear is that there may be a "it's me or him" problem going on between Nash and Amare at this point. Nash will win, hands down, I think.

Our team would be extremely competitive with Stat and Nash back and surrounded with Chandler and a few of the young guys. It would still be very fun to watch. I don't know that it will be enough of an improvement to win a championship, but it would be a great ride. Maybe we do that and aim for 2012 as our year for a complete rebuild. I think the guys we have right now can take us until the summer of 2012. All of our players would be under contract at least through 2011. Nash (extended), Jrich, Barbosa, Stat, Clark, Chandler....

They would be fun to watch and we could give Nash the oppotunity to compete and have a good time for the next three years.

[DirtyDez]

Just wish we could get rid of J-Rich's contract and sign Marquis Daniels, excellent perimeter defender you could throw on the 'west playmakers' plus he's cheaper and could protect Nash defensively. Not a great scorer but averaged 13-14ppg last year on a bad Pacers team... He's like a bigger Raja