If Amare walks where does that leave the Suns?

[dantian]

Let's see, $11.2 million comes off the books at end of the season without losing anyone... so we could easily resign Amare to $18 million a year and still be able to take care of Lou (no way can we afford him to walk).

I think Amare will take $18 starting mil.

My bet: Amare resigns with the Suns.

It's my bet too. As long as he is healthy, the way he has been coming into shape, he is still the best franchise player option the Suns could realistically pursue in the next summer.

[lilfishi22]

I could be wrong but I don't believe Amare is back to form yet. Even after the last few games I think his explosion, timing and his usually 2-3 dribbles still aren't 100%. He still loses the ball when he tries to make a move from 16ft and I think he still needs more time to get back more of his explosion. The Boston game was good, but I think he could still improve.

He's shown he could still dominate with 20/7 and it's only been a few months since he got back to working out. I'd imagine he'd get back to a consistent 24/9 by ASW. Defensively, I could see him giving more effort, even saw him boxing out in the Boston game one or two times. I'll be happy with giving him a max contract if he keeps giving us effort defensively and 22/9.

If he walks, this team could suck for a while. It's not often a team gets a chance to put on the floor someone as dominant as Amare. But by suck, I mean no chance of contending for a while.

[bwgood77]

If Amare is going to walk, we need to work out a sign and trade with him. Since we can offer him more than anyone else, and a bunch of teams will have cap space this summer, we could likely do something like an Amare for David Lee and Jordan Hill trade (maybe one of their guards too) or we might could even throw in a guy like Robin Lopez if we get Lee and Hill. I think Jordan Hill probably has more upside than Lopez.

[Sun Scorched]

His deals are SH*T for the Suns. If they don't plan on keeping him, and don't think he will stay, they would just trade him to Miami at the deadline for Beasley. That's better than ANY of those other crap deals you showed.

You must have a lot of stock in Beasley.

I guess it's a matter of opinion, but I think Beasley is (and has been since college) overrated and undersized.

He doesn't have the size to play the PF of the lateral speed to play out on the perimeter. Plus the guy is an egotistical time-bomb.

Plus, understand that what I proposed was simply a way to have the same economic impact on the Suns as Amare walking with the added benefits of a pick and/or one young piece back. Granted, you are trading away a resigned Amare, but we would not have resigned him unless we were doing a S&T, so it's really a non-issue.

Plus, any one of those teams would love to head into the off-season with Amare already on their roster. All three of those teams will be major players in the 2010 FA and it would serve them well to be able to use Amare as incentive for another impact player.

[realsunsfan]

I really don't see Amare walking away, especially if we continue to play well and keep winning.

[MontuWillOwnYou]

Didn't he rename himself Sun Tsu? Of COURSE he's staying.

..just kidding

But seriously, assuming he isn't on the team next year, a S&T is obviously the best choice.

God it sucks to think about that. And it sucks even worse than it's realistically more likely than not. Blah.

Any way we can get a new owner within 9 months time? Here's to hoping Sarver gets an offer that blows his doors off!

[rsavaj]

In Coro's latest blog he says that IF Phoenix extends Amare, it certainly won't be for the max.