OT - amare question from a raps fan

[Kyler Murray]

Professional and as classy as Amare could be. Amare left for more reasons than just money. He had legit concerns about the future of the franchise and he went about his business as a professional. He didn't linger and ask fans if he should resign with the Suns etc etc and just be a tease in general like certain other FA's.

Also, as JDP mentioned, Sarver basically low-balled Amare in Feb when he asked for a more than reasonable extension. I don't blame Amare for forcing Sarver to compete with NY in the dollar department to retain him. Amare gave Sarver a chance and Sarver blew it.

I dont agree with Sarver "blew it".

His offer was very reasonable, IF you cared about the franchise's future... meaning post-Nash... meaning 2+ seasons from now.
Many fans, and even the insurance company judged Amare's knees as "risky".

Sure he will give you 20-25ppg for the nexy 2 seasons... at 18 Million a year... fair.
Then a good chance of an UN-INSURED contract of 20+ Million being eaten by a sidelined Amare.. W/O Nash also.... it was a high risk for sure... Sarver is a business man and they HAVE to protect the business side of the team.... although I think he panicked by trading for Hedo... but glad Babby and co saved his butt by trading Hedo out.. which is win/win, since Hedo is built for Orlando.

Anyways, Sarver simply added a requirement for Stoudemire....which was play enough minutes for seasons 3+ and he'd get FULL 20 Million for each of those seasons... which WAS a GREAT business move.... simply play around 30 mins a game...

But Stoudemire/agent knew the risks.. and judged Knick's offer as the "safest" and most guaranteed contract.... Stoudemire made the decision that is best for him and family....

Stoudemire wins... but so does the Phoenix Suns.... in a way...

Stat talking about Knicks having a brighter future is easily understood... they were younger.. has more cash free.. and are going after players in their prime.. (CP3, Melo etc)..... so its more appealing than playing with Dragic, Lopez, Dudley.....(post Nash era)

+1 , exactly my thoughts.

[lilfishi22]

I dont agree with Sarver "blew it".

His offer was very reasonable, IF you cared about the franchise's future... meaning post-Nash... meaning 2+ seasons from now.
Many fans, and even the insurance company judged Amare's knees as "risky".

Sure he will give you 20-25ppg for the nexy 2 seasons... at 18 Million a year... fair.
Then a good chance of an UN-INSURED contract of 20+ Million being eaten by a sidelined Amare.. W/O Nash also.... it was a high risk for sure... Sarver is a business man and they HAVE to protect the business side of the team.... although I think he panicked by trading for Hedo... but glad Babby and co saved his butt by trading Hedo out.. which is win/win, since Hedo is built for Orlando.

Anyways, Sarver simply added a requirement for Stoudemire....which was play enough minutes for seasons 3+ and he'd get FULL 20 Million for each of those seasons... which WAS a GREAT business move.... simply play around 30 mins a game...

But Stoudemire/agent knew the risks.. and judged Knick's offer as the "safest" and most guaranteed contract.... Stoudemire made the decision that is best for him and family....

Stoudemire wins... but so does the Phoenix Suns.... in a way...

Stat talking about Knicks having a brighter future is easily understood... they were younger.. has more cash free.. and are going after players in their prime.. (CP3, Melo etc)..... so its more appealing than playing with Dragic, Lopez, Dudley.....(post Nash era)

I do care for the Sun's future but I've always felt that Amare was our future and he would be what holds the team together (like he's doing with NY now) in the post-Nash era.

Sarver claimed he couldn't get Amare's knees insured and I believe that, but I think it's not because Amare's knees were overly risky but rather Sarver asked for too much cover. I'm not blaming Sarver for wanting to completely cover his losses should Amare go down, but like everything in life, you gotta take risks. I'm pretty confident if Sarver had asked for a lower insurance cover on Amare's knees, he could've got them insured.

What annoyed me was that we could've had a reasonable extension deal done with Amare back in Feb for roughly $14-15m per year. I'm not sure what Sarver was thinking but that was well-below the market-price even at a time when we were losing. And then when the off-season came, he basically matched the NY offer, but kept his conditions as part of the deal (last two years guaranteed). I worked it out before a had Sarver completed an extension deal in Feb and Amare was to go down, in the 4th year of his deal, we would've been able to cover the losses as he'll still be paid less what than the deal in the summer with 3 guaranteed years at roughly $20m per year. The fact that Sarver was willing to pay $60m in guaranteed money in 3 years to Amare when he could've had 4 years for that same price, just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me and makes me believe that Sarver low-balled Amare in Feb.

I'm not blaming Sarver for putting a safety net on the deal by unguaranteeing Amare's last two years with minute requirements, but he had to know what he was willing to offer Amare ($100m) and the bargain he would've gotten had he done the deal in Feb and allowed the guarantees on the contract, like the last season being a player option with a $12m buyout or something. I know Amare and Sarver would've came to a compromise of sorts had Sarver given more guarantees.

Once again, I'm not blaming Sarver for taking a safe option, because he has to do what's best for his business interests. But as an NBA owner, he's gotta understand that this is the nature of the sports ownership business. I forgot the figures, but most NBA franchises aren't money making machines and, matter of fact, most lose money. If he couldn't see a bargain and is not willing the take the risks then he shouldn't have gotten into the business in the first place.

I know, I know. I'm talking like I'm a billionaire owner where the Suns is just my play thing and I think luxury tax is just a tip I give to the guy who flies in ice cubes from the natural springs of Switzerland everyday on my private jet. But that's just my thoughts on this issue.

[sunsbum]

Im sorry but there is NO WAY amare would have EVER signed for less than the max. EVER.

[rsavaj]

Im sorry but there is NO WAY amare would have EVER signed for less than the max. EVER.

Agreed.

Ultimately, I don't think he wanted to stay here anymore. He just wanted his own stage. I get that.

[lilfishi22]

From the reports that came from those close to the situation (ie Coro and other "unnamed sources") Amare wanted guarantees over money. I'm pretty confident we would've got things done had Sarver relaxed on the last 2 unguaranteed seasons.

That's just my opinion based on what I read.

[DRK]

Remember when we could have signed him for 15 million per year or something? Back in february??


superfacepalm.

Oh come on. Don't pretend that you didnt think that was too much for him. Everyone thought that he shouldn't be making Gasol money at that time.