Sunday, May 30th, 2010 at 12:40 pm  |  28 responses

Was Last Night Amar’e Stoudemire’s Last As A Sun?

As the Arizona Republic reports: “If Game 6 of the Western Conference finals was Amar’e Stoudemire’s final game in a Phoenix uniform, it sums up the dilemma the Suns face with their All-Star power forward. He was brilliant at times offensively, despite a collapsing Lakers defense. But he was ineffective on the boards, getting four rebounds in 43 minutes…After Bryant and the Lakers closed out a 111-103 defeat of the Suns, Stoudemire admitted that it entered his mind as he walked off the US Airways Center court that it might be the last time he does so in a Phoenix uniform. ‘It did, actually,’ he said. ‘I didn’t know how to feel as I was walking out and understanding it could be my last time walking out this tunnel with a Suns uniform on. Been here my whole career, so definitely had that feeling. But there’s a great – there’s a good – possibility that I’ll be back. We surpassed expectations this year. We had a great year, so it wasn’t a sad feeling at all. But I definitely had those thoughts.’ Stoudemire can exercise an early termination clause in his contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent. He could choose to play the final season on his deal next year, which pays $17.68 million. He could agree to a sign-and-trade. Or he could negotiate an extension.”

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  • The Promise Posted: May.30 at 1:12 pm
    Probably so. I’d say hes going to the Heat.

  • Atrain Posted: May.30 at 1:25 pm
    Amare is a good player but it’s always seemed about the money to him. First he was gonna opt out, then he was gonna stay, now he’s leaving… Gotta be frustrating for Nash to play with such talented, but selfish players like Amare and Matrix

  • Saquon Posted: May.30 at 2:53 pm
    Him and Wade are going to the Knicks. Knicks offering Bron a share of the Ownership for him to come. So Bron will get paid off of that, and the money they have for 2 superstars are going to Wade, and Stoudemire (possibly Bosh but lets hope not) New York is back!

  • AL29 Posted: May.30 at 3:35 pm
    He’s good, but not a max-contract player, so hopefully none of the teams I like fall into this trap. Also, you’ve gotta wonder if he would be as good without Nash. In a slower system there would be even higher expectations for him to rebound, create on his own, and play tougher defense.

  • ripslam Posted: May.30 at 4:35 pm
    I love how he acts like he has no control over what happens this summer. IF YOU WANT TO STAY, AMARE, STAY. Be a big boy and make your own decisions, don’t play with the media for six months and then do nothing.

  • Cheryl Posted: May.30 at 5:06 pm
    I’d give him a contract like Lamar’s–pay him about 10m-12m for 4 years with the 4th being a team option. He’s not a max player.

  • Michael NZ Posted: May.30 at 6:06 pm
    Not a max player.

  • Ben Flook Posted: May.30 at 6:23 pm
    Not a max player BUT he’s worth more than Lamar Odom. He’s consistent with 18-22 & 5-10 rebounds. Lamar hasn’t been that consistent since his Miami days. Also he can create on his own, a lot more than people give him credit. He’s had to develop more of a face up game as he lost a whole lot of athleticism (although hes still ridiculously athletic) through all his injuries.

  • CDef28 Posted: May.30 at 6:26 pm
    The Heat wouldn’t be a great fit for Amare unless they change the way they play offense and go up and down the floor faster. They also stress defense more than Phoenix, and he may be able to adjust to that. He should opt out with all that hangs around with the collective-bargaining agreement. Stoudemire may also be able to capitalize on a team over-spending for him, in my opinion, because they didn’t get LeBron or Dwyane.

  • Joey E. Posted: May.30 at 7:54 pm
    Dear Knicks, please stay away. Just re-sign DLee if you’re thinking of A’m'a’r'e’

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: May.30 at 8:50 pm
    You know what, Amare SHOULD leave Phoenix, the way he has been treated these past few years. He has always remained loyal to his team, and played his hardest, and let’s be honest: He is their best player at this point. Yet, EVERY YEAR, we get the SAME f*cking stories, most of them from Arizona’s OWN MEDIA about how he wants to leave and is only looking for a bigger paycheck. And EVERY YEAR, we have the Phoenix Suns OPENLY shopping him around to other teams like an item.
    There is absolutely no respect for Amare by his own organization, despite being their best player these playoffs. F*ck that, he should leave.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: May.30 at 8:56 pm
    And I’m tired of people saying stuff like “Not a max player.” If you are lucky enough to land a player of Amare’s caliber, YOU KEEP HIM. You do whatever you can to work with that. Nobody shows him the respect he deserves.
    He’s one of those rare players who everyone thinks is overrated, to the point where he actually becomes UNDERRATED. when will people realize that Amare is one of the best power forwards in this game? You can’t possibly blame him for the Suns’ loss and expect to be taken seriously…

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: May.30 at 8:57 pm
    That being said, Knicks should definitely keep David Lee.

  • Michael NZ Posted: May.30 at 9:56 pm
    I just think a max guy should make more difference on the other end of the floor and if you’re a big and want that money – needa be an above average rebounder, right? Teddy, that overrated/underrated threshold has not occurred with Amare. Yet.

  • ClydeSays Posted: May.30 at 10:06 pm
    He’s starting to remind me od Odom. Tons of talent, doesn’t always show up for games. He’d be a good 3rd option on a contender. Except he’d have to plY defense.

  • matt Posted: May.31 at 1:20 am
    This free agency stuff is simple: Dirk will be in Phoenix soon. Amare is going to Miami. Lebron will be in Phoenix. Bosh will be in LA, which puts Bynum in Toronto. Boozer goes to NJ. Joe Johnson ends up in NYC.

  • matt Posted: May.31 at 1:21 am
    Oooops, I meant Lebron in Chicago.

  • Dacre Posted: May.31 at 2:57 am
    I’m curious to find out how the Suns would go with a PF/C that could actually lock down consistent 10rpg averages with the Suns. I mean sure, Amar’e had a decent 42 point outing in the series and does ALOT for the Suns offense, but really, you replace him with any high end calibre PF (particularly one that rebounds harder) and I’m SURE Nash would be able to make things work with him. Maybe let Amar’e walk and go for Bosh? David Lee? Or a sign and trade for Boozer/Millsap. WHAT ABOUT DIRK? DOes Dirk have room to move anywhere? I expect the Mavs wouldn’t want to get involved but if Dirk is an unrestricted FA you don’t know….?

  • Ben Flook Posted: May.31 at 5:25 am
    @Teddy; Amar’e Stoudamere wasn’t Phoenix best player this post season. I kind of agree that he gets hated on so much he is under rated, but i don’t think you can have him as your 1st option and win a championship.

  • Michael NZ Posted: May.31 at 6:01 am
    Is Dirk even a better rebounder and defender than Amare? The same? Worse?! Besides, Dirk’s rebound rate isn’t on the up at this stage of his career. They’d also prefer a low post option on offense, right?

  • Brickshooting J Posted: May.31 at 7:55 am
    @Saquon: Players are not allowed to own any percentage of any team.

  • Justin Posted: May.31 at 8:04 am
    Teddy, how can you get tired of people saying he’s not a max player when HE’S NOT A MAX PLAYER? He’s not going to Miami, that’s for sure. I think eventually he’ll end up staying because I honestly think he’s in for a rude awakening if he thinks there are teams out there willing to pay him the max. I’ll tell you this, the teams that are in contention aren’t going to pay him that kind of money. And who turns down $17.68M anyway?

  • Clay Posted: May.31 at 8:29 am
    Justin, Amare would turn down the one year left to get a deal secured for years to come. He would probably get around the same amount per year for a longer contract anyway. It’s not that he’s worth it, but a team is going to give him a nice deal.

  • Dacre Posted: May.31 at 9:30 am
    @Michael NZ – I guess I only mentioned Dirk because of the rapport he has with Nash. He’s probably only a slightly better rebounder. I was thinking a PF/C type player that has that face-up game, much like Amar’e. The quick little one dribble-two step moves around the mid/high post and effective with a pick&roll play. Essentially that typical, “throw the ball in the paint and let me back it down some” doesn’t work as well for the Suns, as noted by the dreaded ‘shaq-era’ – essentially try and find someone in the “mold” of Amar’e but with rebounding….? I like the idea of David Lee but again, we’re talking short player situations. It’s not so bad I guess, but just once I want the Suns to be long and rebounding terrors.

  • Dacre Posted: May.31 at 9:37 am
    Stuff it, keep Amar’e (if he wants to stay!) and just work on rebounding – Lopez will come along next season and could just as easily average 8.5/9 boards a game if he can stay on the floor…

  • Eduardo Posted: May.31 at 10:41 am
    I saw bring Dirk in to play either small forward or even center at times to fill in for Lopez when he rests. Hill can backup Dirk at small forward and will probably play more minutes at shooting guard at times. Might return the suns to the high powered offensive team back in the mid 2000′s. But then again it will also make the a far less defensive team, but hey that team back then was exciting to watch!

  • bashmo Posted: May.31 at 10:52 am
    Amare should come back to the suns…they went far in the postseason, and if they hope to come back even stronger they need this guy…he fits their offense great, hes improved as a defender…a good contract is not really an issue, it all depends on how bad he wants to win. whoever mentioned Dirk pleasseeeeeee never compare amare to him, their in different leagues

  • AL29 Posted: May.31 at 7:18 pm
    Most of us seem to believe he’s not a max player. That said, will anyone be stupid enough to offer him max money? Crazier things have happened in the L. Just look at Orlando and Rashard Lewis. Maybe the Knicks, after failing to land any of the bigger free agents that they expected, will feel like they have to make at least one big move to avoid being torn to shreds by the NY fans and media? Last!

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