Amar’e May Not Be Going Anywhere

Despite rampant speculation about his next destination, it’s looking more and more likely that Stoudemire could finish up the season in Phoenix: “One last time, Amar’e Stoudemire sat before a locker after a game and talked more about his status than how well he played or how the Suns got the result that they did. Stoudemire still had not heard a peep from management at the time. But before heading for the team bus after Wednesday night’s loss at Dallas, Stoudemire was pulled into a coaches’ office by Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver for a brief closed-door meeting, a talk that was believed to be held to tell him that he likely will remain a Sun once the 1 p.m. trade deadline passes today. ‘It doesn’t bother me,’ Stoudemire said once again of the trade rumors, speculation, reports and even fan taunting (one Dallas fan announced to him that he had been traded during the fourth quarter Wednesday). ‘For one, I think there are teams out there that respect my hard work and my perseverance to come back from injuries. No. 2, they understand how I could help their ball club. Three, I think they see my character for what type of person I am. All that plays a factor in teams that are willing to inquire about me. That’s a positive so I look at it like that. I’ll continue playing hard for the team I am playing for.”‘