Phoenix Losing Ground in Amar’e Derby?

Word out of Arizona is that Stoudemire and the Suns aren’t exactly seeing eye-to-eye. From the AZ Republic: “It is true that the odds of Stoudemire returning to the Suns have become longer but Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, said he is open to talking more with Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver at any time. Suns coach Alvin Gentry talked to Stoudemire on Wednesday and Walters had said that he spoke twice to the Suns on Wednesday as well. ‘It’s nothing adversarial,’ Walters said. ‘We’re really not that close to an agreement. If Robert calls me, I will always take the call.’ Two sources have said that Stoudemire would have taken a five-year contract offer if it had been made by the Suns. Walters has said Stoudemire is only interested in a deal with at least five years. One report had Phoenix making a five-year deal but that could have been including a team option or injury stipulations. There are mixed ideas of how ardently other teams will pursue him. Some league sources think many teams will have the same concerns about his knee history that Phoenix does while others wonder if the effect of a team like New York possibly missing out on the top tier of free agents would prompt it to pursue Stoudemire more aggressively.”