Amare for KG thoughts

[Mike Olbinski]

If Amare is indeed traded for KG basically straight up...I'm starting to come around to it.

Why?

Because I want to win now. I think that at this point in their careers, KG is just a much better player. A smarter player, more polished, more skilled and a better teammate.

With him being even a slight upgrade over Amare, we can win this thing.

Now, losing Amare is losing a guy for the next 5-8 years or however long. Who knows how his knee will hold up?

But his ability as a teammate is lacking. He's caused some problems in the locker room.

Now you have Nash and KG who will just be the best teammates you could ask for. Like Dirk and Nash. They just want to win, that's it. KG will be hungry, Nash is hungry and they can do it.

I will be in shock to not have Amare here, but I am seeing the upside.

And we keep Marion, who will still be the same old guy, Barbosa is still here and hopefully we still move up in the draft and nab a young talent.

I'm excited about this...if it happens. I'd rather see Shawn go, but this could still be the right move.

 

[nashman]

No!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

If Amare has to go, We need a top 5 pick at least to make up for the value in the trade.

 

[abomb]

If Amare is indeed traded for KG basically straight up...I'm starting to come around to it.

Why?

Because I want to win now. I think that at this point in their careers, KG is just a much better player. A smarter player, more polished, more skilled and a better teammate.

With him being even a slight upgrade over Amare, we can win this thing.

Now, losing Amare is losing a guy for the next 5-8 years or however long. Who knows how his knee will hold up?

But his ability as a teammate is lacking. He's caused some problems in the locker room.

Now you have Nash and KG who will just be the best teammates you could ask for. Like Dirk and Nash. They just want to win, that's it. KG will be hungry, Nash is hungry and they can do it.

I will be in shock to not have Amare here, but I am seeing the upside.

And we keep Marion, who will still be the same old guy, Barbosa is still here and hopefully we still move up in the draft and nab a young talent.

I'm excited about this...if it happens. I'd rather see Shawn go, but this could still be the right move.

Good points CM. I almost posted this as a poll today, but there is enough going on in the forum.

Option A: Lose Amare, gain KG and be the favorite to win the title.

Option B: Keep Amare, watch Nash waste his last few years getting bounced in the playoffs.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I heard Jim Rome say it best.

If we do nothing, who knows if we can really beat the Spurs.

If we do it, Garnett matches up better, has a better post up game and would be more of a threat than Amare.

So we do it, we win a Title next year or the year after, or both. We don't, and maybe we don't win one for awhile?

With Nash's window closing, I think NOW is the time. I don't care about the future. We haven't won a title EVER...it's time to win one, and then we can relax and worry about other things later.

 

[F-Dog]

KG doesn't guarantee the Suns will win now, any more than Amare does.

If you have to see Garnett lining up at center for Phoenix, you'll see why Amare has struggled at times.

 

[green machine]

If Amare is indeed traded for KG basically straight up...I'm starting to come around to it.

Why?

Because I want to win now. I think that at this point in their careers, KG is just a much better player. A smarter player, more polished, more skilled and a better teammate.

With him being even a slight upgrade over Amare, we can win this thing.

Now, losing Amare is losing a guy for the next 5-8 years or however long. Who knows how his knee will hold up?

But his ability as a teammate is lacking. He's caused some problems in the locker room.

Now you have Nash and KG who will just be the best teammates you could ask for. Like Dirk and Nash. They just want to win, that's it. KG will be hungry, Nash is hungry and they can do it.

I will be in shock to not have Amare here, but I am seeing the upside.

And we keep Marion, who will still be the same old guy, Barbosa is still here and hopefully we still move up in the draft and nab a young talent.

I'm excited about this...if it happens. I'd rather see Shawn go, but this could still be the right move.

That right there is the big problem. We essentially have a slight upgrade but still the same weaknesses that the Suns had before. The Spurs will just defend the Suns like they always have, and the Suns won't be able to exploit it because a guy like Marion just won't get it done.

 

[mribnik]

IMO any situation where we trade Amare for KG does not even make the Suns better now. First off, I'm not even sure if KG instead of Amare makes this team better against the Spurs/Mavs (don't forget about the Mavs, they could be at the top again next year). The Spurs and Mavs have lots of trouble with Amare. KG takes a lot of long jumpshots while Amare gets in the paint. This gives the Suns more free throw opportunities and gets the other team in foul trouble. KG is a better overall offensive player, but I think Amare's offensive impact on the Suns is greater. KG is clearly the better defender, but I don't think his defense will have a big enough impact to warrant trading Amare AND KT AND picks. So I think you can make the argument that even if a straight up trade was possible, it might not make the Suns better.

In addition, any trade for KG would have to include someone like Thomas as well, and probably picks or another player. Amare + KT > KG

 

[Ryanwb]

I said it once and I'll say it again. KG isn't going anywhere

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I think a lot of you underestimate how good a motivated Kevin Garnett will be.

He's a top 5 player. And he'll be gunning for the title.

 

[Gaddabout]

If this trade does indeed go through, and the other trade I think is on the hook goes through, and what I'm hearing in free agency goes through, the Suns off-season could look something like this:

SUNS OUT:
Amare
KT
Pick No. 24
2008 Atlanta pick

SUNS IN:
KG
No. 8 pick (if Noah's available)
No. 29 pick (probably a swingman)
Grant Hill

The trade with Charlotte is a trade night deal hinged on Noah, and the Atlanta pick is set to go to a third team that's making the deal possible for Charlotte.

*shrug*

Is that an off-season that improved the team? It's a big risk, I think.

 

[mribnik]

I think a lot of you underestimate how good a motivated Kevin Garnett will be.

He's a top 5 player. And he'll be gunning for the title.

I'm sure he will be, just as Amare is. The Suns get eliminated from the playoffs and Amare is immediately seen working out in the gym and working on his game.

Also, with the way Amare has performed in the playoffs the last 2 years he's been there, he is also a top 5 player, for half the cost and 7 years age difference.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Hell if nothing else, for people that love all basketball and not just the Suns, it will be really interesting to see what KG is capable of when surrounded by serious talent.

Other than that, I'm not sure i like it. Mostly because I still think Marion needs to go - and I dont want to sign him to an extension.

 

[Ryanwb]

I think a lot of you underestimate how good a motivated Kevin Garnett will be.

He's a top 5 player. And he'll be gunning for the title.

He's a really old 31, he has more years on his body than the average 31 year old NBA player has. While most guys play a 25 game college season in their late teens early 20's he was playing 82 game seasons. I don't know how well he's body will hold up the next few seasons

 

[sharkman]

Good points CM. I almost posted this as a poll today, but there is enough going on in the forum.

Option A: Lose Amare, gain KG and be the favorite to win the title.
We were the favorites to win the title going into last season. KG with no Amare doesn't guarantee anything. Amare was first team all NBA.

Option B: Keep Amare, watch Nash waste his last few years getting bounced in the playoffs. The Suns were the second best team in the League...hardly "wasting" Nash.

I'd rather add to the team, not blow it up.

 

[oneofthesedays]

I think a lot of you underestimate how good a motivated Kevin Garnett will be.

He's a top 5 player. And he'll be gunning for the title.

LOL and the rest of the guys on Phoenix aren't? Last I saw Nash was trying to run out on the court with a busted nose that was bleeding profusely from every pore. Everyone on Phoenix is hungry, they've been so close these past few years.

You don't do this trade because KG will not have the same offensive impact that Amare does. All you need is a defensive presence, better than KT, that can at least put the stops on Duncan and you win. It's not worth giving up key role players and the future of your franchise for.

 

[Crash]

No, but not only no, HELL NO!

 

[Rab]

If Amare is indeed traded for KG basically straight up...I'm starting to come around to it.

Why?

Because I want to win now. I think that at this point in their careers, KG is just a much better player. A smarter player, more polished, more skilled and a better teammate.

With him being even a slight upgrade over Amare, we can win this thing.

Now, losing Amare is losing a guy for the next 5-8 years or however long. Who knows how his knee will hold up?

But his ability as a teammate is lacking. He's caused some problems in the locker room.

Now you have Nash and KG who will just be the best teammates you could ask for. Like Dirk and Nash. They just want to win, that's it. KG will be hungry, Nash is hungry and they can do it.

I will be in shock to not have Amare here, but I am seeing the upside.

And we keep Marion, who will still be the same old guy, Barbosa is still here and hopefully we still move up in the draft and nab a young talent.

I'm excited about this...if it happens. I'd rather see Shawn go, but this could still be the right move.

The only possible way I can even concieve this deal happening is that there is a lot more behing the Marion/Amare saga that we just don't know. Or they know something about his knee problems that we don't know.

What happens with Shawn if he stays here. He has a fragile ego that has taken a beating in the last 3 weeks. Will he hold hard feelings? Do we end up losing Marion for nothing if he does decide to opt out next season*. I for one am tired of seeing his weaknesses overshadow his strengths, and I don't know if I can take another year. I'm just ready for the Suns and Marion to part ways. I'll always be a fan of his, but I'm tired of his contract, and I'm tired of his ego. Something tells me that there are going to be some bridges that would need repairing if Shawn were to stay.

What do we do with Garnett next season? I'm assuming he's not going to opt-out if he is in a place he is happy in. What can the Suns put around him with that frackin deal still in place? Any deal that involves giving up Amare for KG is an instant loss for the Suns. Love KG, love his game, but are we really going to have more of a chance if we give up Amare?

Amare has only tapped into the player he can become. He was simply great last year, and he still was playing with a lot of rust. Given another offseason of working on his game and polishing his skills, who's to say he won't be more like the Amare of the 04-05 season, but better all around? I'd rather hang my hopes on Amare/Shawn/Nash than I would KG/Marion/Nash, especially because we get nothing but KG in return in this deal.

I hate this idea, and it will be a dark, dark season for me next year if I turn on the TV and don't see #1 in the lineup.

*I doubt he opts out.

 

[AsUdUdE]

.... there is no scenario in which trading a 24-year old all NBA 1st team CENTER, for a 31 year old is acceptable...

now again, throw in the #3 pick and let us get rid of banks... AND have you sign a new 5 year deal worth 5-6 million a year... yeah.. then i can maybe see it....

ANYTHING LESS... and its the type of deal that will make us the miami Heat in 2 years... SURE, we MAY win a championship... and then go through a rebuilding phase... and if Kerr is still the GM, based on his first deal.... I am not sure I could stomach a 10 year stretch where we either don't make the playoffs, or it is a one and done....

If this trade goes down, Minnesota, Seattle, Portland, Golden State, will all be in the playoffs Perennially for the next 10 years... that means With only Barbosa as our young stud, with Nash retired, Garnett 34-35 and not nearly as effective as he once was....Marion Gone to F.A., Barbosa would be our only bright spot on the team.....

Yeah, I can REALLY see this trade growing on me....

 

[nashman]

Jim Rome is an assclown, his opinions on sports are usually off. Kevin Garnett has a better post up game than Amare...don't think so! Garnett shoots a bunch of jumpers / fadeaways you rarely see him post up or go to the line anywhere near amare. Mribnik has it right not sure Garnett will be better against the SPurs or Mavs who we already know Amare plays well against. A trade for Garnett does nothing for us if Amare has to be involved! We had a great chance this year if we didn't get screwed over by the NBA and $#% officiating!

 

[sharkman]

...and its the type of deal that will make us the miami Heat in 2 years.....

That's what I'm afraid of too.

 

[tobiazz]

KG may have a better back-to-the-basket game, but Amare is far superior at scoring in the paint, esp. with the pick & roll. As mribnik stated, Amare is our weapon against SAS and DAL. Also, KG is not going to get any better, but Amare may explode this season.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I think a lot of you underestimate how good a motivated Kevin Garnett will be.

He's a top 5 player. And he'll be gunning for the title.

Sorry, the correct answer is the Suns learned from thrashing their teams around Amare isn't going anywhere. Please pass Rodney Rodgers and Tony Delk, do not collect $200,

 

[oneofthesedays]

If all the above reasons don't turn you off to this trade consider that ATL and Minn. fans are salivating at the thought of this deal going down. That should tell you enough that you are getting hosed.

 

[mribnik]

Jim Rome is an assclown, his opinions on sports are usually off. Kevin Garnett has a better post up game than Amare...don't think so! Garnett shoots a bunch of jumpers / fadeaways you rarely see him post up or go to the line anywhere near amare. Mribnik has it right not sure Garnett will be better against the SPurs or Mavs who we already know Amare plays well against. A trade for Garnett does nothing for us if Amare has to be involved! We had a great chance this year if we didn't get screwed over by the NBA and $#% officiating!

KG and Amare both have a post-up game, but neither of them use it. KG chooses to shoot jumpshots and I believe the Suns decided not to put Amare in back-to-the-basket situations because they thought it put more stress on his knees. After a year where he played in every game (minus game 5 against SA) they'll probably be more likely to use him in that way.

There were a few memorable post-ups by Amare this year. The first was in the game against the Wizards in Phoenix. They gave Amare the ball in the post and he spun toward the baseline and finished with a reverse dunk. Also, in that double-overtime game against the Mavericks, they gave Amare the ball quite a few times in the post and he dominated Dirk/Dampier/etc.