February 1st and no Amar'e trade or rumor?

[Mulli]

As much as I like Iggy that seems unrealistic. The 6ers would have a very expensive front line of Amare, Brand and Dalemebert and the Suns would be left very thin in the middle.

One positive is the unlikely possibility of the Suns taking back a contract like Brand. No way do I see Sarver approving a trade that brings us a horrendous contract.

Sam Smith, Bulls Beat Homer came up with it.

 

[The Commish]

Sam Smith, Bulls Beat Homer came up with it.

A trade with Iggy/Dalembert coming to the Suns is very real. There's definitely smoke.

 

[binkar]

Sam Smith also projected that Lebron will join Kobe in LA this summer. REALLY credible.

 

[Mulli]

Sam Smith also projected that Lebron will join Kobe in LA this summer. REALLY credible.

Abomb confirmed that one.

 

[jagu]

Abomb confirmed that one.

That would be the worst thing for the NBA if that happened. I'm kind of tired of the where's Lebron going story. No one knows and its not even worth thinking about. Most probably he'll go to the Knicks who have money and the market for Lebron to make lots of money. The Nets have an outside shot. The Nets would actually be a terrific team with Lebron.

Harris
Lebron
Lopez

 

[lou_skywalker]

some intense discussion going on at realgm about a potential philly deal. Here is what a "Sixers Insider" said:

"I'm told nothing is happening until after the allstar game if anything happens at all.

We don't want brand though Philly tried to offer us Brand. Iggy and Dally is the deal on the table. No first. We could only get a first maybe if we take Brand but we don't want him.

Philly is the most likely trade unless something changes. Either Philly or we get a better offer elsewhere as so far we deem it the best on the table and likewise with Philly.

There is still a chance something else happens as teams will change offers, etc as the deadline nears. So nothing is set in stone yet but we'll see after the allstar game."

 

[carey]

I read that and have been trying to figure out if I hate J Rich right now to pay Daly instead of him next year while we already have Lopez. We do this deal and we have no power forward. Frye and Lopez or Daly starting together? Ugh. Hope Lopez has been working on that pick and roll.

 

[devilalum]

I read that and have been trying to figure out if I hate J Rich right now to pay Daly instead of him next year while we already have Lopez. We do this deal and we have no power forward. Frye and Lopez or Daly starting together? Ugh. Hope Lopez has been working on that pick and roll.

If you have good guards and bigs you can always find those tweener role players to fill out your roster. Small forward is the easiest position to fill. Just look at how well Grant Hill has filled that role for the Suns.

Not that Damembert, Lopez(yet) and Frye qualify as "Good" bigs but you get the idea.

 

[Bufalay]

There have been a couple of ESPN insider articles about Amare's future the last two days. Has anyone read them?

 

[Yuma]

I don't have insider, but would appreciate anyone who does to post it!

 

[carey]

I don't have insider, but would appreciate anyone who does to post it!

Here's the dumb insider article. Nothing new.

There are rumblings in Phoenix that Amare Stoudemire will opt out of the last year of his contract for next season. The team doesn't have a great chance of advancing to the Finals, and it's rumored they want to try and go young and rebuild a bit around Steve Nash before it's too late. So Stoudemire's name is hot in trade rumors.

And there have been other signs beyond the Suns' future plans and Amare's status with the team that point to him getting traded.

The Arizona Republic noted last week: "his energy on the court has made him look as though he's halfway packed and ready to leave. It has reached the point that the Suns are more inclined to trade him before the Feb. 18 deadline if a palatable deal arises."

ESPN's J.A. Adande indicated that GM Steve Kerr not shooting down trade rumors is telling that Stoudemire's days are numbered.

Stoudemire says he wants a bigger market.

If a team takes on Stoudemire, he's expecting they'll sign him to a max, long-term deal, but some teams are concerned he's not worth that much, and with a smaller cap next season and the possibility of a lockout in 2011, it may not be worth the risk. Stoudemire himself could realize that he's not worth $17.6 million in the open market -- his salary for next season if he opts in -- and instead exercise that player option.

And as ESPN's John Hollinger notes in today's PER Diem, the Suns are "freaked" at the possibility of Amare possibly opting in for the last year of his contract and not trading him, because it would set their rebuilding back and leave them with less money.

Possible Stoudemire destinations.

New Jersey. They'll be in Brooklyn in a few years, and can offer young talent and draft picks.

Miami. Stoudemire has a place in the area, and has the opportunity to play with Dwyane Wade. The Heat could send back Michael Beasley or Jermaine O'Neal.

Chicago. The Bulls are looking for a power forward who can score. They play in a big market and have cap space to re-sign Stoudemire. Local media says the Bulls have reservations about signing him, but a package of Tyrus Thomas and possibly Brad Miller or Kirk Hinrich is in the mix.

San Antonio. Seems unlikely, but reports say they are mulling it over. The Spurs could send Manu Ginobili's expiring contract in return.

New York. It's a big market and Mike D'Antoni is familiar with Stoudemire, but Donnie Walsh doesn't see it happening.

Washington. With the Wizards being in sell mode, the Suns could receive Antawn Jamison in return, a stretch 4 who would work well in their system.

Cleveland. The Cavs could send Zydrunas Ilgauskas and J.J. Hickson in return, and Cleveland would net a frontcourt scorer in Stoudemire. But would a Shaq reunion work?

Golden State. The Warriors were linked to Stoudemire on draft day. But the team is in saving money mode now. If they were to put their chips in, the team could offer an expiring contract along with young talent such as Anthony Morrow, Anthony Randolph or Stephen Curry.

Detroit. The Pistons could offer a young talent in Charlie Villanueva along with expiring contracts in Chris Wilcox and Kwame Brown. But with ownership changing hands and the team already having a few long-term deals in place, it isn't very likely.

 

[devilalum]

Is there any precedent for an ALL Star starter being traded to the other conference just before the All Star game?

Seems like it would create an awkward situation.

 

[slinslin]

All I can say about that Insider article is "They are charging money for that" ?

I could write a much more detailed and better article then that in less than 15 minutes.

The newest rumor by the way is Amare saying he is leaning towards NOT opting out of his contract this offseason. Of course Gambo says it is just to avoid getting traded to a team that wants him only because he is an expiring contract.

Who knows however, he might also see that he won't get the FA attention this offseason because of all the big names and prefers the FA market in 2011.

 

[lou_skywalker]

maybe we could start Lopez and Dalembert at the same time?? Just for defensive purposes..

 

[hcsilla]

maybe we could start Lopez and Dalembert at the same time?? Just for defensive purposes..

Yeah, if you don't mind that the offense of your frontcourt includes only putbacks and open lay-ups/dunks.

 

[Bufalay]

maybe we could start Lopez and Dalembert at the same time?? Just for defensive purposes..

Are either of them very good defenders?

 

[Yuma]

Yeah, if you don't mind that the offense of your frontcourt includes only putbacks and open lay-ups/dunks.

But you could have Frye as small forward, and Hill as the two guard! LOL! We would be a "Big" team! LOL!

 

[The Commish]

Are either of them very good defenders?

Dalembert is an excellent shot blocker and a good rebounder.

Lopez is a good shot blocker and a mediocre, but improving rebounder.

 

[Mainstreet]

maybe we could start Lopez and Dalembert at the same time?? Just for defensive purposes..

I guess a much poorer version of the twin towers could rule again like previously in Houston with Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

 

[Bufalay]

Dalembert is an excellent shot blocker and a good rebounder.

Lopez is a good shot blocker and a mediocre, but improving rebounder.

But can they defend people? Neither guy rebounds that much better than Amare.

 

[devilalum]

I guess a much poorer version of the twin towers could rule again like previously in Houston with Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

MUCH poorer!!!

 

[overseascardfan]

The newest rumor by the way is Amare saying he is leaning towards NOT opting out of his contract this offseason. Of course Gambo says it is just to avoid getting traded to a team that wants him only because he is an expiring contract.

Who knows however, he might also see that he won't get the FA attention this offseason because of all the big names and prefers the FA market in 2011.

I saw this on SI's website, found it intriguing. Amare won't make more than $17.7M if he opts out, so he probably figures collect the dough and wait to see what happens in terms of a lock out and hard cap that has been rumored to be included in the next CBA. If that hard cap takes effect in 2011, then all big FA's are screwed because they will not be able to exceed a certain percentage of a teams cap. Some writer wrote in an article that max level players would earn like $8-$9M. An example was given that if a hard cap existed now that the Lakers would have to get rid of Bynum, Gasol and Walton to get down to the limit.

 

[elindholm]

An example was given that if a hard cap existed now that the Lakers would have to get rid of Bynum, Gasol and Walton to get down to the limit.

You can be confident that won't happen. Even if they do implement a hard cap, they'll have it take effect gradually, so that no team will have to dump players on current contracts. I don't know how they'd handle the grandfathering, but you can be sure there would be some.

 

[Chaplin]

You can be confident that won't happen. Even if they do implement a hard cap, they'll have it take effect gradually, so that no team will have to dump players on current contracts. I don't know how they'd handle the grandfathering, but you can be sure there would be some.

Absolutely. My guess is a hard cap wouldn't affect current contracts. It would only affect new contracts. But you have to think that there will be exceptions, especially if someone becomes a free agent, and the team they left still is over the cap, preventing them from signing anyone else to take the place of that player.

There will almost certainly be a strike. I can't imagine the union would want a hard cap.

 

[cly2tw]

By opting in, he could still get traded in FA with expectation of getting an extension right away. Suns however also get some compensation. He might be saying that so that Heats and Nets would come to agreement with Suns now instead of hoping to get him costless in the summer.