Hickson, Ilgauskas to Suns????

[njworange]

Sources: Hickson, Ilgauskas to Suns
Chris Broussard
February 14, 2010, 2:57 AM ET
ESPN The Magaazine

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns are closing in on a deal that would send All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire to Cleveland, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

The Cavaliers would send Zydrunas Ilgauskas and J.J. Hickson to Phoenix in exchange for Stoudemire, one of the league's most dominant big man.

While Cleveland remains in talks with several other teams, the club, from management down to the players, has settled on Stoudemire as its first choice.

The ball is in Phoenix's court. The Suns are mulling whether the financial relief provided by Ilgauskas's $12 million contract and the young and talented Hickson are enough for them to part with Stoudemire.

Cleveland believes the addition of Stoudemire would all but seal LeBron James' re-signing with the team when he becomes a free agent this summer. The Cavaliers are also prepared to sign Stoudemire, who has one year and $17 million remaining on his contract, to a long-term contract extension once the season ends.

The Suns will likely waive Ilgauskas, which would allow him to be re-signed by Cleveland after 30 days.

Cleveland is also talking with Washington about acquiring Antawn Jamison, as well as Indiana about Troy Murphy. Meanwhile, Golden State is trying to entice the Cavs into taking Corey Maggette for Ilgauskas.

Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.

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cavs gets
STAT

suns gets
Hickson, Z-Man

.....

oh my god....

 

[Roca Dolla]

the biggest rape in the nba, well done steve kerr! your mission to destroy the suns is now completed!!!

 

[boisesuns]

Yeah, for the deal I say just hold on to him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah, for the deal I say just hold on to him.

I agree. This deal would definitely be highway robbery. The Suns would need at least two first round picks in return to make this deal even close to legitimate.

If this happens, it would be the second year in a row the Suns have sent All-Stars (Shaq and Amare) to Cleveland for next to nothing beside money.

I guess Kerr's contract is due to expire after this season. I wouldn't mind if both Sarver and Kerr left after their plundering of the Suns assets.

 

[AsUdUdE]

I just can't believe that JJ hickson is the best we can get for Amare.. that is just not possible...

Why the hell is kerr considering this?

 

[PoolBoy]

im not 100% against trading amare. but for this? no

 

[elindholm]

By the way, the deal with the Warriors last summer that fell apart, for Biedrins and whoever, would have been much better than this obscenity -- even without Curry, who was reportedly the sticking point.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I'm embarrassed by the lack of negotiating power of Steve Kerr and Robert Sarver. We are the softest organization in the history of sports...

 

[wsupkid]

Is the Miami deal dead? Was there ever a Miami deal with Beasley?

 

[jagu]

Wow....Horrible trade. I don't know if I'll watch another Suns game if that goes down.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I find it hard to believe that Amare would accept this trade... Yea, the Cavs would have a great shot at getting to the finals and may, though I doubt it, beating the Lakers... But what then? Are the Cavs gonna be in a position to sign Amare to a longterm MAX deal? They do still have LeBron to take care of....
I wouldn't be surprised if Amare squelched this deal...

 

[elindholm]

I find it hard to believe that Amare would accept this trade...

He has no say in the matter. It's up to the Cavs to decide whether they want to risk acquiring him. Since their cost is essentially zero in the rumored deal, I don't think they'd have too much hesitation.

 

[82CardsGrad]

He has no say in the matter. It's up to the Cavs to decide whether they want to risk acquiring him. Since their cost is essentially zero in the rumored deal, I don't think they'd have too much hesitation.

I thought Amare still had the right to exercise his option?

 

[Lorenzo]

I find it hard to believe that Amare would accept this trade... Yea, the Cavs would have a great shot at getting to the finals and may, though I doubt it, beating the Lakers... But what then? Are the Cavs gonna be in a position to sign Amare to a longterm MAX deal? They do still have LeBron to take care of....
I wouldn't be surprised if Amare squelched this deal...

why would he not accept this trade. It is clear that the suns obviously no longer are sure about keeping amare long term, so why would he have a problem playing with argueably the league's best player and team? that combined with the opportunity of contending with a NBA title again? this would be a lopsided move to say the least. this would give a team on the verge (offensively) of winning the east. and it would destroy phoenix's hopes of winning in the playoffs. I feel bad for nash right now...he has a couple of years left and it appears phoenix may be content to waste those years.

 

[SunsTzu]

I thought Amare still had the right to exercise his option?

He can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, he can't stop a trade. Besides the whole point of getting Amare is to prevent James from leaving. If the Cavs land Amare they will pay him as long as James stays.

Amare will play for whoever offers him the most money.

 

[devilalum]

why would he not accept this trade. It is clear that the suns obviously no longer are sure about keeping amare long term, so why would he have a problem playing with argueably the league's best player and team? that combined with the opportunity of contending with a NBA title again? this would be a lopsided move to say the least. this would give a team on the verge (offensively) of winning the east. and it would destroy phoenix's hopes of winning in the playoffs. I feel bad for nash right now...he has a couple of years left and it appears phoenix may be content to waste those years.

Amare would just look like a total idiot if he tried to block this deal with threats. Who wants a player that doesn't want to play for a winner?

 

[Lorenzo]

I think that the market for amare has dwindled somewhat. 2 or 3 years ago amare was prime in becoming the top PF in the game perhaps eclipsing dirk, TD, and KG. It appeared that his game was developing into something more than just a pick and roll dunker. his outside shot was dropping and he was showing range. But defense, rebounding, and low post(or any post skills) have been inconsistent. Now he is making first team NBA money, but his play doesn't necessarily equate all the time. I think that is why phoenix's negotiating power is not where they might want it to be. However, while the suns may be looking to unload his salary and start from scratch, you don't want to give this guy away for nothing and give him to a a team that is on the verge of dominating the league for years. this looks like it could be another memphis/lakers trade except the suns are actually a decent team. It would puzzle me to see them give amare away for nothing....unless of corse all they care about is saving some money at their fans' expense. I would be pissed if I were a suns fan to see this trade go down. It is a low class move( a type of move that my texas rangers would make).

 

[lou_skywalker]

we should get a least a third player from them, since Big Z would be bought out anyways. Would love Anthony Parker to be included, I would give up Clark as well.

 

[devilalum]

we should get a least a third player from them, since Big Z would be bought out anyways. Would love Anthony Parker to be included, I would give up Clark as well.

The point of this deal would be to put more money in Sarver's pocket. Taking another player would not help make this happen.

 

[82CardsGrad]

He can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, he can't stop a trade. Besides the whole point of getting Amare is to prevent James from leaving. If the Cavs land Amare they will pay him as long as James stays.

Amare will play for whoever offers him the most money.

Guess we'll see... I wouldn't think the Cavs could possibly make LeBron the highest paid player in the NBA, AND be the team that can offer Amare the "most money" as well...

 

[Lorenzo]

The point of this deal would be to put more money in Sarver's pocket. Taking another player would not help make this happen.

that's where I would hate to be a fan. when you are willing to give away a star player for nothing in return other than saving a dollar.......and then giving a team like cleveland. My texas rangers do it to me all the time. they are content to being a low class MLB team that is willing to feed their stars to teams like Boston/NYY when their players become stars. I thought the suns were beyond that....especially with the new cuban like owner and all.

 

[Lorenzo]

Guess we'll see... I wouldn't think the Cavs could possibly make LeBron the highest paid player in the NBA, AND be the team that can offer Amare the "most money" as well...

lebron is cleveland's top priority, but they also have to sale to lebron that they are doing everything in their power to help him win a title rather than just pinch pennies to keep him long term. At the end of the day this is just an opportunistic move for the cavs. I think they know that shaq alone will be embarrassed come playoff time against the big east teams.(shaq as well was a political move for the cavs because he is baggage at this stage in his career if you ask me). Next year they can sale both players on staying long term and make the $ secondary. lebron's gonna be the top paid player either way no matter where he goes. amare is not gonna get paid the money that he wants anywhere in the NBA anyway. He is gonna have to take a paycut...that's why teams aren't willing to give much for him right now...because he's overpaid by today's nba economy.

 

[slinslin]

Anything like that and I will absolutely stop being a Suns fan forever until GM/Ownership changes.

Hickson? Really? I'd rather have just a #15 pick than him. Ilgauskas just to buy him out so he can go back to Cleveland too?

At least the story sounds like complete ********.

 

[Lorenzo]

the suns moves just haven't worked out. five years ago they had nash, joe johnson, shawn marion, amare, and a great supporting cast in the prime of their careers. but the moves they made have all backfired and left them looking to save money at the end of the day. Hind sight is 20/20, but it appears that's all that's left if they are just gonna dump amare off.

 

[Lorenzo]

Anything like that and I will absolutely stop being a Suns fan forever until GM/Ownership changes.

Hickson? Really? I'd rather have just a #15 pick than him. Ilgauskas just to buy him out so he can go back to Cleveland too?

At least the story sounds like complete ********.

I don't blame you. I have boycotted my favorite baseball team for these types of moves. I won't put money in their pockets when i get this in return.