No Playoffs For Amare!

[Yuma]

by Paul Coro - Mar. 5, 2009 06:12 PM
The Arizona Republic

HOUSTON - The out-for-the-season diagnosis for forward Amaré Stoudemire initially left a sliver of hope that the Suns star could return for the playoffs should they qualify.

Out means out. And "season" means, "See you next season."

"Not this season, not at all," said Dr. Pravin Dugel, the Valley eye surgeon who operated on Stoudemire's detached retina two weeks ago. "The Suns have the same goal - to make sure he can resume his career.

"It's very difficult to explain to anyone how serious this is. It's more serous than any knee or ankle surgery. The healing is excruciatingly slow and delicate."

Stoudemire suffered multiple tears, new and old, and had a "very large" and "traumatic" retina detachment with blood in his right eye at the time of surgery. There was hope of a return to activity in eight weeks, but Dugel said the recuperation could take months.

"Now it's a matter of just waiting for his body to resorb the fluid," Dugel said. "So far, it's resorbing slowly."

The only way to accelerate resorbing of the thick fluid is through surgery, which would require a gas bubble that could cause a cataract.

Stoudemire visits Dugel twice a week, and they speak often. Stoudemire wants to attend Suns games, but Dugel has not allowed it because it is dangerous for his eye to be susceptible to any jarring.

 

[Covert Rain]

Can't say this was a surprise at all.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

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Playoffs?! Playoffs!???

 

[Mainstreet]

Too bad about Amare's eye but I thought it must be bad if they had to put a band around it. I hope it does not endanger his future as a player.

Does anyone know about Amare's contract situation in 2010. Does he have an opt out then or what? I think whatever happens with Amare going forward it will be hard for him to get a max contract from any team with the serious nature of his eye problem and past micro-fracture surgery.

 

[devilalum]

Amare can be a little bit difficult at times but this guy has been through more at the age of 20 something than most people have to go through in a lifetime.

 

[SirStefan32]

Too bad about Amare's eye but I thought it must be bad if they had to put a band around it. I hope it does endanger his future as a player.

Does anyone know about Amare's contract situation in 2010. Does he have an opt out then or what? I think whatever happens with Amare going forward it will be hard for him to get a max contract from any team with the serious nature of his eye problem and past micro-fracture surgery.

Amare has a player option for 2010/2011, paying him just under $18 mil.

 

[mjb21aztd]

man that sucks but even if we do make the playoff's we aren't going far anyways..... washed up year

 

[Bufalay]

Poor guy.

 

[Goran Stoudemire]

People had to know this was coming. Its too risky to bring him back that soon. Why not just give him the full off-season to heal? Glad to see a update though. I know this has to be tough for him because I'm pretty sure he had to stay on bed rest for awhile and now cant do much of anything at all.

 

[Mainstreet]

Amare has a player option for 2010/2011, paying him just under $18 mil.

Just guessing, but I bet Amare takes that player option. I wonder if the Suns will even talk about an extension.

 

[Goran Stoudemire]

Just guessing, but I bet Amare takes that player option. I wonder if the Suns will even talk about an extension.

Why wouldnt he? He is sitting so that he can be ready for next season and for the future. Doubting him is kinda stupid because this is a guy who has overcome a lot to be the player and man he is today.

 

[TJ]

Just guessing, but I bet Amare takes that player option. I wonder if the Suns will even talk about an extension.

If he comes back 100% and is still productive, he'll decline it.

 

[Mainstreet]

If he comes back 100% and is still productive, he'll decline it.

Yes. This is the big "if."

 

[Andrew]

Damn, I was hoping he would come back...

Though, his overall health is more important.

 

[devilalum]

The other thing this means is there is NO way Amare will be traded this off season.

Everybody that wanted to build around Amare your wish has come true.

 

[The Commish]

Just tank already.

 

[SirStefan32]

Just guessing, but I bet Amare takes that player option. I wonder if the Suns will even talk about an extension.

I think he will take it too. However, there is still a full season to go. If he is healthy next year, somebody might be willing to pay him more. I can see New York taking a chance on him. Lewis got the max, I am sure somebody is stupid enough to give Amare $24 mil per year.

As far as Suns taking extension, I am all for extending Stoudemire for $13-$15 mil per, but I am sure somebody will pay him more. My bet is that if healthy next year, he will be gone before trade deadline.

 

[Yuma]

My thought is our playoffs just went down the tubes! Not that I had a lot of hope, but we seem to be too weak at PF to match up with the big teams now.

 

[Bufalay]

Just tank already.

It's too late to tank. Unless they lose all of their games they are going to be the lottery team with the best record. That will put them in a nice position to draft Robin Lopez's backup.

 

[Cheesewater]

Too bad about Amare's eye but I thought it must be bad if they had to put a band around it. I hope it does not endanger his future as a person.

Fixed that for me.

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

Playoffs? The Suns are still making the playoffs?

 

[Mainstreet]

Fixed that for me.

Actually I felt worse about forgetting to use the word "not" before endanger.

Too bad about Amare's eye but I thought it must be bad if they had to put a band around it. I hope it does not endanger his future as a player.

Fixed it for me.

Needless to say, no one wants to struggle with vision problems as a player or as a person so feel free to substitute person instead of player.

 

[Yuma]

I was wondering if we lost all our games what lottery spot we could secure. IF we didn't trade the spot away!

 

[Goran Stoudemire]

This draft class is pretty week so there really is no difference in a player from around the 4th or 5th pick to 16th-17th pick. No need for tanking. Just play to win and play to get the young guys good experience with the older guys.

 

[The Commish]

I want to see Goran and Robin start. Between the two of them they can set all-time turnover records. I bet with 35+ mins Goran would commit 10 turnovers. We need a VBookie on this if/when he starts this year.