And as soon as Googs and Penny's contracts run up, they will be able to get some good role players to put around this trio and have a very legitimate shot for a championship.
With what money?
If Marbury's extension is $100 million over five years, then his annual salary will look something like this:
2005-06: $16 million
2006-07: $18 million
2007-08: $20 million
2008-09: $22 million
2009-10: $24 million
That won't be exactly right, but it's close enough for discussion.
And Stoudemire will almost certainly be maxed out starting in 2006-07, so let's call that about $12 million to start -- another estimate, but not far off.
So, in 2006-07, which is the first year that Hardaway is off the books, we have these numbers for the big three:
Marbury: $18 million
Marion: $12.6 million
Stoudmire: $12 million
That's already $42.6 million, just in three players. It's speculation where the luxury tax line will be, but the Suns will have at most $15 million to work with for the entire rest of the team.
$15 million annually, to be spread among the following players:
Joe Johnson
Zarko Cabarkapa (let's be optimistic and say he becomes the starting PF/C, along Stoudemire)
sixth man, whoever it is
seventh man, whoever it is
eighth man, whoever it is
ninth man, whoever it is
and so on.
$15 million for two starters, three or four solid bench contributors, and a few insurance/third-stringers.
Good luck.