Stoudemire noncommittal on extension

[azdad1978]

By Scott Bordow, Tribune

DENVER - This shouldn’t cause panic in Valley streets, but Suns center Amaré Stoudemire on Friday would not commit to signing the contract extension Phoenix is sure to offer him after this season.

The Suns already have exercised the option on Stoudemire’s rookie contract for the 2005-06 season. But Phoenix is expected to offer Stoudemire a six-year maximum extension this summer, thus keeping him off the free agent market until at least 2012.

Asked whether it’s a foregone conclusion he would sign such an offer, Stoudemire said, "I’m going to play it by ear. It’s still up for grabs. Nothing is secure on paper yet."

To further complicate matters, Stoudemire has changed agents. He parted ways with Bill Duffy, who was his second agent, and is using two of his business managers to represent him in contract negotiations.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=36687

 

[Kolo]

He's smart using "business managers" instead of an agent. $400 an hour for looking over a max contract offer is better than paying 3% of $90 million, or whatever percentage it is agents get.

 

[myrondizzo]

He's smart using "business managers" instead of an agent. $400 an hour for looking over a max contract offer is better than paying 3% of $90 million, or whatever percentage it is agents get.

probally 5%. i know Mike tysons manager and that is what he gets paid and tyson has 2 managers. but tyson hasnt been known for his financial IQ.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

IIRC, the max an agent can take is 4%. It used to be 10%, but Isiah Thomas got it knocked down 8 years ago or so.

 

[Joe Mama]

These sportswriters always seem to forget that the collective-bargaining agreement is up after this season. Probably THE biggest issue on the table will be the length, size, and annual increases of maximum contracts.

Although I do think that the team's success bodes well for Amare's re-signing I've got to believe that there is some concern within the organization that he might want to go play for a bigger market team like the Los Angeles Lakers.

Joe Mama

 

[AnotherHOMER]

I dont know about Amare leaving. Why would he help bring in Nash? Just for 1 season?

-****

 

[devilalum]

These sportswriters always seem to forget that the collective-bargaining agreement is up after this season. Probably THE biggest issue on the table will be the length, size, and annual increases of maximum contracts.

Although I do think that the team's success bodes well for Amare's re-signing I've got to believe that there is some concern within the organization that he might want to go play for a bigger market team like the Los Angeles Lakers.

Joe Mama

I was reading that the league wants to shorten the length of contracts froma max of 6 to 4 years.

If this happens you'd think guys would want to lock in at 6 while they still can.

Amare could sign a 6 year extension with a player out after 4. That way he has the choice. If he waits he may only get 4 years at Max.

It doesn't seem like that big a deal until you blow out a knee or develop back problems.

Any way I dought the new CBA will make it easier for players to walk away from their teams. If anything it will probably be harder. As it is players have to take a pay cut to switch teams.

 

[devilalum]

He's smart using "business managers" instead of an agent. $400 an hour for looking over a max contract offer is better than paying 3% of $90 million, or whatever percentage it is agents get.

Business managers may save you money but do they give you the same sound career advice that you'd get from an experienced sports agent.

I just hope that Amare isn't taking advice from his mother. I was rumored that his first agent walked away because she had to be invloved in every aspect of every decision.

 

[fordronken]

Players tend to re-sign with their current teams, because they can get paid more. A shorter contract wouldn't change that much. What it would do, however, is not screw a team long term on an aging player or a player who gets an unexpected injury.

 

[devilalum]

Players tend to re-sign with their current teams, because they can get paid more. A shorter contract wouldn't change that much. What it would do, however, is not screw a team long term on an aging player or a player who gets an unexpected injury.

9 times out of 10 it would be better to only have to offer a 4 year deal rather than a 6 year deal. Franchise PF's are another story. I don't know if it can be avoided but I would rather not go through a prolonged Kobe like scenario when Amare's contract is up.

It seems like some players enjoy all the attention they get from becoming unrestricted and making everybody squirm.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Amare is unable to sign a contract until after June 30th. That means he will be under the new CBA.

The question I have is if players on a rookie scale will be grandfathered into the old rules. I imagine any player with a normal deal right now will be eligible for extensions under the old CBA (similarly to how Garnett and Shaq are now). I am not so sure about players on the rookie scale though.

 

[sunsfn]

I do not think Amare wants to play center for very long. The suns need to be looking for a center that can play with Amare a lot more than Hunter and Jake are doing now. If they think Hunter can be that guy, so be it, but if not they better find one for next season.

 

[Joe Mama]

Well, Amare Stoudemire might make some more money here on his NBA contract, but he would make a lot more money in endorsements playing for the Lakers. It might not be as much more as LeBron James would make in a big market. I'm sure it would be enough to more than make up for the difference in salaries though.

Joe Mama

 

[Dan H]

Amare will be a restricted free agent, he won't be able to go anywhere unless the Suns elect not to match the offer he gets.

Worry not, folks, he's going to be in purple and orange for a LONG time.

 

[Matt L]

i dont understand that market part. KG must make alot of money off of endorsements and he plays in minnesota. you can't tell me that minnesota is that much better of a market than phoenix is.

 

[Joe Mama]

i dont understand that market part. KG must make alot of money off of endorsements and he plays in minnesota. you can't tell me that minnesota is that much better of a market than phoenix is.

I'm sure KG does make a lot of money off of endorsements. He's also one of the biggest stars in the NBA. Still, he could make even more endorsement money playing in one of the big three markets. Those are LA, New York, and Chicago. KG also has made an incredible amount of money off of his NBA contracts. With the CBA (current and future I'm sure) Amare just won't be able to make as much from his NBA contracts as KG already has.



Joe Mama

 

[AZZenny]

LOL - his comments nevertheless made some of us a tad uneasy. When he said he was eager to get home from Denver to the desert and drive with the top down, all I could think was, " Oh, please don't rain!" I'm sure his comment will also make the organization work extra hard to keep him happy.

 

[Gaddabout]

If the Suns win a championship in the next two years, Stoudemire could play in Siberia and still make a fortune in endorsements. If Tim Duncan can have that kind of exposure in San Antonio, I think we can announce we are past the big market/smaller market exposure issue.

 

[devilalum]

If the Suns win a championship in the next two years, Stoudemire could play in Siberia and still make a fortune in endorsements. If Tim Duncan can have that kind of exposure in San Antonio, I think we can announce we are past the big market/smaller market exposure issue.

Unless you're talking about LA.

The local endorsments are probably worth as much as some national endorsments.

My worst fear is that Amare would become unrestricted so he can sign with the Lakers. It seems like every time the Lakers are down they figure out how to use their huge financial influence to get one of the best players in the league.

Of course taking on Boozer and already having Kobe won't give the Lakers any cap room for years. Then again they didn't have any cap room just a few months before they gave Shaq 120 mil.

 

[cly2tw]

As Amare improves, the only way to make him happy is to shift this team from Nash's as it is now to Amare's and that Amare is in position to make a run for MVP in years to come. The way the Suns are playing now, it's too much dependent on Nash. Back in the years of Malone-Stockton, both were almost equal with slightly more dominance from Malone. Amare is better talented than Malone and Nash is not really better than Stockton.

So, if the Suns, actually DA, are not willing to implement more structured offense that features Amare in a much enhanced way than it is, in comparison to Nash, or if they don't regularly play a real center alongside him, don't blame him if he walks.

 

[cardsunsfan]

As Amare improves, the only way to make him happy is to shift this team from Nash's as it is now to Amare's and that Amare is in position to make a run for MVP in years to come. The way the Suns are playing now, it's too much dependent on Nash. Back in the years of Malone-Stockton, both were almost equal with slightly more dominance from Malone. Amare is better talented than Malone and Nash is not really better than Stockton.

So, if the Suns, actually DA, are not willing to implement more structured offense that features Amare in a much enhanced way than it is, in comparison to Nash, or if they don't regularly play a real center alongside him, don't blame him if he walks.

More talented than Malone? You do know that Malone is the second leading scorers of all time don't you? Don't nominate Amare as the second coming until several yrs down the line....

 

[cly2tw]

More talented than Malone? You do know that Malone is the second leading scorers of all time don't you? Don't nominate Amare as the second coming until several yrs down the line....

Someone has made a point somewhere to define the meaning of "talented". All I'm saying is, I predict Amare in his prime will be more dominant than Malone in his prime, provided he is provided with the proper environment.

 

[hcsilla]

Nash is not really better than Stockton.

I do think that this is a big compliment to Nash. As much as I love Nash he is just not on Stockton's level.

 

[King A]

I do think that this is a big compliment to Nash. As much as I love Nash he is just not on Stockton's level.

especially defensively.
remember stock is all-time nba steals leader

 

[cly2tw]

I do think that this is a big compliment to Nash. As much as I love Nash he is just not on Stockton's level.

The more alarming it is for the team's longterm prospect, as well as for Nash's career length, that Nash is dominating the ball way more than Stockton used to. For the current composition of the Suns team, he needed to do so as both JoeJ and Marion are complementary players unable to step up the way Peja or Redd can. But look at the Mavs, with his departure, Dirk shines even more and their team performance is not really worse than last year's. Sum this up, it's why I'm a bit worried despite the current success.