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Latest on the trade front - because you just can't have enough of that!
Miami is really, really interested in Amare and ESPN (Insider) explains how it could be a huge home run for the Heat. However, Sports 620 KTAR's Gambo reports that the Suns don't want anything that the Heat have to offer and specifically the front office does not want Beasley, which is their only marketable asset beyond expiring contracts and mid-range draft picks.
Talk seems to be shifting towards keeping Amare, but I just don't see it.
If Amare doesn't get traded now, the best option for the Suns is for him to pick up the option and stay. Barring that, why would teams this summer be willing to give up more assets in exchange for Amare in July when he's already on the free agent market?
The reasons teams do a sign and trade for a free agent are:
- They want a guy but don't have the cap space so they move a contract in the trade that frees up room. In other years that would be more likely, but this season there are plenty of teams with enough space to sign Amare
- They want to be able to give the free agent the extra year using the old team's Bird Rights. I am not going to explain the details here but I don't see any team needing to make a trade just so they can give Amare 6 years instead of 5.
That's it. So why would the Suns possibly be able to get a better deal in the summer than they can now? I don't see it.
They might not like any of the deals being offered but unless the extension talks yield a deal or they have solid reason to think Amare won't opt out, the Suns have to suck it up and take the best deal out there. Otherwise they risk losing Amare for nothing. Something > Nothing.
Moving on...
This is fun. Jared Dudley, TV star
The Official Phoenix Suns Blog " Blog Archive " Dudley May Land Gig at ESPYs
Suns forward Jared Dudley, who has maximized his opportunities for more time on the court this season, is also looking to maximize his opportunities off it. The third-year man attended an ESPN gathering with teammate Steve Nash that was used to promote the network’s "30 for 30" documentary series.
and good for Jason...
SUNS: Jason Richardson Donates $23,000 to Aid Earthquake Relief Efforts in Haiti
Suns star Jason Richardson is making a donation of $23,000 to Chances for Children, a local organization that works to save the lives of children living in poverty in Haiti, to aid in the ongoing relief efforts of the Caribbean nation. The Suns organization made an initial donation of $20,000 on January 15, which purchased over 8,000 pounds of food, formula, water, medicine and supplies.
And lots of other linky links
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All-Star 2010 by the numbers - Ball Don't Lie - NBA Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Comprehensive National Basketball Association news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more -
Bickley: Stoudemire situation is tricky for Kerr
Kerr is in the final year of his contract and there has been little movement on new negotiations. -
NBA Power Rankings: Streaking Suns -- NBA FanHouse
The Suns rise to the seven spot in this week's rankings, thanks to a solid five-game winning streak in which four of the Ws came -
Suns not raising season ticket prices
The Suns will not raise season ticket prices for a second consecutive year, actually reducing prices on about 4,500 seats. -
Miami still very much in the hunt for Amare Stoudemire - Peninsula is Mightier
Miami still very much in the hunt for Amare Stoudemire -
Behind the Blazers Locker Room Door: Juwan Howard's OKC postgame is an 'ice-breaker' for Phoenix win | The Blazers Beat - OregonLive.com
See, the roots of this victory - the first in the last 10 games here - were planted by Howard the night before, shortly after the Blazers were humbled 89-77 by Oklahoma City in the Rose Garden. Behind the Blazers locker room door, before the coaching staff entered, Howard went on a tirade in front of his teammates. He cursed. He yelled. And he demolished a huge tub that players soak their feet in after games. "It was shocking,’’ rookie Dante Cunningham said. "It was, ‘WHOA! HO!’ I mean, there was water and ice flying everywhere. It was like, ‘OK, maybe we really did something wrong.’ We all sat back and thought about it. I think it got everybody’s attention.’’ -
Bust a Bucket - A Portland Trail Blazers Blog
Well that game was certainly unexpected. Based on the way Portland played last night against Oklahoma City, there is no way they could hang with the Suns in Phoenix right? Wrong. Apparently the lethargic, lack of energy effort in Portland was somewhat of an aberration. The Blazers took a page out of the Suns playbook by hitting them hard early, making every shot they took, and finishing off a big time game in Phoenix, 108 to 101. -
Game reaction: Trail Blazers 108, Suns 101 | Blazers Blog - OregonLive.com
Though the Blazers were 9-3 this season in the second of a back-to-back heading into last night's game, they had not won in Phoenix since Feb. 4, 2004. They'll have a chance to take the season series with the Suns for the first time since the '99-00 season in the final meeting of this season, March 21. -
SLAM ONLINE | " Game Notes: Blazers at Suns
Steve Nash’s directorial effort in a homegrown "Avatar" sequel led another reporter to ask if Nash had been tapped for the real sequel. After suggesting that "Jimmy Cameron’s pretty precious about his project", your continually-intrepid Game Notes writer recommended the inside track could be to marry the "Avatar" and "Titanic" director like "Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow did. Nash’s response: "He’s not my type." Probably too controlling. -
Suns dumped by Trail Blazers in return from break
Since the starting lineup shift, the Suns rarely have messed around with the defensive implications of simultaneously playing big men rejoining Amar'e Stoudemire and Channing Frye. But they went there to close the second quarter Wednesday night. Portland made its last nine shots of the first half, although most of that came outside the lane. In the second half, the difference was more glaring when they tried the pairing again with Portland scoring off two drives immediately.
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