Are the Suns inching closer to a trade with Philadelphia headlined by Amare Stoudemire and Andre Iguodala? Separate sources close to both teams caution that it’s too soon to answer that question affirmatively. One source with knowledge of the Suns’ thinking, in particular, insisted that Phoenix was still evaluating several potential trade candidates. However . . . You can safely say that the Suns have ramped up their evaluation of Iguodala, whom they’ve liked dating to the 2004 draft when Iguodala turned pro after two years at Arizona. We know that because the Suns quietly dispatched one of their lead decision-makers – senior vice president of basketball operations David Griffin – to New Orleans on Friday night to watch the Sixers play the Hornets in person. As discussed in the Weekend Dime, Phoenix has made it known that – in spite of its longstanding aversion to taking on long-term money – it has serious interest in Iguodala (even with four seasons left on his contract after this season worth $56 million) and would also be willing to acquire Samuel Dalembert (due to earn $12.2 million next season) to clinch the deal. The Suns, though, would undoubtedly want Philly to take back Jason Richardson in such a swap. Even though the Sixers would have to surrender another player to make the salary-cap math work, such as Jason Kapono or Willie Green, they wouldn’t realize any significant savings in this trade configuration until the 2011-2012 season if Stoudemire follows through on this week’s suggestion that he will not become a free agent at season’s end and plays out his contract at $17.7 million in 2010-11. You can also expect Philly, if these talks go any further, to insist on Leandro Barbosa instead of Richardson to make it a simpler two-for-two trade: Stoudemire and Barbosa for Iguodala and Dalembert. Phoenix, furthermore, appears to be the team driving these discussions anyway. The Suns, by all accounts, like the idea of trading for Iguodala more than the Sixers like the thought of gambling on Stoudemire, who remains an undeniable force offensively but comes with that well-chronicled injury history in addition to the opt-out conundrum. The optimistic view in the desert goes so far as to suggest that Dalembert – shopped by Philly without success going back to last season – would be better than ever playing alongside Steve Nash, not only because Dalembert holds a Canadian passport but because Nash brings the best out of mobile centers. Yet we should also pass along the warning that came from one front-office executive whose team has expressed its interest in Stoudemire. The exec believes that the Suns could well choose not to move Amare before the Feb. 18 trading deadline if they start playing well again … and Phoenix just went 4-0 on a four-game road trip during which Amare averaged nearly 28 points and 12 boards. http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/12957/suns-take-up-close-look-at-iguodala oh boy i knew ther suns would stick their nose in front of us! At leat we know we still got washington and new york.
I would think that the Suns are already stacked in the perimeter positions... but they go for Iguodala? Losing Amare hurts, but this could really make their transition fast break game unstoppable.
thats exactly what i was thinking, if they lose amare, they have zero inside presence to score the ball and would become the sixers of the west! IMHO
Robin is known to be the more defensive of the 2 brothers. I just don't understand this deal??? Rep for you!
I don't like this move for the Suns or even the Sixers but more so the Suns. If Amare doesn't opt out then the Sixers will be in cap hell next season with a player that doesn't even want to be there. The Suns will be stuck with 2 BIG MONEY contracts for next year yet be a lateral move for them, just doesn't make sense...just keep Amare if he opts out great if he doesn't thats 5 million less on their payroll then if this deal happens. Honestly from the Suns point of view a deal with TMAC for Amare/Barbosa makes a lot of sense economically as they would have a chance to add a significant piece in their reloading process.
Iguodala can play a role similar to what Marion was a few years ago. Iggy's not as good of a rebounder but everything else is equal or greater.
I'm so tired of hearing about Amare. Every year it's the same **** and he never gets traded. I don't think that will change this year.
This trade would leave the Suns with a giant hole in the middle and I wonder why the Sixers would want to pair Amare with Elton Brand? Maybe the Suns/Amare relationship is more toxic than we realize. I do think Iggy would be a GREAT addition to the Suns but this trade would severely unbalance their roster. I need someone explain to me why the Sixers would want Amare and Brand together the remainder of this season and all of next season. Amare has hinted he will NOT opt out because he wants the $17MM due next season. I think he is starting to face reality like Carlos Boozer did last summer. TracyMacAddidas, I'm with you except I think both the Suns and Amare are sick of each other. I think Amare has a spring in his step because he thinks he's leaving soon.
That maybe the case with Amare but I don't think it's the case with Pheonix. Personally I do not believe Amare would be at this level without a PG like Nash which is why the Suns have been keeping him around for this long. I don't know, they traded for Richardson last year which totally caught me by surprise so I guess they wouldn't mind finally pulling the trigger on a Amare trade if the price is right.
I don't think that the relationship between Philadelphia and Iguodala is all that hot either, and the team is going to need money to extend the real future in Speights and Young anyway. If I was Stefanski, I'd do the Amar'e-Barbosa/Iguodala-Dalembert, then flip Brand and Willie Green to Washington for Gilbert Arenas to balance the roster. As for Phoenix, they could try to play Frye at the 4, perhaps, and maybe take a run at Jamison next year with Dalembert?
If you are trying to get rid of salary why in gods name would you want Arenas. That contract is the definition of death.
If Arenas' contract is the worst in the league, Brand's is the second worst, and at least Gilbert still has a chance to be a productive starter and fan favorite if he uses this incident to act as a catalyst to refocus on basketball. Additionally, as long as Gilbert is suspended, the team doesn't have to pay him, making him better than an expiring contract this year, and his salary only counts 50% against the cap and luxury tax. Plus, if he ever does something this stupid again, I would have to believe that there would be a very good chance for a voiding of the contract under the new CBA. Maybe you wait 'til after the draft to see if you get John Wall, but of the top prospects, almost all of them are big men. Gilbert is the perfect buy low candidate, who was having a decent year coming off of not playing for almost 2 years. That's more than you can ever say about Brand, who plays the same positions as your two best young players in Thad and Marreese.
