Last week’s games
01/22/09 Bulls 115, SUNS 104
01/23/09 SUNS 112, Warriors 103
01/25/09 Jazz 124, SUNS 115
01/26/09 Bobcats 114, SUNS 109
This week’s games
01/28/09 SUNS vs Mavericks, 8:30 p.m., TNT
01/31/09 SUNS @ Rockets, 5 p.m., My45
02/01/09 SUNS @ Hornets, 6 p.m., My45
02/03/09 SUNS @ Nuggets, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
These lyrics from The Clash describe how I feel about the current situation with All Star Power Forward/Center Amar’e Stoudemire and the only team he has ever played for, the Phoenix Suns. If he stays, he’ll have to agree to take less than the max. If he goes, he’ll more than likely get the max from some foolish team. If he leaves, there will be trouble, as there are still plenty of Suns fans that like him and would like him to remain a member of the Suns. If he stays, it will be double, as even more people think Stoudemire isn’t worth the max and it’s time for both parties to part ways. So, I’d like someone to come on and let me know, preferably sooner rather than later.
If I had to guess now, I’d say the Suns will move Stoudemire before the February 18th trade deadline. Is this what I want? Not really. Do I understand where Phoenix is coming from? Yes.
I’d love for the Suns to keep Stoudemire, but not if he won’t take less money. He’s simply not worth that. Originally, I thought Amar’e would be willing to play in Phoenix for less, however it’s not looking that way now. He has the tools to be a max guy, but he doesn’t bring it every night and that’s the frustrating thing. Amar’e will put together games where he gives you 25 points and 13 rebounds, but then there will be those nights where he barely cracks double figures scoring and pulls down three boards. If STAT expects to make the same as guys like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, he needs to bring it every night.
Last week, I defended keeping this team together. I said we shouldn’t blow things up. I still believe that, but I wouldn’t be against shaking things up, which we could do by dealing Stoudemire. The Suns just have to do things wisely. Don’t dump Stoudemire just for cash. Hold out until some team gives us the perfect combination of young talent, draft picks and cap space. If the Suns play their cards right, they can turn this Stoudemire situation into something special for the present and the future.
Currently, we hold the ninth seed out West. Only a few games separate us from the fourth spot. If the Suns trade Stoudemire for someone like Antawn Jamison of the Washington Wizards, we’d still have enough talent to make some noise out West.
We don’t own our draft pick (it was part of a previous trade) for the upcoming draft, so I believe getting into the playoffs this year is essential. We can’t afford to give a young, upcoming team (Oklahoma City) out West a lottery pick. So, Steve Kerr, I beg you, do the right thing. Don’t talk to the Spurs, Bulls, Pistons or Cavaliers. They have nothing to offer that can help us now or in the future. Only listen to the Nets if they’re willing to either part with Brook Lopez or their first-round pick this year (unprotected!). Listen to Miami, Washington, Houston and Minnesota, but wait it out until one of them makes the perfect pitch.
The Suns have plenty of options available to them. Hopefully, they choose the right one.
