Upbeat Amare Acknowledges Trade Rumors, Hits Back at ESPN

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Amare Stoudemire knows he's on the trading block, and he knows we know. While most athletes would dodge questions about rumors with trite cliches, Stoudemire was refreshingly honest following Sunday's win in Detroit.

"I know about the rumors. I know what teams are looking. I know what teams want me," Stoudemire said. "I pretty much know everything -- I know what's going on. I'm definitely in the loop on what's happening."

For outside observers, what's happening is very confusing. The Suns have clearly taken a step back, but if shaking up the roster is the solution as opposed to riding things out, shouldn't moving the 26-year-old franchise cornerstone be the absolute last resort?

You'd think so, but as Stoudemire sees it, the Suns are motivated as much by their bottom-line as they are putting the best team on the floor. "I think it's all about what they want to do and what they're trying to do financially," he said. "I think their main focus is their financial intake."

The luxury tax threshold is $71.15 million this year, and the Suns are currently over that mark by $4.6 million -- in this economy, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if Steve Kerr had orders from Suns owner Robert Sarver to avoid paying the dollar-for-dollar penalty. Moving a guy like Stoudemire isn't ideal, but he's talented enough to command a package of expiring contracts and young players and picks, helping the Suns cut costs and re-load in one fell swoop.

It's a logical theory, but not one you hear mentioned too often; after all, what fun is a salary dump? Instead, TV analysts often turn to more dramatic but less tangible explanations, labeling Stoudemire selfish and not a good locker room presence -- charges Stoudemire finds particularly offensive.

"I heard Avery Johnson say one time I was a bad locker room guy or whatever," Stoudemire said. "That stuff's totally B.S. -- we get along so well inside the locker room, we hang out with each other probably more than any team in the league as far as camaraderie, as far as hanging out together. We try to enjoy ourselves."

As one reporter pointed out, several of the Suns have described Stoudemire as being one of the most social players on the team. "That's my thing, that's why I don't understand what Avery Johnson was saying or Tim Legler on NBA Shootaround when they said I was a bad locker room guy. That's not me. That's not me."

"I take pride in really keeping everybody's spirits up in the locker room, just being that guy that keeps everybody happy and smiling and having a good time," he continued. "Shaq [is] that way, as well. So with our personalities, we just enjoy ourselves. And even though we went through a bad losing streak there for a minute earlier in the season, we still stayed together, we still kept our motivation, we still had fun. We knew one day [if] we'd stay together it'd turn around."

For whatever it's worth, the fans at the Palace weren't swayed by the talking heads; instead of being heckled, Stoudemire was serenaded by fans eager to see him traded to Detroit.

"The fans definitely didn't let me forget about it," he said. "They were cheering all night, 'Stoudemire, you're coming to Detroit, we want you in Detroit, we got to have you in Detroit! We'll trade Allen and Rasheed for you!'

"I'm hearing all the rumors and all the chants, which is fun; it's good the fans are on the ball. But I'm a Phoenix Sun right now and we'll see how it plays out."

Just how will it play out? Only Steve Kerr knows at this point, but Stoudemire certainly gives the impression that he thinks he's on the move.

"It kind of reminds me of draft day when you never know what team you're going to go to and you got all the fans inside that draft [room] cheering, 'We want you in New York,' or 'We want you here,' 'We want you there!'"

Everybody wants him -- except, of course, the team that actually has him.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-09-2009 @ 11:46AM

cruuklyn said...

whatever happened to jamal tinsley of the pacers.Did he drop off the face of the earth or what?Is he still with the off the court drama.

2-09-2009 @ 12:09PM

Joey said...

Trade Amare Stoudemire for Chris Bosh.

2-09-2009 @ 12:57PM

King Dlw said...

Amare might as well leave Suns will not win it all whime he is there thier moment has passed

2-09-2009 @ 1:07PM

cantstopdrinkin said...

How about Amare and Grant Hill to Utah for Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and J. Collins. The salaries work. Utah gets some vereteran help for the playoffs, and the Suns get some a the toughness they need inside with Boozer along with some help from the 3 point line in Korver plus if it doesnt work out they get their cap relif because they dont have to sign Boozer at the end of the year when his contract is up. i think its a good trade for both teams.
Anyone else think (and this is comin from a CP fanatic) that Williams and Amare's pick and roll would give CP and Tyson's a run for their money????

2-09-2009 @ 5:48PM

the cooker said...

Dude, you seem to forget that Grant Hill already told Kerr on TV that he would retire if the Suns traded him.

2-09-2009 @ 1:57PM

orangephox19 said...

The Net's should trade for him.....give the Suns Vince Carter and a draft pick.

2-09-2009 @ 8:02PM

Sorry cooker i did straight up forget about that. Thanks for reminding me about that. Here what do you think about this trade then - Amare and Barbosa (i know you probably dont wanna give him up but you would be getting back 2 decent players with range) to Utah for Boozer, Korver, and Brewer and possibly a pick . I honestly think Nash, Boozer, Richardson, and Shaq could do some major damage in the playoffs IF they are all healthy. Starting lineup of Nash, Richardson, Korver, Boozer, and Shaq with Hill, Brewer, and Lopez comin off the bench.. think it could work (at least better then what is goin on over there right now).

Diehard Hornets fan.... lord we gotta get healthy before April....

2-09-2009 @ 8:13PM

The reason i keep pushing for a Boozer trade is because it solves both of the Suns problems at the same time. They are trying to make cap space, but while doing that they want to get tougher inside on the boards and better on the outside from the three point line to take advantage of Nash and Shaq. This trade does all of that because Boozer's contract is up so his $11.5 mill comes off the books after this year. So if they make the playoffs and go on a run and his inside strength is just what they needed and win a ring then they can resign him. If not then they let him go and have some wiggle room. And also because its been rumored for so long that Boozer is outta there after this year and Millsaps strong play has only made that talk louder. So they solve that problem and get back a player that is taller then Boozer and can play the 5 spot efficently and Williams get the athletic big man he needs to run pick and rolls all night like his rival CP does....

2-09-2009 @ 9:12PM

anny said...

The problem isn't Amare, it's Kerr and Sarver. Sarver has done nothing but destroy this team ever since he bought them. This is the first year I can remember that they have actually kept their draft picks and not traded them for cash, now they want to trade a franchise player for cash? Between Kerr trying to build another Spurs and Sarver only thinking about his wallet, the future doesn't look good for my beloved Suns. Go to New York Steve and win that elusive championship. Lord knows it's not happening in Phoenix.

2-17-2009 @ 12:02AM

Patrick said...

If any Suns fans are on here saying trade Amar'e for whoever your not thinking. Amar'e is the man of the future. He's only 26!!! From what I see in Amar'e he doesn't want to leave the Suns. What they need to do is get rid of Kerr, he was great while he was playing but he's a terrible GM probably the worst except for getting J-Rich. and Sarver is like the little kid that though he was good at basketball but was only rich. If he has enough money to own the team he has plenty of money to pay the 4.4 mil in cash for the salary cap. Kerr is making a money move if he trades amar'e for expiring contracts. what do you think the players are gonna do when their contracts are done with the Suns this year? They'll head right back to the team Amar'e is on cause they'll want to win. Kerr needs to get out or just stop what he's doing. Kerr and Sarver at tearing the Suns apart. What's next Steve Nash for cash? I mean come on Kerr think. It's Sarver's money not yours.