12 Jan 11 Amare Stoudemire: Phoenix Suns Setting Themselves Up for an Ugly Trade

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesOriginally posted on Fanster.com If you've listened to the Show to be Named Later at all this week, you know Vince Marotta's less than pleased with how the Phoenix Suns are showcasing Amare Stoudemire while attempting to trade him.To sum up, Stoudemire's been in the situation you would Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
least expect to see an All-Star on the trading blockon the bench in crunch time or uninvolved on the court. In Tuesday's overtime loss to Charlotte, Phoenix shuffled Stoudemire in and out faster than a hockey lineup change. The reason: Stoudemire's benefit on the offensive end of the ball versus his detrimental effect on the defensive end. (On a slight tangent, if Stoudemire thinks he's still worth max money when the rest of the league knows he can't be trusted defensively in crunch time, he's a seriously misguided man.) Even when Stoudemire was on the floor, Phoenix rarely went to him for points when they needed them, and let's face it: Lately, the Suns have needed points. Their shooting has dropped dramatically in January, and Stoudemire's 56 percent shooting clip should be more appealing to a team in this kind of stretch. Instead, no isolation for Stoudemire, no slew of pick-and-rolls with Steve Nash, and no win. Two nights later, Stoudemire scored 22 points in three quarters. He didn't play a single minute in the fourth, and not because the Suns or Mavs had already put the game away. It was because Gentry felt a crew of Lou Amundson, Channing Frye, and Earl Clark was performing too well to be taken off the floor. Any other night, I'd have believe him. And yes, the crew on the floor was surprisingly and pleasantly productive. To be redundant, Stoudemire had punched in 22 points in only three quarters. Gentry had to have known this. These kinds of decisions (see: Gentry's obsession with bad zone defense) make Suns fans wonder what Phoenix's braintrust is thinking. Yes, the Suns won (on TNT, finally). It's impossible to say for sure if they would have won with Stoudemire playing in the fourth quarter. It's not impossible to say that his trade value would have gone up with Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
a 30 to 40-point night. Of course, demonstrations like those mentioned above will have their repercussions. Other teams are watching closely, at least the near-dozen teams mentioned to be interested in acquiring Stoudemire. Don't think that this diminishing display of Stoudemire's talent won't result in an equally diminished return in any deal involving him. It's easy to picture Kerr working the phones, trying to get as close to "fair value" as he can. Teams will low-ball him with bad offers. Kerr will respond, "Look, this is an All-Star, a franchise player." Team X, on the other line, will say, "Funny, it sure hasn't looked that way." When that happens and Phoenix (assuming they can get something feasible done before the trading deadline) gets a decent player, peanuts, and a worthless pick, Suns fans will take up their torches and pitchforks and march down Jefferson Street. Bob Sarver and Steve Kerr will try to explain away their own (and Gentry's) idiocy. I say their idiocy because if they showcased Stoudemire a little more, the Suns wouldn't end up like the Memphis Grizzlies in the Pau Gasol trade. Suns fans are scared of another Shaq trade (i.e. legit player for cap room). They don't want Stoudemire shipped out for Zydrunas Ilgauskus' expiring contract (and Ilgauskus himself would just be waived to spend more money), J.J. Hickson, and two bad draft picks (high 20s pick, guaranteed). They don't want to contemplate swapping STAT for Jermaine O'Neal's albatross of a contract that expires this season. What good is free agent money if no player close to Stoudemire's talent level will want it in Phoenix? LeBron James? Chris Bosh? Dwyane Wade? Joe Johnson? Between their own teams and the respective calls of Miami, New York, and New Jersey, all of them will be gone before even considering theReebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
Valley of the Sun. It's obvious the Suns are resigned to trading Stoudemire. If that's the case, then make the best of it. Show him off. Make him believe he's a franchise player, if only to help yourselves. If you don't show his worth, then expect equally worthless value in return.