Amar'e leaning towards not opting out

[Andrew]

Source

In an interview with FanHouse, the Phoenix forward said he's leaning toward not opting out of his contract this summer. Unless he were to sign an extension before then, that would mean he would put off his free agency from next summer until the summer of 2011.

"I can opt out this summer or I can opt in, which means I'll be back another year (for $17.69 million)," said Stoudemire, speaking after the morning shootaround in preparation for Wednesday night's game against Denver. "That's definitely an option. I'm leaning more toward that right now. Maybe opting in. ... (That would be to) buy time. See how we do. ... I think we got our game back on track. A three-game winning streak."

If Stoudemire indeed wants to stay, that could reduce the chances of the Suns dealing him by the Feb. 18 trade deadline. Stoudemire, making $16.38 million this season, believes the chances of him being moved are "50-50."

So basically, there's a good chance there'll be one less big name on the market this offseason and barring an extension, it could work out well for anyone who'll have cap room come 2011.

[NovU]

I wonder if PHX will take chances on his words. 50-50 tells pretty much anything can happen. Also it makes me wonder how he'll overcome temptation of bigger contracts to be offered by teams that fails to land big names this off-season.

[benji]

Also it makes me wonder how he'll overcome temptation of bigger contracts to be offered by teams that fails to land big names this off-season.

Easy, if he doesn't opt-out he can't be offered anything.

[Lamrock]

I have a feeling Amar'e re-signs with the Suns to a huge contract. Kerr is too stupid to realize that an injury prone big man who is a mediocre rebounder and doesn't defend isn't worth a max contract.

[Andrew]

I have a feeling Amar'e re-signs with the Suns to a huge contract.

It wouldn't surprise me too much. Previously, it seemed like he was quite keen to get out of Phoenix having developed some bad blood with the front office but perhaps they've gotten past that. I don't think there's much doubt that the Suns would like to keep him and I agree that they'd probably offer him the max to make it happen.

[Rip32]

Now there's a rumor floating around that Amar'e could end up in Detroit:
http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/2010/02/ben_gordon_mentioned_in_possib.html

No question the biggest winners in this hypothetical trade would be the Pistons. Not only would general manager Joe Dumars be able to hit the reset button on the long-term contract that hasn't exactly worked out, but he would acquire a much-needed post-scoring threat in Stoudemire.

Yes, there's a distinct possibility that Stoudemire leaves in free agency after this season, but getting out from under Gordon's contract would still make this trade a no-brainer.

Plus, after gauging the market, Stoudemire might not opt out of his contract. In that case, he could be a major commodity at the trading deadline next season.

The rest of the deal is Ben Gordon-Kwame Brown to Philly; Andre Igoudala-Chris Wilcox to Pheonix; and Amar'e Stoudemire and a Collins brother to Detriot.

I like the idea, but I don't see it happening. People in Detroit are destroying Dumars right now because of CV and BG under-performing. I think getting Amar'e would quiet the fans who are crying about wanting Chauncey Billups back too.

[Andrew]

You know what I love about that rumour (and yes, I do use the word "love" as sarcastically as possible here)? That the Pistons would essentially be getting Amar'e Stoudemire in exchange for Ben Gordon, the same Ben Gordon whose numbers are down this year and the Bulls let walk for absolutely nothing when they could've explored trade options long before that if they had no intention of keeping him. It just seems the kind of blunder front office personnel should lose their jobs over. Just saying.

[benji]

You know what I love about that rumour (and yes, I do use the word "love" as sarcastically as possible here)? That the Pistons would essentially be getting Amar'e Stoudemire in exchange for Ben Gordon, the same Ben Gordon whose numbers are down this year and the Bulls let walk for absolutely nothing when they could've explored trade options long before that if they had no intention of keeping him. It just seems the kind of blunder front office personnel should lose their jobs over. Just saying.

Signing fourth-tier players like Ben Gordon and Charlie V to a combined max contract in the first place after having done the same to Rip Hamilton a couple years back is the kinds of things they should lose their jobs over. Flipping Gordon, Brown and Wilcox for an actual star like Amar'e is not.

After such a trade I'd be expecting follow ups like Charlie V and Prince for Kevin Durant and Stuckey and Rip for Brandon Roy however.

[Andrew]

Sorry, I was referring to the Bulls' personnel there. The Pistons turning Gordon, Brown and Wilcox into Amar'e is definitely a winning move.

[Rip32]

Both have been bad. Dumars has been doing the exact opposite of what made him successful early in his GM tenure. I mean, if he was going to overpay for a guy I'd rather it be a guy who can legitimately carry a team, but according to him that's going to be Rod... so I just sit down back and hold on for the ride.

The Bulls did kind of mess this one up though. I think they thought they could keep BG this year or they def. would have traded him last year. Indirectly, the decision to let him walk could lead to their division rival getting a great offensive player that really can't be matched up with in the rest of the division.

[Andrew]

Perhaps, but looking back I think the Bulls decided a long time ago they could afford to let him walk in the interest of avoiding the luxury tax, understandable but just another blunder from a basketball standpoint (like giving Hinrich and Deng those huge contracts in the first place). It's disappointing to think that they hesitated on trades they could've made when they ultimately weren't going to keep Gordon anyway. Oh well, what's done is done. The Pistons have an opportunity to rebound from their mistake in a much more satisfying manner.