Where Will Amare Stoudemire Land?

The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
6/19/09

A couple days after a Boston Globe report made waves around the internet regarding a possible Al Jefferson/Amare Stoudemire blockbuster, the Minnesota Timberwolves put out a formal statement to verify they were not interested in the proposed deal that would send Amare to Minnesota for the No. 6 pick along with Jefferson.

I don’t expect Jefferson to be upset, as these rumors didn’t originate with his team, however, how will Amare react now he knows Steve Kerr was trying to deal him? Unlike some veterans that have been traded before, this is foreign territory for Stat, and we have already seen him waver on his future in Phoenix a few times this offseason.

Where do the Suns turn now for a deal? Two places that come to mind for me are New York and Washington.

New York and Washington are both natural fits, because they are places that Stoudemire has said he wouldn’t mind playing at. The Knicks would have to put a combination of players together, perhaps a sign and trade of David Lee, Nate Robinson, and some cap relief (Cuttino Mobley’s contract).

Amare in NY a year early could also help snag some help next summer(i.e Lebron or Wade). As for the Wizards, we all know about the rumored deal that would send Antawn Jamison and other role players for Amare. Stay tuned…

In other Suns news, the Arizona Republic reports that Steve Kerr and Steve Nash have begun talks of a contract extension, that would lock up Nash for the remainder of his career there. Nash has made it known that he wants to remain with the team, no matter if Amare or Shaq is next to him.

The news out of Los Angeles this week has been all good, kinda. Kobe Bryant’s expected new deal ($135 Mill/five years) would make it next to impossible for the Lakers to retain both Trevor Ariza AND Lamar Odom. Both players have stated to the media their desire to return next year though.