NBA Trade Rumors: Amar'e Stoudemire Trade Unlikely, Heat Target Carlos Boozer

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver has reportedly informed Amar'e Stoudemire that he will not be traded this season. The news comes after weeks of trade negations with several teams, most notably the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. 

The Suns decided to take Stoudemire off the table supposedly because of his recent surge on the court. The All-Star center has averaged 26.6 points and 11.7 rebounds over his last seven games, but taking him off the table has got to be about more than a week-long sample. Phoenix has had the last seven years to make that judgement. 

Deciding against trading Stoudemire is about the offers, and Miami's just wasn't good enough. Heat President Pat Riley wasn't willing to part with Michael Beasley, especially considering he can make a run for Amar'e in the summer without giving up anything. 

Miami's latest offer was reported to be Mario Chalmers, Daequan Cook, Dorell Wright, Quentin Richardson, and a first-round pick and the Suns weren't buying it. Remember, even though Stoudemire is likely bolting in free agency, Sarver still has to convince his season-ticket holders the team is committed to winning. Fans wouldn't have been happy to see an All-Star player swapped for names that are far from dazzling. 

While Stoudemire would have greatly elevated the talent on Miami's roster, the team wasn't willing to mortgage the future for him. It may be the unpopular move, but Riley can't be concerned with that. His job is to build a franchise around Dwyane Wade and it appears he either thinks Beasley is part of that equation or that he can get better value for the second-year forward in another trade down the line. 

In the meantime, Miami has moved onto Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz for a last-ditch effort to walk away with something before the deadline. Their offer is believed to be Udonis Haslem, Quentin Richardson and a first-round pick. Utah doesn't appear too interested in Miami's offer, but it's rumored the Heat are searching for a third team to join the mix to entice the Jazz into moving their All-Star forward. 

This move just doesn't make sense though. There were rumors before the season of a Boozer for Beasley swap that didn't surmount to anything besides criticism from the fans and media. Boozer and Beasley are two players of the same mold. Both are 6-9 undersized power forwards, and neither can exist full time at the three. So what do you do with two guys who need a lot of minutes and play the same position?

The Heat experimented with Beasley at small forward for stints in practice and the exhibition season, but that idea died a long time ago. Head coach Eric Spoelsta and Riley both decided Beasley was better suited to remain at the four. He wasn't quick enough to guard opposing team's small forwards, and his offensive advantage was diminished at the position. At power forward, Beasley's talent is maximized. He presents a mismatch with almost any defender in the league. At small forward, Beasley is a liability. 

As for Boozer, he is strictly a power forward. At 28-years-old and seven years into his career, that's a certainty. And even though a lot of teams play small in the East at Center, Boozer isn't big enough to play more than spot minutes at the five.

So there's the dilemma. How can Beasley and Boozer co-exist? They can't. The Heat need to recognize that. They lost out on Stoudemire and like anyone fresh out of a relationship, Miami is on the rebound. And Boozer happens to be around.