Suns Wave Goodbye to Amar'e Stoudemire, Say Hello to Hedo Turkoglu
Since Amar'e Stoudemire left the desert earlier this month, the Phoenix Suns have been on shaky ground as they watched teams like the Heat and Lakers add pieces to their rosters.
Until this morning.
Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic broke the news that the Suns were close to finishing a trade with the Toronto Raptors that would send six foot ten inch forward Hedo Turkoglu to Phoenix in exchange for seven-year veteran guard Leandro Barbosa and another contract.
It was also reported that former Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress was heading to Phoenix in a sign-and-trade in exchange for a second round draft pick in 2012.
A collective sigh of relief fell over the city of Phoenix.
Many fans, myself included, began the usual process of determining how these brand new acquisitions would fit in with their latest team.
No disrespect to Josh Childress, we know he will bring an athletic floor running game to the Suns, but the "sexier" name is Hedo Turkoglu.
For many NBA fans, it was the first time they had heard the words "Hedo Turkoglu" since the Magic fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals and Turkoglu's name was mentioned in several 2009 offseason free agent rumors.
His past season with Toronto was forgettable.
Many would like to remember him for his creativity and late-game shots throughout the 2009 playoffs rather than his struggles with the Raptors (11.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.1 apg, 41 percent fg, and 37 percent 3pt).
How Turkoglu fits in with the 2010 Western Conference Finalist Suns will be a mystery until the 2010-11 NBA season tips off in late October.
Even so, there are tons of questions to be answered.
Will he play the four? Can he create with Nash running the offense? Can he help the Suns rebounding problems?
No one truly knows. Those answers will have to wait.
For once, Suns fans everywhere can hold their heads up high. Their team is making offseason moves to improve rather than clear cap space.
