Seems like everybody is in on the Amare Stoudemire trade talk. Heck, even the Yankees are trying to make a deal for him. Some have tossed Oklahoma City into that mix, most saying it would be a combination of either Chris Wilcox or Joe Smith with Jeff Green and a couple draft picks.
Deal or no deal? A four-time All-Star that’s just 26 years old and has averaged 21-10, 25-9 and 21-8 the past three seasons. A guy that is an elite, established power forward in the league that could potentially take Oklahoma City from building to possibly built. Hit the red button right?
No. Deal.
Look, Amare could totally flip the Thunder around in a heart beat. We know that. He’s an elite player that teams have to game plan for and he would most definitely open up the world for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. A lineup of Westbrook, Weaver, Durant, Stoudemire and Collison/Krstic doesn’t look bad at all. It’s looks pretty stinking good. But I don’t like it and I have reasons.
First, OKC would be giving up Jeff Green. And I don’t want to give up Jeff Green. There’s undeniable chemistry with him, KD and Russell Westbrook. Some scoff at “chemistry” in the locker room, but I love having a team that likes each other. They hang out with each other, go do things together and that means they probably like playing basketball together. You can’t teach team chemistry and I love the idea of these guys coming into the league together and slowly building a contender together. Don’t mess with chemistry unless you’re a chemist. And Sam Presti, you may be a boy-genius but you are no chemist.
Second, who knows if we can resign Amare? Stoudemire is a big-time star that is going to require big-time money. Right now, he’s making $15 million this year, $16 million next year and a player option for $17.5 million in 2010/11. And when his contract is up in 2011 he’s going to unprotected and is going to want mega-money. The worst thing OKC could do would be to mortgage the franchise on one guy when you’re already looking at breaking the piggy bank open to resign Durant. Other franchises have completely killed themselves by shelling out too much for a star. The Kings did it with Chris Webber’s albatross of a contract. The Wizards have it with Gilbert Arenas $111 million deal. Somebody is probably going to do it with Paul Millsap this offseason. When a guy is worth it, you lay the green out there. But, is Amare Stoudemire worth putting a strain financially on your team? I don’t think so. If you can’t resign Stoudemire, then what is the point in getting him for one and half seasons with the possibility of another?
Third, is he really that much better than Green? Green is 22 and is averaging almost 17 points and seven rebounds this season. He’s maybe the most improved player in the league. He doesn’t mind playing General Disarray to KD’s Professor Chaos and is the ultimate hard working teammate. So he might not be Amare Stoudemire, but that actually may be a good thing. Amare doesn’t have that killer instinct anymore and sometimes he looks a bit disinterested – especially on the defensive end. I don’t think he’s enjoyed not playing the fast-paced, loose offense that he got to his first six seasons. His numbers are way down post-D’Antoni and who knows how he’ll fit in with OKC’s roster. Jeff Green plays a different game than Stoudemire, but I almost like Green’s game better. Keep in mind, this is his second year and he’s improving. He’s becoming a better defender and a better rebounder. He could easily be a 20-10 guy for a long time – plus he hits threes at a high rate. I’d rather have that than the dunk machine. Besides, we may be getting Amare 2.0 this June anyway.
Fourth, Presti has a plan and instead of going all Joker on it, maybe we should stick to the plan. Build through the draft, made shrewd moves and sign cost effective free agents. Get guys that are committed to the defensive end of the floor and that can rebound, pass and score if they have to. I’m not sure if Amare fits that plan. Instead of shucking something you’ve been working to build the past few years, why not see it through? It’s not like OKC is making a push for the playoffs right now and needs a shake-up to get there. This season may be lost, but the future is bright.
One thing OKC fans should surely root for is that the Suns do deal Amare. And Steve Nash. And Leandro Barbosa. And everybody else. Because the Thunder hold rights to Phoenix’s 2010 first-round pick and it’s unprotected. So deal him Kerr! Deal him away! Package something up sending Amare and Jason Richardson to the Knicks for Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury. Do it. Do it.
If the Thunder were in the playoff hunt RIGHT NOW and needed a piece to maybe put themselves into serious contention, I’d probably say pull the trigger. Let’s do it. Let’s make our run now and worry about the future later. But what is the point right now? What do we actually gain by getting Stoudemire? Maybe a few more wins this season and possibly a playoff run next year, but what do we give up long-term? Amare is a wonderful player that would surely impact the Thunder. But it’s not part of the plan. And plus, I really, really like Jeff Green. Would the Suns take Robert Swift and cash considerations? That would surely improve that 2010 pick.
@Aaron That's Wilcox not Wilkins
I think a trade scenario that might work for the Thunder is one that I tried and it worked on ESPN's trade machine. Amare for Damien Wilkins, Chris Wilkins, and Nick Collison. This deal would probably have to be sweetened with our unprotected first round pick for cash.
One thing that Presti has said a lot in the past and something that is one of the core principals of what Presti and Bennett are trying to do is: no shortcuts.
They want to build this thing the right way. Bringing in Amare and exiting Green, when you may totally wreck chemistry and may not be able to resign Amare, would be going the shortcut.
Amen Steve. Elton Brand is the perfect example there. Give him a mega deal, but his best years are behind him. That would be bad. Big time, set you totally back bad.
I have been posting for some time that I think Boozer is the key to any "get good quick scheme" for the Thunder. Part of what I like about Carlos is that we could front load his contract NEXT year when we have cap to spare- we lose that year of throwing crazy money (20 Mill?)on a front loaded contract to accomodate signing KD- and Jeff- and Russell when their time comes to get paid. I'm also concerned about Amare's micro-fractured knee. He looks OK now, but that is a big procedure, and we sure don't need to pull an Elton Brand. Boozer's procedure sounded relatively minor- was not season ending- and didn't involve the words "tear" or "fracture". We should hold our powder, and make a big play for Boozer.
I definetley dont think it is worth it for the Thunder to trade for Amare, even if they were able to resign him. When i used to play in REC and AAU games i would always hate the PF and C who were little girls and played minimal defense and didnt rebound but wanted the ball on the offensive end. When we had a player like that up front we usually sucked, our perimeter scoring wasnt enough to make up for all the second chance scores we gave up. That's what Amare reminds me of. The way Presti is building the team right now, he is trying to instill toughness,heart and rebounding with Jeff Green(who i think plays with the most heart and toughness that ive seen in a while) and Collison who plays his hardest every night. I think it would be better for OKC to wait for the draft or FA down the road to fill that void down low. I dotn think Amare would fit it defensively, and we all know "defense wins championships". ;)
The trade makes OK unstoppable on NBA 2k9...wait that's not real life?
I think you nailed it Jax. Great points. Amare just doesn't fit here. Like I said, he's not part of the plan. If things were different and we were 31-22 right now and battling and appeared close to making a run, who knows. But it just doesn't work as it is right now.
Not every star player is good for a small market team either. Sure, Amare would go play in San Antonio's small market, but they're a championship caliber team, and he could help them this year and next year win a championship. So he would definitely go to that small market for that situation, and be happy to be there, and play hard as a result.
Oklahoma City might be the next SA. We might be the next small market to be an annual championship contender. We all hope so anyway. But that goal is a few years off. Would Amare be excited about going to a small market team, that also has no chance of playoffs this year, and no chance at a championship for a few more years? I doubt it. And watching Amare's game this year leads me to believe that he only gives his best effort if he he is in a situation where he's happy.
Maybe I'm wrong, and the guy is playing at 100% with 100% enthusiasm, but due to the new playing style his numbers are down and his game has had to change etc, etc... But I don't think I'm wrong.
I think if you're Nick Collison, and you don't want to be in Oklahoma, that's one thing. Nick has a good attitude and still works hard. But he's not Amare. I think you only get the Amare we all know if he's playing with D'Antoni anywhere, or in a bigger market. I could see him happy to be a Chicago Bull; not exactly a great team right now, but at least it's a big market.
I just think Amare is a big market player, who plays hard when he's happy. I think he'd be happy in a small market if the team has a chance at championships.
Just my $0.02
I agree.
(yep, it's really that easy)