Interesting rumor, but I doubt it goes anywhere. I think Suns will hold out for better value, especially with an expiring contract.
In the trade context, Biedrins is still BYC until about July 1st (forgot the exact date) along with Monta for having signed the huge contract last year. The Suns could try to get GS to pick for them and hold off on the trade, but there's no guarantees because of the other issues (Amare's health). This is part of the reason that it's so hard to see it happening.
According to Kawakami: MT-2 is reporting, along with ESPN’s Ric Bucher, that the Warriors and Phoenix are in discussions, with MT-2 reporting that the two teams have agreed to the basic terms–Andris Biedrins, Kelenna Azubuike, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli and the No. 7 pick to Phoenix for Stoudemire. That's too much for my taste for Stoudemire. Yes he was first team All-NBA, but that was with Nash and D'Antoni. He's a big time scorer but he's woefully lost rebounding and defending. Who's left after the trade? Monta, SJax, Randolph and Stoudemire. Not enough. Stoudemire is a head case, I would rather start trying to win with Curry types than punks.
During the ESPN draft Bucher came on and said that the new discussion, which can't be officially completed until FA July 8, is Amare for Beans, Marco and Wright. That makes more sense, and as much as I love Beans, I do dat!
So who plays center? I guess it'd have to be Turiaf? Amare's too soft to play center, so we better acquire some C's. But knowing Nelson, he'll play Amare at center and end up wanting out a la Chris Webber. I think it might be trouble if Randolph is a wing power forward and not an oversized small forward like Kevin Durant or Dirk Nowitzki. And let's say we still don't have a post up player, then I wish we had somebody more like Brandan Wright. Losing Belinelli is kinda bad... but we'll have to see what our SG lineup is (probably a mix of Buike and Morrow since they're not long enough or heavy enough to play small forward). I'd really miss Biedrins. I'm not a fan of Amare Stoudamire's oncourt personality. If he gets 20/9 and a blocked shot with plenty of free throws, I'd say do it. We need inside presence. Hopefully he'll be better at passing the ball?
TK provides a completely hypothetical solution to the trade in his article today: So essentially we would trade Kelenna for Najera and our pick back. Then go ahead and trade Beans, Beli, Wright, and said pick to Phoenix for Amare. I'd still do it but the question is would NJ take that deal? TK makes a good point that the pick we gave them will at best be a mid-late pick and at worst become two second round picks. Would they give the pick back if it meant them picking up a good, cheap player and dumping a crappy contract? Would they demand Beli or someone else? And even if we did get the pick back is it worth it to trade an unprotected pick to the Suns?
They could actually do Law for Najera plus the pick rights. Law is expiring and thus more attractive if they really want to shed salaries. Heck just to have the pick back for that little seems worth doing. I really rather not trade the 2010 pick, as I said a few times, the 2010 draft has great potential big men.
Agreed. How does this lineup look guys (assuming things work out)? C: Amare extended, Turiaf, Kurz PF: AR, Davidson SF: SJax, Maggette sixth man, Buike (swingman) SG: Monta, Morrow PG: Curry, Watson re-signed Add: Mid-level exception PF; Maybe Channing Frye is another mid-level exception candidate now (?) Looks like a playoff team on paper.
Assuming that Curry can play and Amare is healthy, that team looks pretty damn good on paper. I'm gonna hold off on getting excited until after the trade and after the Summer league
I am not sure if it looks much better than the Suns roster last season, and they didn't make the playoffs. But then again maybe next season the West will be a bit weaker. It really depends on the high expectation guys - Curry and AR - on whether this is a playoff team next season or not. I am blown away by the enormous expectations for just AR.
Yeah, I think everyone needs to calm down about AR and realize he just turned 20. He's not going to be a superstar or even star this season. The most we should hope for is he will start 82 games and play 30 mins per. Whatever numbers he puts up, is what he puts up, but he has to prove that he can play a full season as a starter.
It's easy to get carried away, but consider this. AR is 19 and will turn 20 in July, but... Curry is 21 and Nelson has slotted him to be our starting PG. Monta is 23, and he's been starting since he was 21. Morrow is 23. Stoudemire is 26 and has been starting since he was 20 and won ROY and has been a 4x All-Star. Even the guys were are trading: AB is 23, but he's been starting since he was 21. Brandan Wright is 21 and was pegged as a starter this year. Marco Belinelli is 23. New Jersey's pick back to GSW (Damnit Mullin, why did you trade for Marcus Williams???!!!???!!!)
Of all the guys you mentioned, only Monta has played a full-season (81 games in 2007-08) with starter minutes (37.9). EDIT: I realize you also mentioned AB. Still though, AB didn't start playing real minutes until his 3rd season (when Nellie came). So, until we see Randolph in this role (I'm sure he will be), I'm not going to get too excited about him even though I am excited. None of the Warriors you mentioned have been an all-star. Stoudemire was special coming into the league. I think in this day and age, he would have been picked top 3, but that was a time when people will still reluctant on picking a high school player.
The only thing I am trying to make an argument for is that the trade IMPROVES the Warriors and that the new team looks like a playoff team on paper. We'll still have to see how well it meshes, how Curry can handle the PG role, how much improvement Randolph has shown and whether he can be a starter, etc. If AR is not ready, then picking up someone with the mid-level exception would be insurance. Perhaps we see some Turiaf at C and Amare at PF.
