<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Suns want to get Boris Diaw back on the floor and into the starting lineup again as soon as possible ? sometime this week is the probable scenario ? but there has been at least one positive byproduct to his absence due to back problems. It has afforded a chance for Amar? Stoudemire to test-drive the kind of heavy minutes he?ll likely be playing in the postseason. Stoudemire responded with a string of six straight 20-point, 10-rebound games before settling for 17 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday?s 99-94 win over the Lakers. Stoudemire has accepted the extra workload with no residual fatigue and no problems with either of his surgically repaired knees. ?The next day, he?s been alive and spry. That?s worked out fantastic,? Suns coach Mike D?Antoni said. ?When Boris gets back, we?ll get his minutes down some and get him some rest. But we wanted him to experience playing 42, 43 minutes because I don?t want it to be a shock when he has to do it later.? After missing all but three games last year following microfracture surgery, Stoudemire is the only Sun to play in every game this season. ?Sometimes when you lose something, you find out how important it is to you,? D?Antoni said. ?I don?t think Amar? wants to miss any games. You only have so many in your career, and he?s missed enough lately. You get hurt like that and you are faced with the reality of not playing, every game becomes more precious.? Stoudemire might be forced to sit if he keeps collecting technical fouls. He has 12 technical fouls ? only Detroit bad boy Rasheed Wallace has more with 17 ? and three more would result in a suspension. ?We talked to him about it and told him he can?t get to 15,? D?Antoni said. ?Either that, or he has to get them quick so (the suspension) doesn?t hurt us later.? Most of Stoudemire?s 12 technicals have come from double-technical calls or when he makes a demonstrative gesture ? now a zero-tolerance move in the eyes of referees. ?It?s just little stuff. It?s not like he?s cussing people all over the place ? I?ve never heard him cuss and I don?t even think he does,? D?Antoni said. ?He?s hasn?t gotten his money?s worth, but he won?t miss it either.?</div> Source Which has to bring up the subject of the Suns possibly trading Diaw in the offseason? As it stands the Suns are in salary cap purgatory with Diaw's contract jumping to $9M next season. The Suns will be in luxury tax territory, not including the draft picks (if they keep them.) Boris Diaw has been the odd man out all season for the Suns. It started with being out of shape to start the season, a few nagging injuries, and the return of Amare to All-Star play. The Suns had a taste of life without Shawn Marion, who was previously the player most associated with the rumor mill. I think Marion spoke out about it last season, out of frustration because he didn't want Phoenix to trade him. Diaw still has a lot of trade value around the league, and plenty of teams will be in search of a versatile forward. Depending on Phoenix success this year in the playoffs, they could be in line for a blockbuster trade during the summer.
That's what I've been hoping for all along. Diaw was a great stop-gap fix last year when Amare was out but he's not needed anymore, given his hefty contract, the team's salary cap situation, and a suitable replacement rookie in the upcoming draft (Horford or Noah, possibly)..
<div class="quote_poster">swyftdahoe Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That's what I've been hoping for all along. Diaw was a great stop-gap fix last year when Amare was out but he's not needed anymore, given his hefty contract, the team's salary cap situation, and a suitable replacement rookie in the upcoming draft (Horford or Noah, possibly)..</div> What would you want in return for Diaw? The Suns would have to trade him a team under the salary cap or for expiring contracts.
