Paul CoroThe Arizona RepublicJun. 22, 2007 06:38 PMThe Suns often mention how any move they make this summer would be to improve them. Friday's topics confirm that.Suns General Manager Steve Kerr acknowledged that he has been talking this week with Minnesota about acquiring Kevin Garnett but labeled it as ?tough? to pull off. David Griffin, the Suns' senior vice president of basketball operations, talked about the chances that the Suns could trade into the draft's coveted top 12.A Garnett deal remained a difficult proposition because of Garnett's contract. He will make $22 million in each of the next two seasons, has an early termination clause next summer and the trade kicker actually is all figured into the coming season, making his 2007-08 salary $28.5 million unless he declined a portion to make a trade work.Player salaries must be within 125 percent, plus $100,000, to execute a trade.?It's tough because of the contract,? Kerr said of Garnett. ?We're listening to everything and we're trying to see what would be possible in that regard. The only way we would do it is if we could make our team better and do it in a financially viable way. So that's what we're exploring. We're exploring a lot of other stuff too.?Kerr said the espn.com report saying Garnett was ?hoping? to go to Phoenix if he had to be traded made the deal ?a little more plausible.??To get a guy like that, you have to give up an awful lot,? Kerr said. ?We have to weigh whether we can even make it work financially and whether it would make us better.?Because Minnesota is not interested in Shawn Marion ? and Marion is disinterested in Boston ? there is no three-team option.Amar? Stoudemire's name comes up but there is an unwillingness to trade a 24-year-old, first team All-NBA center although Kerr said nobody is untradable.?It would take an awful lot for that to happen,? Kerr said. ?We love the guy.?Kerr said he has talked to eight to 10 teams about deals.Some must be connected to Phoenix moving up in the draft, possibly with a package of this year's 24th and 29th picks and the pick the Suns get from Atlanta next year.That inclination to move up was confirmed when Florida power forward Joakim Noah, a likely top 10 pick, told Atlanta reporters that he is working out for Phoenix next week.Phoenix could be the site of a closed multiteam workout for top prospects such as Noah next week, a league source said.The Suns had designs on that group until the draft lottery went against the odds and denied Phoenix from acquiring Atlanta's pick, which could have given the Suns the No. 4, 5, 6 or 7 pick.Noah, Florida teammate Corey Brewer and Chinese star Yi Jianlian even attended Suns playoff games.?Our chances are actually better to move significantly up than to move into the teens,? Griffin said.?Three through 10 is certainly a good group and you'd be happy with any of them. If somebody was willing to give you a top 10 pick, you'd probably take it being happy with whoever is there.? Phoenix worked out Italian 6-foot-5 guard Marco Belinelli on Friday. Griffin said Belinelli, 21, is a pure shooter who could hit 40 percent from three-point range in the NBA and play at Phoenix's pace. He used to be a stopper before his scoring role took off. Belinelli, who has no buyout issue, said he needs to be more physical in the NBA. ?I want to play like Kobe Bryant because he's my favorite player but we'll see in about one short year,? Belinelli said.Colorado State power forward Jason Smith and point guards Petteri Koponen of Finland, Gabe Pruitt of Southern California and Aaron Brooks of Oregon are slated for a return visit with the Suns on Tuesday.http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/artic...ronline-ON.html
Reports say that Minnesota wants Stoudemire in return, so I don't know which team would benefit more from the trade.
a stoudamire and kg trade is pointless. I think a marion and kg type deal is more decent. seems that both teams can benefit from that to me.
The Suns have worked out both Noah and Brewer and said they are serious about moving up to #5 or #7 in the draft. Dude, if only we could put together a Marion package and get back Gasol and Brewer. I would shoot jizz all the way to the moon. KG/Noah would be good too...but that would prob mean Amare I think...maybe, just maybe...we won't have to.
even though kerr qouted no players were untradable, im 99.9% sure amare is not going anywhwere he's younger stronger and all and all a better player than kg, but man would I love for the big ticket to move to phx... with nash who knows how much better kg and our championship chances would be
I don't understand why the Suns are looking to get into the top 10 in this draft. The KG thing isn't happening and replacing Shawn Marion with a Corey Brewer or Joakim Noah is taking about 5 steps in the wrong direction. I would really like to know what they are thinking right now.
Paul CoroThe Arizona RepublicJun. 25, 2007 09:27 AMThe Suns are closing in on a trade that would put them in the top 10 of Thursday's draft, according to David Griffin, Phoenix's senior vice president of basketball operations.The increasing chances prompted Florida's Corey Brewer (a defensive small forward), Joakim Noah (a high-motor power forward) and Georgetown's Jeff Green (a versatile small forward) to agree to work out Tuesday in Phoenix with a fourth mystery player of top-10 caliber.The Suns also are having second workouts Tuesday with Finnish point guard Petteri Koponen, Oregon point guard Aaron Brooks and Wisconsin small forward Alando Tucker, who will be joined by new visitor Giorgos Printezis of Greece.There are ongoing talks with a few teams in the top 10 but one dialogue is "much hotter," Griffin said.To make a deal, the Suns would likely give up some combination of their 24th and 29th picks this year and the draft pick of Atlanta's that they own for next year.Hey, I'd definitely give up all 3 picks to move up this year. We can keep Marion and add a quality bench player.
I would also give up the picks if it meant lotto this yer. That would be a huge move! Keep the team we have (maybe look to move for Camby still) and add a lotto player in a deep draft! I would wet myself.
I don't think the Suns have any pieces the T'Wolves would want to trade for besides Amare, who the Suns won't trade. If the T'Wolves trade KG, they will most likely be looking to rebuild, and the Suns don't really have any great rebuilding pieces like the Celtics and Lakers do.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jun 25 2007, 03:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think the Suns have any pieces the T'Wolves would want to trade for besides Amare, who the Suns won't trade. If the T'Wolves trade KG, they will most likely be looking to rebuild, and the Suns don't really have any great rebuilding pieces like the Celtics and Lakers do.</div>The Suns, with their 4 picks in the next 2 years, Marion, Barbosa, Jones, Banks....could make a better package than LA I think.Dagameplayer is right though and if it comes down to that I will hate Marion.
When you think about it is Marion really that big of a star to be able to say where he wants to go and doesn't want to go? I mean sure he's one of the Suns big 3 but let's face it he's not Amare and he sure is hell isn't Steve Nash so I don't understand why he's acting like this. Maybe it's because he see's guy's like Kobe and Garnett making demands and thinking hey...if they could do that I should be able to do that. Marion's really showing his true colors I'll tell you that....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Jun 26 2007, 07:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Suns, with their 4 picks in the next 2 years, Marion, Barbosa, Jones, Banks....could make a better package than LA I think.Dagameplayer is right though and if it comes down to that I will hate Marion.</div>Out of those players, Marion and Barbosa are probably the only two valuable trade assests the Suns have that the T'Wolves would want. Marion doesn't want to go to Minnesota, and would the Suns want to trade Barbosa? I don't think they would.
They would trade Barbs for a chance at KG. Marion has no power because he would be very stupid to exercise his option, 4 picks are very nice, that Atlanta one could be really good.... Well it looks like LA is done anyway so whatever...hopefully the 3-way works.
on espnews they had this guy sayin that the suns are thinkin of trading amare to atlanta for a multiple team trade to aquire kg....I doubt that would happen that would be terrible for us
