So long, Shaq? Adios, Amare? Suns seek solutions as deadline nears

Phoenix Suns managing partner Robert Sarver wanted answers. Who could blame him? The Suns, a 58-win-a-year powerhouse the past four seasons, had just lost at home to the Chicago Bulls -- the same team whose owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, had just labeled "a disaster."

Answers are in short supply. The failure of the shift from Mike D'Antoni to Terry Porter, coupled with the big-ticket acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal last February, has been well documented. After the loss to Chicago last Saturday, Sarver was in freak-out mode, a common state inhabited by NBA owners when their $70 million or $80 million payroll is spiraling out of playoff contention.

The hour-long, closed-door meeting involving Sarver, team president Steve Kerr, coaches and two players -- Steve Nash and Grant Hill -- got plenty of coverage. But this wasn't the first such organizational powwow, nor was it the most important. It certainly won't be the last. The Suns brass has been in soul-searching mode for weeks, discussing a variety of solutions ranging from firing Porter to removing a big-ticket item from the payroll, most notably Amare Stoudemire or Shaquille O'Neal, sources have told CBSSports.com.

The Stoudemire possibility is "real," a person close to the situation said, and the only thing standing in the way is "internal dissension." But once Kerr determines what the best offer is, he is expected to get the approval he needs.

The word has spread to executives around the league that Stoudemire or Shaq could be had for a price that includes young players on rookie contracts, draft picks and expiring contracts. The Suns aren't actively shopping Stoudemire, but rival execs are aware that it's time to step up with their offers. Plenty will get their bids in by Feb. 19, hoping to fleece the desperate Suns in the process.

The strategy is similar to those being employed by non-championship-contending teams with cash-strapped or financially worried owners as they race toward the trade deadline. Sarver is no different than a lot of owners who are concerned about declining gate and advertising revenue. But he's especially sensitive because he's in the banking business, which is at the epicenter of economic crisis.

"Financial pressures are everywhere in the NBA, just like the real world," one team executive said. "Fewer dollars are being spent at the arena. Many major sponsors are slow-pay or no-pay. Consequently, most teams are in very defensive postures, trying to cut payroll without destroying the product."

Would Sarver take Peja Stojakovic and Morris Peterson if New Orleans agreed to take Shaq? Would Sarver send Stoudemire to New Orleans if the Hornets agreed to send back Tyson Chandler as part of the deal? Neither situation is ideal, but these are the kind of decisions the Suns will have to make as they try to figure out where they're going from here.

Several Western Conference teams are feeling emboldened by the Lakers' loss of Andrew Bynum, who might be back for the playoffs. Denver, San Antonio and, to a lesser degree, Houston and Dallas see an opportunity to "add one more piece and get a chance to get to the conference finals," another team executive said. "If you get to the conference finals, anything can happen."

Want to land Amare Stoudemire? Then you had better get in line. (Getty Images)

Combine those teams with the list of those looking to cut costs, and you have the makings of the most unpredictable trade deadline in years. In addition to Phoenix, here are the other teams that could be active in trade discussions between now and the deadline:

New Orleans: Reports that Chandler could be available are well-founded. The current rumored destination -- Miami, in exchange for Shawn Marion -- makes the most sense. Though the Hornets are under the luxury tax, they are over budget and will be looking to move a big-ticket player -- Chandler, Stojakovic, Peterson or perhaps even James Posey, a luxury that ownership might soon realize it couldn't afford. "They're gonna dump somebody because they're broke," one rival exec said.

Marion is perfect because his $17.2 million contract expires after the season. The Hornets are down on Chandler, but a swap for Marion could be complicated by the same factors that have scuttled (for now) a deal with Toronto for Jermaine O'Neal: Marion is looking for a long-term home and is indicating that he wants an extension from the team that acquires him, according to a source.

One other factor to consider: Though Chris Paul's groin injury isn't believed to be serious, everybody knows the Hornets are going nowhere without him. So if there's a chance the injury could hinder him for the rest of the season, it could accelerate New Orleans' cost-cutting efforts considerably.

San Antonio: One of the Western teams who believe the Lakers are vulnerable without Bynum, the Spurs are looking to add another big man. Rasheed Wallace ($13.7 million expiring contract) fits the bill, though Joe Dumars is in no hurry to let that contract help someone else when he's only a few months away from getting the benefit.

Lakers: Phil Jackson and Mitch Kupchak will be monitoring the defending conference champs very closely without Bynum. The overtime win at Boston on Thursday night was encouraging, but that was a regular-season game in February -- not the Finals. One option is Brad Miller, who is available, but not for the price the Lakers would be willing to pay.

Sacramento: See Miller, Brad above. His $12.3 million contract expires after next season. John Salmons ($5.5 million next season and $5.8 million in 2010-11) also is attracting interest, although he might not be a viable option for teams clearing cap space for '10.

Toronto and Miami: We put them together because it appeared they were ready to do business on an O'Neal-for-Marion swap. It's on hold, for several reasons. Pat Riley insisted on seeing what else was out there for Marion, whose desire for a big-money extension might be scaring off potential suitors.

The Raptors might have to look elsewhere if they want to dump J.O.'s $23 million contract for next season. But know this: Bryan Colangelo will do whatever it takes to keep Chris Bosh happy.

Clippers: Baron Davis inhabits the only NBA roster more dysfunctional than the one he left behind in Golden State. While Mike Dunleavy is busy trying to find ways to improve the team and keep his job, the clock will be winding down to the inevitable cost-cutting orders from the boss, Donald Sterling.

Milwaukee: Losing Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and now Luke Ridnour makes the playoffs seem pretty remote. Might be time to field offers for Charlie Villanueva, who would be a cheap alternative ($3.4 million and a restricted free agent this summer) if the Spurs can't get 'Sheed.

The Knicks won't just give away PF David Lee. (Getty Images)

Knicks: Donnie Walsh being the epitome of patience, he won't part with David Lee at fire-sale prices. There's no rush. But given Lee's increasing value to any team with money to sign him to an extension this summer, Walsh might want to add some minutes to his cellphone plan.

Eddy Curry, who hasn't played all season and might sit out the entire year, will be almost impossible to move. Jared Jeffries is the other player Walsh must trade to keep his 2010 plan on track, but he won't take back anyone whose contract goes beyond next season.

On the backburner: Walsh would like to somehow extract a first-round pick in a trade, because the Knicks' unprotected 2010 pick goes to Utah as a leftover piece from the Stephon Marbury deal -- the mistake that keeps on taking.

Utah: It might appear that the Jazz are in a difficult position with Carlos Boozer threatening to opt out of his contract July 1 and Paul Millsap set to become a restricted free agent. But Jazz G.M. Kevin O'Connor actually is dealing from a position of strength if he wants to make a move -- especially if he dangles the aforementioned Knicks' first-round pick.

Minnesota: The T-Wolves remain open for business on proposals for Rashad McCants, and there is plenty of interest in Mike Miller despite his season-long shooting slump. The Knicks would love to add Miller, a rival executive said, because he could shoot them into the playoffs and validate the plan being pursued by Walsh and D'Antoni. Could Walsh be enticed by an offer that includes Miller and one of Minnesota's three future protected first-round picks for, say, Lee? Miller's $9.8 million deal expires in time for the magical summer of 2010.

Chicago: According to research by my colleague, Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com, the Bulls own the largest trade exception set to expire Feb. 23 -- $5.2 million from the deal that sent Joe Smith to Cleveland last year. Clearly, the Bulls roster is in no shape to allow such a valuable asset to go unused.

New Jersey: Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe would have to be blown away to trade Vince Carter at the deadline, but you can never say never. Either way, the Nets will get a lot of calls because of another asset they acquired in the Jason Kidd trade -- the Mavericks' unprotected first-round pick in 2010.