WASHINGTON -- Some potential 2010 free agents can't stop talking about their intention to opt out and test the market July 1. (Hint: He wears No. 23 and loves New York). Others, like Amar'e Stoudemire, are in wait-and-see mode.
Stoudemire could make a fine consolation prize for any one of a dozen or more teams that will have enough cap space to sign a max player next summer. There is only one LeBron James, one Dwyane Wade, one Chris Bosh. After the Big Three are off the table -- either re-signing with their current teams or changing cities -- the next prize could be Amar'e.
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| 'I think the best approach is to wait the whole year and see how the year plays out,' Amar'e Stoudemire says. (AP) |
"I don't mind waiting the whole year," Stoudemire said. "I don't mind; I really don't. I'm ready to wait the whole season. I think the best approach is to wait the whole year and see how the year plays out."
Stoudemire and the Suns are on the same page. After erasing the Shaquille O'Neal mistake, renewing their commitment to an up-tempo style under Alvin Gentry, and re-signing Steve Nash and Grant Hill, the Suns are in no hurry to commit to Stoudemire for the long term. They can sign him to an extension any time until the June 30, 2010, deadline for him to exercise his opt-out clause, but GM Steve Kerr acknowledged that both sides have agreed to let it play out. Unlike LeBron, who drops almost daily hints about his intention to opt out, Stoudemire said he isn't leaning one way or the other.
"My focus is to really try to win here," he said. "I've been here my whole career, so if I could continue that streak and keep winning, that'd be great for me."
Stoudemire, who turns 27 next week, is banking on two things: The Suns getting back to the playoffs and him being a major reason for it. If that's going to happen, he knows he must prove that his health is no longer an issue. The two dirtiest words in any contract negotiation are "microfracture surgery," but that wasn't the issue for Stoudemire this past summer. It was a grueling recovery from multiple operations to repair a detached retina, plus the fact that any team would be understandably hesitant to commit 30 percent of its cap space to a big man who has been a poor/disinterested defender throughout his eight-year career.
Stung by the no-defense stigma, Stoudemire said he has been working on improving that aspect of his game for three years, though he admitted sarcastically, "It's probably hard to tell." Gentry recently said that Stoudemire has probably drawn more charges already this season (including preseason) than he did all of last year.
Still, the Suns' efforts to trade Stoudemire before the draft have been well documented. He probably would be playing in Golden State right now if the dysfunctional Warriors hadn't backed out of a draft-night deal. On Monday, the Washington Post reported that the Wizards also engaged in talks to acquire Stoudemire in a deal that would've included their No. 5 pick, which they ultimately dealt to Minnesota for a package including Mike Miller and Randy Foye. The sticking point in that one, the Post reported, was the Suns' request that Caron Butler be included in the trade.
"I just want to focus on the season, focus on this year and see how I play throughout this season," Stoudemire said. "I'm really trying to stay healthy. That's the most important thing to me. That's my focus."
The run-and-gun Suns are back after winning 46 games but missing the playoffs last season amid the Big Shaqtastrophe. As Kerr describes it, "We got our mojo back."
The Suns haven't struggled as much in the rebounding department as they expected, thanks to Hill averaging 8.7 per game, two more than his career average. But at least until Robin Lopez returns from a foot injury, Phoenix will struggle against teams with size. And despite Stoudemire's sudden commitment on the defensive end and his 19.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, an NBA front office source said he doesn't have the same impact on games that he used to. Stoudemire dismisses the notion that he hasn't regained the conditioning and explosiveness that he lost while immobilized during recovery from his most recent eye surgery.
"I feel great," he said. "I'm there. My pop's been here. It's not going anywhere, man. My legs are finally back, my cardio's up. I've still got to figure out when guys are playing off me whether to shoot the jumper or drive to the basket. That's the only gray area right now."
Well, not exactly. The biggest gray area is whether Stoudemire will be part of the Suns' future in addition to their present. For now, neither side is in a hurry to make that call.
"My focus is on having a winning season, getting back in the postseason and going from there," Stoudemire said. "Hopefully, if it keeps going like it is, it'll work out the best for both of us, for both sides."
