Stoudemire to Portland?

[Chris]

If I was Portland, I'd probably pass on this.  Aldridge is a darn good player and is a great complement to that lineup.  I'm not sure how Stoudemire will mold with Portland.  Throw in the fact that Portland would be giving up Raef's contract?  I think its probably a bad trade for Portland.

If you think about it, is it really that significant of an upgrade from Aldridge to Stoudemire when all things are considered?

I think I agree with this. While Stoudemire is surely an upgrade, I'm not sure he's a big enough upgrade to make this trade worth it. Portland already has the "problem" of having an abundance of young talent - meaning there's a lot of potential for contention over who is the first banana in years to come. Aldridge seems like the kind of guy that is ok being a second banana. If Portland is going to win a championship in the next 5 years or so, they're going to need players like Aldridge. Amare's first banana complaints are too well documented.

But on the flip side, maybe Amare would be the first banana in Portland. Roy is clearly the #1 guy on that team right now, but he's also the quintessential team player. He's playing the role of #1 guy because the team needs him to play that role right now. I suspect he'd be just fine deferring to Amare if it meant more Ws. So, if everyone else is ok letting Amare be #1, then maybe it would be a fantastic deal for Portland.

I disagree with this, mainly because I think most of their young talent is ideally 2nd or 3rd "banana" guys.  Amare is a true superstar, and would immediately become their go-to guy, and it would make their other young guys even better.

This is my biggest problem with Portland right now anyways.  They have too many #2's, and no true #1.  Roy is close, but I still see him as ideally a #2 guy.  While he can create his own shot, I think he is at his best when he is being a facilitator and not forcing the issue.  Amare is the perfect guy to bring in to force the issue, and lift this team up into the upper echelon.

Of course, I am not taking into account Amare's character issues, and his defensive problems, because I don't know how many of them will travel with him to a new team.  I wouldn't be surprised if you put him on a disciplined defensive team like Portland, and surround him with good defenders, that he might turn into a pretty good defender in his own right.  He certainly has the physical capability to do it.  And if he starts playing defense, he may be the best PF in the entire league.

[action781]

I think I agree with this. While Stoudemire is surely an upgrade, I'm not sure he's a big enough upgrade to make this trade worth it. Portland already has the "problem" of having an abundance of young talent - meaning there's a lot of potential for contention over who is the first banana in years to come. Aldridge seems like the kind of guy that is ok being a second banana. If Portland is going to win a championship in the next 5 years or so, they're going to need players like Aldridge. Amare's first banana complaints are too well documented.

But on the flip side, maybe Amare would be the first banana in Portland. Roy is clearly the #1 guy on that team right now, but he's also the quintessential team player. He's playing the role of #1 guy because the team needs him to play that role right now. I suspect he'd be just fine deferring to Amare if it meant more Ws. So, if everyone else is ok letting Amare be #1, then maybe it would be a fantastic deal for Portland.

You're first paragraph is off, but second paragraph is on the money here.  Amare absolutely would become the first banana here and Chris is right in that Portland already has too many #2s and #3s.  Very good ones at that I might add.  Lebron, Wade, Melo, or Howard aren't signing with Portland any time soon, so they need to get the best young scorer they can now, which is Amare.

I'm not sure that Amare needs to be "the man" as much as people imply.  He got along very well in Phoenix playing with Nash and Marion; I can't remember any gripes about playing time or touches from him.  This year, he's been dissatisfied, but that's because his role in the offense has been limited by an inferior player.  Additionally, the changes to the Suns offense aren't working, and there has been a lot of frustration from that locker room.  (For example, Steve Nash -- who seems like a "team first" type of guy -- has repeatedly questioned the team's direction this season).

Amare's attitude hasn't been ideal, but I'm not sure that he would poison any team he came on to.

Also agree.  Amare's "attitude problem" is because things were WORKING for them offensively and they were winning when he got a lot of touches.  Now he's getting less touches and they are WORSE offensively and losing more.  I, and I think any very competitive person, would be a bit upset with this too.

[Lucky17]

Ugh. I'll take Aldridge over Amare. Aldridge has made great progress this year on the defensive end, and is a much better complement to Oden's game than Amare is.

At this point, I see Amare as a glorified version of Charlie Villanueva: maddeningly inconsistent, blessed offensively, but completely apathetic on defense.

I shop LaFrentz' contract for an established vet wing who can score. Richard Jefferson, for instance.

[moiso]

It's funny how Amare took right over as Mr. Disgruntled as soon as Marion left.  I think this guy will play better defense and rebound better if he is scoring his 27ppg.  Super talented but not the biggest winner in the league.

[moiso]

Aldridge is probably closer to Amare's level as a player than it may seem.  Every player who plays for D'Antoni has super inflated numbers...just look at Al Harrington and David Lee.  Because Amare used to score in the high 20's with 10 rebounds for D'Antoni doesn't mean he's going to do that in other systems.

[KCattheStripe]

I shop LaFrentz' contract for an established vet wing who can score. Richard Jefferson, for instance.

I'd rather have LaFrentz. Kidding... mostly.

[JSD]

If I'm Dany Ferry I'm harassing Kerr to see what it would take to land Shaq... Wally, Snow and Hickson might get it done if they're blowing it up.

why in the world would phoenix do this trade? They are basically trading Shaq for Hickson. I know Shaq isn't what he used to be , but they could still get a way better deal then that, especially if they wait til next year when shaq will have a 20 mil expiring contract. Lots of teams will want that expiring contract because the following year 2010 is when Lebron, Wade and Bosh will be free agents .

"Now the Suns have reached a crossroads: Everything is on the table -- a coaching change, a big trade, and another new direction. Sources have told CBSSports.com that the organization is poised for a major relaunch before the Feb. 19 trade deadline, with the first option believed to be a trade that would divest cash-strapped owner Robert Sarver of massive obligations to Stoudemire or O'Neal."

CBSSports.com

In other words, Phoenix is looking to release themselves of financial depth right now.

[KungPoweChicken]

Is Stoudemire really the anti-Garnett people make him out to be?

[Lucky17]

Is Stoudemire really the anti-Garnett people make him out to be?

I think he's closer to that than the "misunderstood competitor" his supporters claim he is. Seems to me he's either grousing about not getting enough touches, or not getting enough respect.

Help me come up with a SF for this lineup:

PG: Stephon Marbury
SG: Larry Hughes
SF:
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C:  Eddy Curry

[KCattheStripe]

Is Stoudemire really the anti-Garnett people make him out to be?

I think he's closer to that than the "misunderstood competitor" his supporters claim he is. Seems to me he's either grousing about not getting enough touches, or not getting enough respect.

Help me come up with a SF for this lineup:

PG: Stephon Marbury
SG: Larry Hughes
SF:
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C:  Eddy Curry

Paul Pierce circa May 2007

[moiso]

Is Stoudemire really the anti-Garnett people make him out to be?

I think he's closer to that than the "misunderstood competitor" his supporters claim he is. Seems to me he's either grousing about not getting enough touches, or not getting enough respect.

Help me come up with a SF for this lineup:

PG: Stephon Marbury
SG: Larry Hughes
SF:
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C:  Eddy Curry

Play McGrady at the SF.

[footey]

This trade makes little sense for Portland. I would not give up Aldridge straight up for Amare. Amare is over-rated, Aldridge under-rated. Aldridge has more upside, Amare has probably peaked and is already declining from his best years. Amare is a head case, Aldridge is quiet dude, but not disruptive to the team. 

[CelticsWhat35]

Is Stoudemire really the anti-Garnett people make him out to be?

I think he's closer to that than the "misunderstood competitor" his supporters claim he is. Seems to me he's either grousing about not getting enough touches, or not getting enough respect.

Help me come up with a SF for this lineup:

PG: Stephon Marbury
SG: Larry Hughes
SF:
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C:  Eddy Curry

Paul Pierce circa May 2007

You're kidding, right?  Pierce should be canonized for how he handled himself during the 06-07 season.  That SF spot can go only to Shawn Marion, who famously said he'd rather be the #1 option on a mediocre team than be a #2 or #3 option on a title contender.

[KCattheStripe]

Is Stoudemire really the anti-Garnett people make him out to be?

I think he's closer to that than the "misunderstood competitor" his supporters claim he is. Seems to me he's either grousing about not getting enough touches, or not getting enough respect.

Help me come up with a SF for this lineup:

PG: Stephon Marbury
SG: Larry Hughes
SF:
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C:  Eddy Curry

Paul Pierce circa May 2007

You're kidding, right?  Pierce should be canonized for how he handled himself during the 06-07 season.  That SF spot can go only to Shawn Marion, who famously said he'd rather be the #1 option on a mediocre team than be a #2 or #3 option on a title contender.

Aside from Stephon, I see no one else on that list who is someone I would automatically equate to " A team killer" or "having no heart". However. I think they are perceived that way by some, just as many people outside of Boston believed Paul Pierce to be a selfish player who quit on his team. That was the point I was trying to make, although clumsily.

[Lucky17]

You're kidding, right?  Pierce should be canonized for how he handled himself during the 06-07 season.  That SF spot can go only to Shawn Marion, who famously said he'd rather be the #1 option on a mediocre team than be a #2 or #3 option on a title contender.

How could I have forgotten Marion?

PG: Stephon Marbury
SG: Larry Hughes
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C:  Eddy Curry

There you go. Team Ego's starting five.