SB Nation Arizona - The Amar'e Stoudemire Saga: Phoenix Suns Are 'Plan A'https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2010-06-10T18:26:22-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/12722012010-06-10T18:26:22-07:002010-06-10T18:26:22-07:00STAT Calls An Extension With Phoenix 'Plan A' And Gives More Ambiguous Hints
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<p>Near the end of his basketball academy in Gilbert, Amar’e Stoudemire <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fsports%2Fsuns%2Farticles%2F2010%2F06%2F10%2F20100610phoenix-suns-amare-stoudemire-options.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farizona.sbnation.com%2F2010%2F6%2F10%2F1512366%2Famare-stoudemire-phoenix-suns-extension" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">dropped a few more ambiguous hints</a> at his future plans, though there were a few juicy morsels to be chewed on.</p>
<p>A few of the sexier bits:</p>
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<p>“It sounds like the Suns definitely want to make an effort. I’m just not sure what type of effort. They’re definitely looking to keep me around. So we’ve just got to figure out what the proper math is.”</p>
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<p>“My loyalty is here with the Phoenix Suns. Once free agency starts and teams are offering me X amount of dollars, then I would definitely say, ‘You know what, Phoenix? These guys are offering this much. So if you guys want to step up to the plate, we can hit a home run.’ If not, then I could settle for an inside-the-park home run. Just as long as I make it home.”</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/10/1512366/amare-stoudemire-phoenix-suns-extensionJustin Burning2010-06-09T20:21:18-07:002010-06-09T20:21:18-07:00Steve Kerr and Amar'e Stoudemire's Agent Met Today To Discuss Possible Extension
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<p>At least this is proof that the Suns are <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fsports%2Fsuns%2Farticles%2F2010%2F06%2F09%2F20100609phoenix-suns-amare-stoudemire-contract-extension.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farizona.sbnation.com%2F2010%2F6%2F9%2F1510486%2Fsteve-kerr-and-amare-stoudemires" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">seeking to retain Amar’e</a> for the next few years:</p>
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<p>Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said he met Wednesday with Amar’e Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, to discuss a contract extension for the All-Star power forward.</p>
<p>Kerr declined comment on the meeting. Walters could not be reached for comment but said Tuesday that he and Kerr had not talked since the regular season, which ended April 14.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/9/1510486/steve-kerr-and-amare-stoudemiresCory Williams2010-06-09T11:15:16-07:002010-06-09T11:15:16-07:00Reaction To Amar'e Stoudemire's Announcement That He Plans To Opt Out
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<p>Amar'e Stoudemire hasn't left the Phoenix Suns just yet, and there's still a chance he can reach an agreement to remain with the team. Yet his announcement at a basketball camp yesterday that he would like to test the free-agent market has drawn plenty of attention.</p>
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<a href="http://phoenix.fanster.com/2010/06/08/drapez-era/" target="_blank">Is the Dra-pez Era upon us? | Fanster.com - All Sports. All Phoenix.</a>
<p>With Stoudemire potentially leaving and Steve Nash declining, Matt Petersen of Fanster believes a new era in Suns basketball, featuring Robin Lopez and Goran Dragic, is about to begin.</p>
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<a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/68411/after_months_of_thought,_amare_stoudemire_will_opt_out_this_summer" target="_blank">After Months of Thought, Amar'e Stoudemire Will Opt Out This Summer - The Baseline</a>
<p>Eric Freeman of The Baseline says the Suns have a tough call to make with Stoudemire.</p>
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<p>"There's much argument around the league whether or not Amar'e is worth the money. On some days, he looks like an All-NBA performer, but the consistency hasn't always been there in recent seasons. At the same time, Stoudemire was excellent once the trade deadline passed, which suggests that he just needed to have some sense of his future in order to regain his old form."</p>
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<a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/amare-stoudemire-confirms-he-will-opt-out-seek-max-deal.php" target="_blank">Amar'e Stoudemire confirms he will opt out, seek max deal - ProBasketballTalk</a>
<p>Kurt Helin isn't surprised with the news, but writes, "[I]f had not been for a post All-Star Game surge from Stoudemire, he may have had a harder time getting that [max] money."</p>
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<a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/rumor-miami-heat-free-agent-target-order-bosh-stoudemire-then-boozer.php" target="_blank">Rumor: Miami Heat free agent target order: Bosh, Stoudemire, then Boozer - ProBasketballTalk</a>
<p>Word out of Miami is that the Heat have made Stoudemire their second choice to be Dwyane Wade's running-mate. Toronto's Chris Bosh tops the list.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/9/1509422/amare-stoudemire-opt-out-phoenix-suns-reactionEvan Dunlap2010-06-08T17:35:05-07:002010-06-08T17:35:05-07:00Grant Hill Exercises Player Option
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<p>Grant Hill made it very clear at his final meeting with the local media that he would be staying. True to his word, Hill is staying for the final year on his contract which will earn him $3.3m according to <a target="_blank" href="http://hoopshype.com/salaries/phoenix.htm">Hoops Hype</a>.</p>
<p>Here is the official release from the Phoenix Suns:</p>
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<p align="center"><i>16-Year NBA veteran to remain in Phoenix uniform for 2010-11 season</i></p>
<p> <b>PHOENIX</b> - Phoenix Suns forward <b>Grant</b> <b>Hill</b> has exercised the one-year player option on his contract and will return to Phoenix for the 2010-11 season, the club announced today. </p>
<p>"We're thrilled that Grant has decided to exercise his option and return to the Suns next season," said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager <b>Steve Kerr</b>. "He is a critical part of our success, both because of his skill as a player and also his leadership and professionalism that help guide our team. Grant sums up what the Phoenix Suns are all about."</p>
<p>The 6-8, 225-pound forward is coming off a 2009-10 regular season in which he averaged 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds, his highest rebounding average since 2002-03 and his most total rebounds (445) in a single season since 1999-00. In the playoffs, Hill averaged 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds, second-most on the squad, in the Suns' run to the 2010 Western Conference Finals, the deepest postseason run of Hill's career.</p>
<p>"The decision to stay in Phoenix was easy," said Hill. "Our team's success on the court last season was the result of the efforts of a great group of guys and I'm looking forward to building on that with them and being a part of this team next season."</p>
<p>"Last year, Grant explored free agency before ultimately deciding to return to Phoenix," said Hill's agent, <b>Lon</b> <b>Babby</b>. "This season has been so gratifying for him and for the Suns that he wanted to act quickly to confirm that he will remain in Phoenix. He looks forward to building on this season's success."</p>
<p> The remarkably durable Hill, who has appeared in 163 of a possible 164 regular season games the last two seasons, is one of only 14 NBA players who have done so in that span. After playing all 82 games in 2008-09 for the first time in his career, Hill then saw action in the first 46 contests of 2009-10, a string of 128 consecutive games, the second-longest of his career (161, Nov. 18, 1997-Jan. 22, 2000).</p>
<p>A 16-year NBA veteran and seven-time All-Star, Hill has played his last four seasons in Phoenix, averaging 12.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists while playing 233 of a possible 246 regular season games (94.7 percent). Hill last season became just the 18<sup>th</sup> active player in the NBA to score 15,000 career points.</p>
<p>Hill is a three-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award (2004-05, 2007-08, 2009-10), the only player in league history to earn the honor multiple times. Hill was also the winner of the Suns' 2007-08 Dan Majerle Hustle Award. </p>
<p>Originally the third overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Pistons, Hill emerged as one of the NBA's brightest young stars and shared NBA Rookie of the Year honors with <b>Jason Kidd</b>. He became the first rookie ever to lead an NBA All-Star fan balloting in 1994-95 with 1,289,585 votes. Hill has been named to an All-NBA Team five times, including First Team once (1996-97) and All-NBA Second Team four times (1995-96, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00). </p>
<p>A member of the 1996 United States Olympic Team where he helped "Dream Team III" capture the gold medal in Atlanta, Hill played his first six NBA seasons with the Pistons (1994-00) and the following seven with the Orlando Magic (2000-07) after being dealt by Detroit on Aug. 3, 2000.</p>
<p>The former Duke alum helped the Blue Devils win back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1991 and 1992 and is the only child of Janet and Calvin Hill. Hill is married to R&B singer Tamia, a four-time Grammy-nominated recording artist, and the couple has two daughters, Myla Grace and Lael Rose.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/8/1508193/grant-hill-excercises-player-optionSeth Pollack2010-06-08T17:28:33-07:002010-06-08T17:28:33-07:00Amare Stoudemire Opts To Opt Out And Seek Max Deal, Maybe
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<p>As with everything Amar'e Stoudemire says, there's a grain of salt that needs to be ingested with the consumption of said sayings.</p>
<p>In this case, however, Stoudemire seems fairly clear about one thing: he will not be picking up the option he holds for the final year of his contract, which would pay him ~$17.7m next year.</p>
<p>He told reporters at his basketball camp today:</p>
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<p><a href="http://twitter.com/sports620ktar/status/15740777449" target="_blank">Twitter / Sports 620 KTAR: Intrepid @ Amare's basketb ...</a><br>Intrepid @ Amare's basketball camp: "There's no chance of that at all" referring to him picking up his player option next season.</p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/15740768796" target="_blank">Twitter / Paul Coro: Stoudemire said there is " ...</a><br>Stoudemire said there is "no chance" that he will play next season for the option year of his existing contract with Phoenix.</p>
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<p>This comes as surprise to absolutely no one. It never made sense that Stoudemire would pick up that final year and risk missing out on the biggest free agency spending bonanza in the history of the known universe. He might have hinted at picking up that option in the middle of the trade deadline silliness, but no one really believed that was more than a negotiating tactic.</p>
<p>Opting out of the final year of his deal makes Stoudemire a free agency as of July 1st. Here's where things start to get murky.</p>
<p>The <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/PhoenixSuns/status/15740735643">Suns.com official tweet</a> suggests that he supposed that he might have a deal done before July 1st:</p>
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<p><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Amareisreal" rel="nofollow">Amareisreal</a> said that his deal could be done before July 1</span></span></p>
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<p>But the only way that happens is if he signs an extension and doesn't become a free agent. The max extension the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/PHO">Suns</a> can give him to his current deal would be three years in addition to that final year that he just said he was opting out of. That's a bit of semantics, but the reality is that an extension gets him four more years, while as a true unrestricted free agent, he can go for the max -- six years.</p>
<p>Here's what he had to say about that:</p>
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<p><a href="http://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/15740924412" target="_blank">Twitter / Paul Coro: Stoudemire said extension ...</a><br>Stoudemire said extension negotiations with the Suns are planned. "It's only right to look for a maximum contract," he said.</p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/sports620ktar/status/15742248954" target="_blank">Twitter / Sports 620 KTAR: Intrepid @ Amare's basketb ...</a><br>Intrepid @ Amare's basketball camp: was asked if Suns offered max $$ + max yrs would he sign w//Suns, "theres a very great chance of that"</p>
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<p>So what have we learned today?</p>
<p>In summary, we learned that Stoudemire won't be picking up the final year on his existing contract without some kind of longer term deal in place with the Suns. That's news in the sense that it's the first time he's said it that clearly, but not news in the sense that we all knew it would go down this way.</p>
<p>As for the max contract? Well, of course he's going to try and get the most money he can and in this free agency climate, with so many teams having so much money to spend, he's probably going to get such an offer.</p>
<p>It will be up to the Suns to decide if they want to offer the max and if not, they will have to negotiate the best sign-and-trade deal possible. Stoudemire can only get a six-year true "max" deal from another team if it's part of sign-and-trade where he first signs with the Suns and is immediately traded to another team.</p>
<p>In short, stay tuned because it's going to be a bumpy ride for the next four to six weeks until this all resolves itself one way or another.</p>
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<p>If you want more background on why Amare had to opt out, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2010/2/3/1291333/why-amare-stoudemire-has-to-opt-out">read this</a> - I wrote it back in February.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/8/2316219/amare-stoudemire-opts-to-opt-out-and-seek-max-deal-maybeSeth Pollack