The Enigma That Is Amar’e

I love Amar’e. I hate Amar’e. I want to build the team around him. I want to show him the door. This is a view that many fans share. Even just moments before writing this, I am struggling with whether I want to see him traded or not.

There is no questioning his talent. He is almost without peer at his size and position in the league. He is athletic, strong, explosive, and can shoot the ball. For his career, he averages over 20 points per game and almost 9 rebounds per game, and is right at those averages for this year. Yet, what drives me (and other fans) crazy is what he doesn’t do. He is anywhere between awful and below average defensively. He doesn’t rebound a much as we all wish he did or think he should. He is dropping passes that in years past were assists for a teammate. He doesn’t appear to have the heart that others with far less talent have. He talks of wanting and deserving a maximum contract. He talks about being considered on the same level as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Why do we as fans do this?

I recently heard a saying that I think applies to how we view Amar’e- “You’re standing too close to the forest to see the trees.” We focus so much on his faults that we forget how great he really is. We see what he could be. We want him to be Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan, and the fact that he is anything less kills us. When reminded of his numbers, we say it is because of playing in Mike D’Antoni’s system and/or because he has Steve Nash making things easy for him. But remember the year BEFORE Steve Nash? Wait…Amar’e averaged 20 and 9. Career playoff numbers? 25 and more than 10. He is a spectacular player, if not elite, or at least in the conversation of elite.

So why would you trade a player like that, especially during the type of season the Suns are having? They are a competitive playoff team. Trading Stoudemire would likely send the team to lottery land, and, to make things worse, lottery land without the lottery pick, as Oklahoma City has their unprotected 2010 first round pick. If Phoenix keeps him, the team makes it to the playoffs, likely gets bumped in the first round, Stoudemire might opt out of the last year of his contract, and still no first round pick. It’s a tough call. Let’s look at both cases- to trade or not to trade.

The case for keeping Amar’e

As stated before, there are few players who can do what Stoudemire does. You simply cannot get equal production at his position. Only Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh would be an increase in production, as they both defend and rebound better than Amar’e. Yet trading for them does not work because Bosh, like Stoudemire has the early termination option in his contract after this season and is planning on using it. Boozer’s contract expires after this year and makes more money than Stoudemire. If you consider other upgrades at the position, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are past their prime, Zach Randolph (while he is having a superb season) is not as athletic and would not be a good fit for the up tempo Suns (even if you ignore the character issues that followed him before now), and LaMarcus Aldridge, while athletic enough, doesn’t rebound enough.

Keeping Stoudemire makes the Suns a better team. Remember last season when he was injured and how great the Suns played? Oh yeah, they didn’t. They didn’t make the playoffs and that was WITH Shaquille O’Neal. Lose Amar’e, and you have Robin Lopez and Channing Frye left to pick up the offensive slack in the frontcourt. Yes, a trade would bring back some talent, but not likely from the power forward or center positions. Keeping him means the playoffs this year and maybe next (because he may choose to play out the final year of his deal).

There is always the possibility of extending his contract. Maybe he realizes that a ‘max’ contract likely would not happen and that if it did, he would probably end up on a miserable team. An extension of, say, 3 years at $12-14 million is not bad, and he could play on competitive teams with Steve Nash passing him the ball for two of those years. Additionally, he is entering his ‘prime’ age. He can still figure out how to be better. He will likely never be known a great or even good defender, but he can improve at his rebounding and leadership, and even if he doesn’t, he would still be producing at near elite levels.

The case for trading Amar’e

Even when considering the positives of keeping Stoudemire, there are still some looming issues for the Phoenix Suns- money and no first round pick in this year’s draft. Phoenix needs to shed salary because the team would really prefer to not pay the luxury tax. Amar’e’s desires have been made clear- he wants a maximum contract. Phoenix has made it clear that they do not want to pay maximum money. The idea is, then, to get SOMETHING for him before he leaves and then the team has a void.

Steve Kerr has said that the team must look at the present but keep an eye toward the future, even if it hurts a little now. The team drafted Earl Clark, and believes that he can be a solid player, if not a star at power forward. It needs a first round pick, as this year’s draft is considered to be talented. A trade could allow for salary relief, draft picks, and/or upgrading production in other positions. The Suns could use an upgrade at small forward- not saying that Grant Hill is playing poorly, but they would need increased production from that position and center to make up the lost production at power forward.

What I think

I think that trading Amar’e is necessary. The fan base is tired of his periods of uninspired play, even if it is accompanied by offensive brilliance. In unsettled economic times for the league and lagging attendance, adding also the labor uncertainty after next season, it would be unwise to pay him what he wants to be paid. I have seen enough flashes from Earl Clark offensively to make me believe that he will be Amar’e PLUS. He can create his own shot, his outside shot is getting better, he is explosive, AND he already plays defense and can rebound. I believe he will make a difference on this team as early as next season. What gives me even more hope is that the one doubt/knock on him (his work ethic) has not been an issue. Coach Alvin Gentry said this morning just how much his effort has changed. Talent plus effort equals stardom- Clark is going to be a star. I was not a believer a month ago. I am now.

Amar’e may yet become the consistently dominant force he can become, but I do not believe that it can happen here. It will take a new fan base and a strong coach, because he really desires to be the best. So, while it may hurt this year, Amar’e needs to go, but not for just anyone. It needs to be for picks or young players that will contribute, and at least one other position needs to be upgraded, in addition to meeting salary requirements. I, as a fan, hope he can develop into that player we wish he were, just as long as he consistently ends up at home for the summer before the Suns do.