(OT) Rumor from Boston Globe: Amare for Al Jeff + #6

[RickyRubio]

Amare doesn't get underrated, he's right where he should be. His defense is so bad it nearly negates everything he does offensively. He is the poorest defender I have ever seen in the NBA.

That is a pretty bold statement.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Amare was unhappy in Phoenix because he felt he was being de-emphasized for an aging, declining Shaq. In Minnesota, he'd be the clear first option, the feature big man. In addition and perhaps more important, no team could offer him as much as Minnesota could.

People talk about how players want to bolt small cities and such, but ultimately money talks. Precious few big-time free agents leave the team that holds their Bird rights, assuming that team wants to retain them. And it's purely because the NBA makes bidding wars impossible and the most money is always at home (again, for max deal players that the team wants to keep).

And as a "soft" factor, if Minnesota really does trade Love for the #2 pick and selects Rubio, you have to think Amare would like to play with a potentially elite fast-break and pick-and-roll point guard.

There's a chance Minnesota could lose him, but I'd place the chance of that very, very low.

Who knows maybe I'm way off, but from what I've heard Amare' saying he really sounds like he wants to move to a place like New York or some other big market city where he can explore his off-court interests, etc. I get it that part of his issue with Phoenix has been taking a back seat to Shaq, but statistical likelihood of any given player staying in a market aside, Amare' just sounds like a guy who wants not only a bigger role, but also wants a bigger pond.

Hell, it's not completely unprecedented. Bosh is increasingly sounding like he wants out of Toronto and Boozer is almost certainly going to leave Utah for greener pastures.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

WOW. PHX would be crazy to not make this deal if in fact MINN is willing to give up Al and #6.

 

[Celtic Fan]

I think if the Wolves don't get the Suns #14 in return it's highway robbery rather than a petty theft.

Amare is not getting any better than he is and is a mediocre at best rebounder and pilon on defense. He is a very good scorer, but still he has like 1 and a half more moves than Dwight Howard.. and that isn't a compliment. He relies on his athleticism too often. He has improve his mid-range jumper though and if he continues should still be a very good scorer for the remainder of his prime.
Big Al is a very good rebounder has the best post offensive post moves outside of Tim Duncan and is improving his game.
Both are not that good defensively but Big Al puts forth more effort on that end.

I think the Wolves get the raw end of this deal, especially giving up the 6th pick on top of it all.

 

[Wheels]

^^^ This ^^^

 

[andalusian]

Amare is a big health risk now with his eye trouble. Last year - I had a minor version of Amare suffered in one my eyes - I just had fluid leak behind one of the corneas without detachment making one of my eyes very tough to work with - think of it as if one of the eyes was watching through some of these crazy mirrors in the amusement parks - better than taking psychedelic drugs, I would guess - the leak was plugged and after a long time - I can see clearly from both of my eyes - but the vision is not as good as it was before and I had a real trouble working for more than an hour before taking a break while it happened.

If I were Minni - I would make damn sure that Amare has fully recovered from that eye issue - because it is not a trivial injury - and working your butt off in the gym will not fix it...

 

[BIG Q]

The local talker here in Phoenix says this rumor is absolutely false and that no talks have been made with Minny. They say they know who the source of the rumor is, and they are just flat out wrong, FYI.

 

[Ed O]

Danny Manning - acquired by the Hawks, leaves for the Suns. And that's just off the top of my head.

That is true.

Remember, though, that Manning signed a one year, $1m deal with the Suns so he could sign a larger deal. That's no longer possible.

Also, Manning was a mid-season acquisition. He only played 26 regular season games for the Hawks.

Even if we count him, though, that's two that I am aware of: McDyess and Manning. In comparison to the number of players that are traded and stick, that doesn't seem like it's been a very likely occurrence.

Ed O.