This might not be a popular thing to say, but I think Nash is overrated. He is a very good player, but without Stoudamire, he would be a borderline all star, not the two time MVP he is now.

Nash didnt become Steve Nash until he started playing with Stoudamire. Granted, he had an awesome 06 season where Stoudamire was in and out of the lineup, but I don’t see how people can say Nash makes Amare without realizing its possible Amare makes Nash just as much. The two highest assist rates Nash has ever had both occurred when Amare was healthy and playing.

I think the entire Suns situation is kind of like the perfect storm. They have the perfect mix of players to play the kind of style they have; they have a probing PG who is always looking to push the ball and make plays, but I think Amare and Marion make that team. They have a 3 and a 4 who are such freakish athletes that they can get away playing them major minutes at the 4 and 5, which means they have a significant quickness advantage and thats why they can push the ball so much. I don’t know if either Amare or Nash is more responsible for the success of the other (I have a hunch its Amare, since Nash wasn’t an MVP in Dallas and he had a great player in Dirk along side him) but I think its fair to say that if you mess with that mix the results won’t be the same.

Not that putting Garnett in the lineup for Amare would make them worse, but they wouldn’t be as successful playing the same style they do now.

one other thing; why the hell doesn’t Minnesota just take Amare? It seems like they are trying to find a third team to trade Amare to; why wouldnt they just keep him? Would you rather have Jefferson and the #5 or Amare?

Amare seems to keep developing his offensive game each year; however, his defense and ball handling are questionable. Without Nash and plenty of outside shooting, would he still drop 24 and 12?

Either way, Suns should trade either Marion or Amare for KG if they want to win NOW. If they are looking 3-4 years down the road, stand pat and waste Nash’s last years of dominance.

What I don’t understand, with regard to the rumored 3-way deal with Atlanta… why would Minnesota take the #3 and #11, and let the Hawks get Stoudemire? If that trade were going down, why wouldn’t it just be between the Suns and T-Wolves? That makes so little sense, I don’t believe the whole thing is anything but imaginary. More likely Boston would pull it off, giving Minny the #5 and Ratliff’s expiring deal (plus maybe a future #1) and getting Marion in return, assuming they can work out a contract.

I wouldn’t count out the Bulls, either… don’t they have some cap room to take on Marion (or Stoudamire), and plenty of young players to offer?

If KG gets traded it will be a last-minute thing – something we haven’t heard about yet, some team swooping in at the last minute.

Trading Marion or Amare for KG would be similar in mentality to that deal. It’s not a breaking up of the Suns but an upgrade, even if a minor one, at one key position.

(and as a footnote, Clemens had a pretty subpar year in 1999, and the team lost close to 20 more games I think. But they still played well enough to win in the post season (the Suns’ new goal) AND the value of the team increased a lot with Clemens on it (hence his recent return at $30 million bucks a pop). Despite the team’s success the year before, the deal was a no-brainer for the Yankees. This one for Garnett is too).

Atlanta with Amare will be better but without better point guard play they will struggle to make the playoffs. I think long run they might be better keeping their picks, because they do not have a first next year either. If they stand pat they can get Horford and maybe even Conley if he slips.

The jury is still out on the Suns’ style of play, though. If the Suns decide to murder tens of millions of people, I’ll feel safe saying they didn’t work, either.