Amare Stoudemire ready to Focus on Phoenix Suns

Last month, Amare Stoudemire received more press that he had received in a very long time. Sadly, it had nothing to do with his game play. Instead, it was about Stoudemire being traded to another team. He has played with the Phoenix Suns for the past eight years, his entire career. In those eight years, the closest that the team came to an NBA title was when they lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Spurs in 2005. For the most part, he has not delivered what they want.

Add to the Phoenix Suns' disappointments the Miami Heat's interest. They have lacked a big man ever since they traded Shaquille O'Neal to the very same Phoenix Suns. The Heat seemed locked to make a suitable deal for Stoudemire. He is good friends with the Heat's star guard, Dwyane Wade and he is from Florida. Just as the Heat talks became deep, talks began of Stoudemire heading to the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.

The trade deadline came and went without Amare Stoudemire being traded. He had very well expected to be in a new uniform by now, but he has remained in a Suns uniform. After the recent attempts by the Phoenix Suns to shop him around, it is unlikely that Stoudemire will re-sign with them following this season. Currently, the Suns are in the playoff race and they seem to be a lock in the playoffs. That, not his next team, is what Amare Stoudemire will focus on from now until June. No matter what his decison is about next season, right now, he is a member of the Phoenix Suns.

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Amare Stoudemire remains in Phoenix

Despite all of his accomplishments for the Phoenix Suns, Amare Stoudemire has been the topic of trades for quite some time. Dating back to the 2006-2007 season, he has been on the trading block. But, never before has Stoudemire been involved in rumors the way that he has been for the past few days. Most of these rumors involved him being traded to either the Miami Heat or the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. In the end, nothing happened.

Rumors first began of the Heat wanting to trade for Stoudemire because they were in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Their star player, Dwyane Wade was upset because of the losing and the front office wanted to do something to please him. Offering some of their spare parts for Amare Stoudemire would have done the trick. Not only is Stoudemire one of Wade's best friends, but in the offseason, he stays in Miami. He is still speculated to sign with the Heat following this season.

When the Heat rumors became hot and heavy, the Cleveland Cavaliers emerged as front-runners in trying to acquire Amare Stoudemire. For three days, straight, there were rumors of the Cavs being willing to offer up such players as longtime center, Zydrunas Ilgauskus and the emerging J.J. Hickson. These rumors continued until last night when the Cavs made a deal for the more-affordable Antawn Jamison with the Wizards. Of all of the rumors surrounding the Suns' star, the craziest one was the one that said that he may end up staying with the team, as opposed to being traded.

The most outrageous rumor could not be farther from the truth, as the trade deadline passed an hour ago and the Phoenix Suns remain the team that Amare Stoudemire plays for.

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Stoudemire is Prepared to Move

For the past week, there have been rumors of the Phoenix Suns trading their star forward, Amare Stoudemire. He has been with the team for eight years and all they have to show for his time are disappointments. In his time with the Suns, Amare has proven to be injury-prone, but still great when he wants to be. Most Suns fans look at him as a slacker. His numbers, 21 points and 8 rebounds a game, are solid, but they feel that he could be doing much better.

Those numbers may not be the best that Stoudemire can do, but it would be enough to make the Miami Heat contenders again. They were the first team to express interest in the forward/center. When it was revealed that Pat Riley was ready to trade for Stoudemire, ESPN, along with other sports outlets ran with the story. Analysts looked at the duo that he would create with Dwyane Wade and how that Heat team would stack up against the top teams of the East.

Speaking of top teams in the East, soon after the scenarios of an Amare Stoudemire-to-Miami deal began floating around, they expressed interest in trading for him. Right off of the bat, their proposal seemed better than the Heat's. The Cavs are willing to offer J.J. Hickson and Zydrunas Ilguaskus to the Suns in exchange for Stoudemire and some other spare parts. Even the way that they are built now, the Cavs are predicted to win the NBA championship. A deal for Amare Stoudemire would either solidify their championship status or completely ruin it.

But, with his name being involved in over seven trade rumors, Amare Stoudemire has prepared for the worst and he has prepared to be traded to a new city. His choice of destination is with either LeBron James to be his sidekick, or to Miami for the weather, and to become the newest big-man sidekick for Dwyane Wade.

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Heat not giving up on Stoudemire

Last week, rumors emerged of the Miami Heat being interested in bringing Amare Stoudemire to join Dwyane Wade. Not long after their intentions were revealed, Wade said that he would most likely re-sign with Miami this summer. Predictions were made with this new and improved roster and many predicted the Heat to move up in the standings and possibly play in the Eastern Conference Finals. But, after it was evident that Miami wanted Stoudemire, the Cleveland Cavaliers made strong moves to bring him to their team.

The past few days have seen many sports media outlets speaking on a possible Amare-to-Cleveland deal as if it has already happened. It seemed as if it were all-but-done, but now Miami has re-entered the picture. At first, it was said that the Suns would want Michael Beasley in return for Stoudemire. Heat owner, Micky Arison, then personally came out and said that Beasley is being groomed as the sidekick for Dwyane Wade for years to come. Then, the Cleveland rumors went into high gear.

After two days of hearing about LeBron James finally getting a sidekick and winning his first championship ring, the Miami Heat have emerged as players once again. Now, it is said that they are willing to part with Michael Beasley is it means getting Amare Stoudemire in a Heat uniform before the end of this week. If he is traded to Miami, the Heat would have the solid one-two punch that they possessed in 2006. With Wade handling the outside and Stoudemire on the inside, they immediately rise to become the second-best team in the East, behind Cleveland. Essentially, this would give the Heat a chance to contend for another title.

With their primary rival moving in on their man, Miami has stepped their trade offer up and they are rumored to be trying to involve a third team to sweeten the deal.

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Cleveland Cavaliers willing to Shake Things Up

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the hottest team in the NBA coming into the All-Star break. Not only are they on a 13-game winning streak, but they hold the best record in the league. As it currently stands, there is not a single team in the NBA that can compete with them, but sources close to GM, Danny Ferry, say that he is looking to add more talent to the team.

It goes without saying, but the Cavaliers' roster already has LeBron James and Maurice Williams. They have formed an imposable duo and Shaquille O'Neal is playing third fiddle. Their lineup, along with other players, such as J.J. Hickson, create matchup nightmares for other teams. The roster that the Cavs have, already could easily defeat any team in the East.

Even as favorites to win the NBA championship, the Cleveland Cavaliers are willing to roll the dice. The team is said to be talking, heavily, with the Phoenix Suns about dealing J.J. Hickson in exchange for Amare Stoudemire. If that deal does not work out, the Cavs are willing to deal Jamario Moon to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Antawn Jamison. While those deals will definitely bolster the talent on the Cavs' roster, their chemistry could be ruined. Also, Jamison and Stoudemire have become stars in their own right. While LeBron is the man in Cleveland, they are the stars in their respective cities.

It is a wonder that Shaquille O'Neal has not clashed with LeBron James, the other teammates have allowed him to believe that he is number two in command. But, if Jamison or Stoudemire is brought in, or both, this would most certainly create friction and ruin the chemistry and the fun that the team has on the floor. With the roster that they have, Cleveland can win the title, if they do any of the mentioned moves, they are still tough, but this kills them in the long run.

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Amare Stoudemire to be Traded to Miami?

A few years ago, Amare Stoudemire was one of the best big men in the league, but he has become injury-prone. Despite his full return to shape, the Phoenix Suns are no longer the contenders that they used to be. Last season, they even missed the playoffs without him. Now that he is back, they are still only an average team. The Suns have a reason to be upset with Stoudemire and he has a reason to be upset with the Suns.

One team that Amare Stoudemire has no issues with is the Miami Heat. He is a free agent at the end of this season and he may very well leave the Suns with nothing and sign with Miami. With the Heat struggling to keep Dwyane Wade happen, Pat Riley would love to land a player like Stoudemire on the team. Ever since the beginning of the week, there have been rumors of Stoudemire being traded to the Heat.

Most likely, he and Dwyane Wade would come together to form a strong dynamic duo. Right now, the Heat are holding the final playoff spot, but there is a lot of basketball left to be played and a Wade-Stoudemire duo would be very hard to stop. The reason that the Heat hold a losing record heading into the All-Star break is because they do not have a consistent big man. Jermaine O'Neal, who has a contract worth $20 million, expiring at the end of the season, was expected to be that lift for Wade, but he has been a major let down.

There has been talk of other teams wanting Stoudemire, but the ones receiving the most press are the ones involving Amare Stoudemire being traded to Miami. With Stoudemire also being a free agent after the season, this is something to look out for. As opposed to O'Neal's $20 million contract, Stoudemire's is worth $23 million. There would be more cash available for the Heat to offer more money to a player such as Chris Bosh, or even LeBron James. But, most likely, Pat Riley would execute the trade in the coming days and see how the experiment turns out.

If a move is made for Amare Stoudemire and the Heat also pull something off for Ray Allen, as rumored, the Heat could easily catch Atlanta, and maybe Boston to land the third seed in the East. If not, they would still be a tough opponent in the playoffs and headed into next season.

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