RSS
Home
Portland throws hat into Stoudemire mix, squashing chances of four-time All-Star landing in Motown
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Is Amare headed to Rip City?
According to CBSSports.com, the Portland Trailblazers are offering LaMarcus Aldridge, Jerryd Bayless and Raef LaFrentz's expiring $12.7 million contract to Phoenix for Amare Stoudemire.
If these reports are true, the Pistons shot of acquiring Amare are futile.
The Suns are said to be looking for young players, draft picks and expiring contracts. This rumored deal with Portland would satisfy two of the three demands coming from general manager Steve Kerr.
Aldridge, who was a near All-Star this season, is averaging 17.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in 50 games. Considering Stoudemire's averages of 20.2 points and 8.2 boards, Aldridge would be able to step into the Suns rotation and there would be hardly any drop-off.
Bayless is a first-year player out of the University of Arizona. He lit up the NBA Summer League to a tune of 29.8 points per game, taking home MVP honors. Until 12 games ago, Bayless was buried on the Blazers bench, but a shoulder injury to Steve Blake has opened up playing time. While inconsistent, Bayless has displayed some of the scoring touch that observers were ranting and raving about in Las Vegas this past summer.
LaFrentz has been sidelined all season with a shoulder injury, which doesn't matter much since the key to his inclusion in the deal is the salary cap relief his $12.7 million deal provides.
Phoenix would be foolish not to take this deal. And, quite frankly, it seems like a long shot that Portland would offer this much in exchange for Amare. The Blazers have a solid, young core and departing with two of their developing players seems like too big of a risk for what will probably be a rental player.
For the Pistons to match this sort of offer, they would have to send a package of Rodney Stuckey and Rasheed Wallace to the desert, a deal that would irk most Pistons fans.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
