Stoudemire Not Looking Like Trade Bait

Rumors swirled about Phoenix big man Amar'e Stoudemire being dealt before last season's trade deadline. Don't expect there to be many this season.

In an interview Monday with FanHouse, Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr said he doesn't foresee the Suns making a deal before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.

"I don't think we're going to do anything,'' he said. "I'm pretty happy with this group.''

Kerr was asked if that means Stoudemire, who can opt out of his contract next summer and become a free agent, is safe from being moved.

"I'd be pretty surprised if we did anything,'' Kerr said. "We're playing well. You always want to get better and you never say never (regarding a move). But we're playing well.''

The Suns certainly are. They're 16-8, a mark even more impressive considering they've played just eight home games.

"I'm right in the middle. There's no particular way I'm leaning.''
- Amar'e Stoudemire,
on testing free agency In an interview with FanHouse, Stoudemire said he remains noncommittal on whether he'll opt out next summer.

I'm right in the middle,' he said. "There's no particular way I'm leaning.''

With there obviously being some uncertainty regarding Stoudemire's future, he anticipates there will be a conversation with Suns officials sometime before the trade deadline, with officials perhaps seeking to know how he stands about wanting to play long term for Phoenix.

"I think so,'' said Stoudemire, eligible to receive a contract extension from the Suns. "I think we're going to talk about something soon. I'm not totally sure.''

Kerr declined comment on whether the Suns soon will have such a discussion. If there is one, Stoudemire said he's open to hearing what team officials have to say.

"It's up to them to approach me about whatever situation they think, whatever they're thinking,'' Stoudemire said. "Until then, I'm just going to keep playing and keep trying to win. The ball is pretty much in their court. Whenever they're ready to discuss anything, just let me know. If not, I'm just going to keep playing.''

Obviously, the ball is the Suns' court when it comes to whether Stoudemire will be offered a contract extension, but Stoudemire controls the decision to opt out. Stoudemire was asked if a scenario could exist in which, to ensure no chance of being traded, he might tell the Suns by the February trade deadline he's not opting out and is committed to them.

"Anything can happen,'' Stoudemire said. "Anything is possible.''

Stoudemire is making $16.4 million this season and would earn $17.7 next season if he doesn't opt out. Opting out might result in a pay cut next season if the salary cap goes down significantly but could work out to Stoudemire getteing more money down the road if a new NBA collective bargaining agreement were to lower the biggest possible salaries.

"Even if he opted out, we still have an opportunity to keep him,'' emphasized Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry.

If Stoudemire is not on the trading block come February, that would take away a top big man. But, while he's not in Stoudemire's category, sources say there is a two-time All-Star center who could end up being available in Chicago's Brad Miller.

Miller, who has an expiring $12.25 million contract, is the key to the Bulls having cap room for next summer's big summer of free agency. But it's possible Chicago could forego cap space if Miller could be moved for attractive pieces with contracts extending past this season.

The Bulls, after all, haven't exactly hit grand slams when they've had loads of cap room. In 2000, after a much-ballyhooed two-year wait for cap room, all the top free agents shunned Chicago. In 2006, the Bulls signed Ben Wallace to an ill-advised four-year, $60 million deal.

With the development of Chicago center Joakim Noah, Miller is certainly expendable and his expiring contract makes him an attractive trade piece. But the Bulls have plenty to figure out as they look to overcome an 8-14 start.

As for Stoudemire, he's got a big lead at center in West All-Star voting, putting him in line for his fifth All-Star Game. Gentry believes Stoudemire, averaging 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds after recovering from surgery to repair a partially detached retina in his right eye, will get even better as the season progresses.

"He's been great,'' Gentry said of Stoudemire, who suffered the injury last February and now wears protective goggles. "I still think that there's one more leap that he'll take. But he's been really good. You can see the progression week in, week out. I think right he's probably 85 percent but I think there's probably 15 percent improvement that can happen to get him back to where he was.''

Kerr also likes how Stoudemire is coming around.

"He's been very happy,'' Kerr said. "He hasn't missed any days of practice. He's been fantastic. He's been rounding into form. ... He had some struggles with his hands early and getting back his timing. But he's been inching his way back. Seven months is a lot of time to be inactive. It's like coming back from a knee injury, so that takes time.''

Kerr believes the Suns have time on their side. Even though star point guard Steve Nash turns 36 in February, Kerr said he's showing no signs of age.

"I wouldn't be shocked if in two years we're extending him again,'' Kerr said of Nash, who, after signing a two-year, $22 million extension last summer to take him through 2011-12, is averaging 18.0 points and a NBA-high 11.1 assists.

But first things first. The Suns now must focus on Stoudemire.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson.