The Biggest Obstacle in the Amar’e-to-Golden State Trade
Stephen Curry, Dime #48
Talk about a change of heart. Back when Stephen Curry went 5-18 from the field for 20 points against the College of Charleston, NBA analysts and scouts piped up, saying that he wasn’t fit for the League.
But last week he was selected seventh in the draft. And now, he’s the reason that Golden State won’t pull the trigger on a trade that would get them one of the most dynamic talents in the game today.
The biggest obstacle with Amare remains Golden State’s unwillingness to even consider including No. 7 overall pick Stephen Curry in the deal and the Suns’ lack of interest in a deal without Curry. The other main obstacles haven’t changed, either, with Golden State needing assurances about Stoudemire’s health (knee and eye) and willingness to sign a contract extension (up for debate) before going ahead with such a swap.
I’m a huge Curry fan. I think he silenced doubters during the combine, proving that he’s way stronger (10 reps on 185 lbs. bench press) and way more athletic (35.5-inch vertical) than previously imagined. But is he really going to be good enough to merit missing out on a guy who could very well average 25-and-10 if healthy like STAT?
They’re not going to win a championship next year whether they get Amar’e or not. So what’s a better long-term starting five?
* Monta Ellis, Anthony Morrow, Stephen Jackson, Anthony Randolph, and Amar’e
OR
* Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, Stephen Jackson, Anthony Randolph/Brandan Wright, and Andris Biedrins
(Corey Maggette fits in both situations. He isn’t going anywhere.)
It seems like a no-brainer to me. The squad with Amar’e is better off in both the long-term and the immediate future. He’s the ideal big man for Don Nelson’s system. Without Biedrins, Golden State loses some rebounding, but Randolph is like the energizer bunny at 6-10. His motor revs at a higher rate than Biedrins anyway. Just let him play.
Plus, Amar’e makes Monta’s continued transition to point guard far easier – it’s comforting to have an auto-bucket option on the block.
Amar’e’s 26 years old. He’s is a once-in-a-decade type of player. And Steve Kerr isn’t asking for all that much in return. Give up Curry and make the trade.
Source: ESPN
July 1st, 2009 at 1:43 pm
K Dizzle says:
like you said, all depends on whether Amare is healthy or not and whether he re-signs. If Curry becomes a stud in Phoenix and Amare ain’t healthy or doesn’t re-sign, then GS gets severely screwed in the deal…
July 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
karizmatic says:
Yep, Golden State needs to make that trade.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
TL says:
Isn’t Randolph included in that deal? So he and Curry would be gone? Randolph is pegged to be the next Odom without the inconsistency and drug problems…
July 1st, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Dime Magazine says:
TL,
Latest I read was that GSW refused to include either Curry or Randolph. The other player rumored to be included is Kelenna Azubuike. The Warriors have taken Randolph off the table entirely.
- AK
July 1st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Chris says:
I agree we would be better with Amare, but the Warriors are giving up way too much. Let us Keep Biedrins, trade Curry. Only sign Amare for one year. Gives Randolph another year to grow into the starting role.
Then we will have some cap flexibility in 2010 to sign Bosh.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Chris says:
I agree we would be better with Amare, but the Warriors are giving up way too much. Let us Keep Biedrins, trade Curry. Only sign Amare for one year. Gives Randolph another year to grow into the starting role.
Then we will have some cap flexibility in 2010 to sign Bosh.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:12 pm
shake&bake says:
I think Randolph is going to be better than Beasley.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:16 pm
LakeShow84 says:
When has Amare EVER been known to avg 20&10??
More like 20&6-7.. Dude aint got the WILL to be a good rebounder.. But Randolph and Amare in the same frontcourt would be sweet..
Shit i would have to go a couple of those games..
July 1st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
nerditry says:
@LakeShow : Co-sign completely on Amare being overblown as both a player and a teammate. You think that Captain Jack is gonna let Amare come into HIS locker room and start the revolution?
Amare is a decent rebounder, but nowhere near as good as he should be. He’s a good scorer, but you never get the sense that he can dominate that side of the ball.
In fact, he has the talent and physical traits of a one-per-decade player, but not the mental makeup. We saw how bad all of the Suns had gotten on defense when Marion wasn’t there to bail them out each night.
Amare isn’t the solution, but I sure as hell believe that Don Nelson ain’t, either for GS. Pull the trigger with a team like Chicago, get him out of the conference and get some experience players back. Then get a coach in GS that actually seems to give a shit.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
BNZA says:
Amare is a dumb diva like most high school-to-pro players and deserves to play under dumb alcoholic Don Nelson.
Go ahead to Golden State and think you´re da man, Amare.
You will never win anything.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
hahns says:
im not understanding how curry is THAT different from quincy douby or jj reddick.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Frodo T. Baggins says:
Amare’s best days are behind him. Both of his knees have had surgery (with one knee getting microfracture surgery), not to mention his retna became detached. He’s not going to be the same player he was a couple of years ago. Any team trading for Amare is getting the next Mcgrady or Grant Hill, great players that are a shadow of their former selves due to injury. I hope for the Warriors sake they do not make this trade. Also, what team out there is offering a better trade than Golden State, Beidrins (good young 7 ft center that’s only going to get better), B. Wright (top ten pick two years ago), and Marco Belineli (good young shooting guard). I don’t think we are hearing about the Suns in discussion with any other teams for STAT because no one is offering as much as GS is. The reason the Suns are trying to trade STAT now is the rest of the league is going to find out that STAT is going to be on the injured list most of the time on his next contract.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
haha says:
this is like kobe for vlade without the hindsight hahaha chill just kidding
July 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
dk says:
@ Dime Dynamic? Right. Who needs to factor in the guy misses entire seasons…
July 1st, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Paul says:
Warriors fans will get screwed either way:
1) We keep Stephen Curry (most likely) and amounts to nothing more than the next quincy douby or jj reddick
–or–
2) We trade for Amare and he rides the bench with injuries.
I’d like to get Amare just so we can compete in the paint with the Spurs, Lakers, Jazz, etc. etc.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:07 pm
MJAX says:
The Warriors need to make this trade, so Don Nelson is no longer the tallest player on the team!
July 1st, 2009 at 5:11 pm
G STATE says:
Warriors are just dumb. The whole roster makes no sense and Nellie is senile. All those 2/3 players and still no true point guard. They suck! They will have the worst record in the league this year! Bunch of talent with no cohesiveness!!!
July 1st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
BiG ShoT BoB says:
@ G-State I think the Kings had the worst record. But I say good thinking by Golden State. I like our new GM already. At first I was kinda skeptical about a rookie GM but know he’s starting to look good. Mullin probably would have done this deal. Then Amare would have opted out after this year leaving us with nothing in return and Curry would have been a star in Phoenix making him look like an ass for making the trade. But I agree with people who say Nellie is not going to get it done. I think Amare would be perfect in our system but not for that price.
July 1st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Claw says:
Amare gets on my nerves for wanting to be the man and doesn’t play D, but the guy does average over 20 and get 9 boards a game (Mulligan for Lakeshow he probably only knows Laker stats) and did blow up when they got rid of Porter with some huge games before the eye injury.
GS is sending players but are any of them really that good? Not one will be an AS, Curry brings some hype but I don’t see him becoming the next Steve Nash maybe more like a Chris Jackson (Abdul Rauf). I think it works for both, the Suns are retooling and GS quickly becomes a force out West and can compete with the big boys.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
magonigle says:
Nellie haters are plentiful. No coach does any better with the Warriors roster the last two years. Doesn’t anybody remember the revolving door of coaches. Year after year just awful. Don Nelson is the Warriors best coach since Al Attles. Next year they will make the playoffs if they don’t trade their young core.