Sources: Cavaliers close to deal for Stoudemire
 

Found this, this morning for those interested. I'd have to think that if the Cavs got Stoudemire it for sure makes them the favorites to win the Eastern Conference.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4913305

Updated: February 14, 2010, 2:57 AM ET
Sources: Hickson, Ilgauskas to Suns

By Chris Broussard
ESPN The Magaazine
Archive
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns are closing in on a deal that would send All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire to Cleveland, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

Stoudemire

The Cavaliers would send Zydrunas Ilgauskas and J.J. Hickson to Phoenix in exchange for Stoudemire, one of the league's most dominant big man.

While Cleveland remains in talks with several other teams, the club, from management down to the players, has settled on Stoudemire as its first choice.

The ball is in Phoenix's court. The Suns are mulling whether the financial relief provided by Ilgauskas's $12 million contract and the young and talented Hickson are enough for them to part with Stoudemire.

Cleveland believes the addition of Stoudemire would all but seal LeBron James' re-signing with the team when he becomes a free agent this summer. The Cavaliers are also prepared to sign Stoudemire, who has one year and $17 million remaining on his contract, to a long-term contract extension once the season ends.

The Suns will likely waive Ilgauskas, which would allow him to be re-signed by Cleveland after 30 days.

Cleveland is also talking with Washington about acquiring Antawn Jamison, as well as Indiana about Troy Murphy. Meanwhile, Golden State is trying to entice the Cavs into taking Corey Maggette for Ilgauskas.

good luck with the no defense I don't rebound look my name has a apostrophe or 3little bitch

never liked him on the court
without nash feeding him
he's gonna suck

For me, this is a far more lopsided trade than the Gasol one for the Lakers. Z is going to get bought out and head back to Cleveland. Hickson doesn't even have close to the potential to ever fill Amar'e's shoes.

Wow, Phoenix would be stupid to do this...

Surely the Suns cannot be this stupid.

If this happens, the Cavs NOT winning an NBA Championship would be colossal fail.

I think it's interesting that they think this would seal the deal for Lebron getting a new contract. I was thinking just the opposite. Lebron's going to get an astronomically huge contract. Can they really afford him AND Stoudemire in the long-term?

This is like the jermaine dye for neifi perez deal

Mostly just really cheap. It wouldn't surprised me if this does happen and the Suns buy out the Ilgauskas contract like they did with everyone they received for Shaq. Net result would essentially be Shaq and Amare for JJ Hickson.

The Grizz at least got the rights to Marc Gasol who is turning into a pretty solid player so that trade doesn't look nearly as bad now as it did at the time it was made.

The Suns really should get more attention for the terrible moves they have made over the past 5 years which appear to have been mostly of the money saving variety. They have a lot more in common with the Clipppers than they get credit for.

this would essentially be giving stoudemire away for nothing...not even a high draft pick


it might be worse than the gasol trade

Stoudemire isn't that good. He's not a very good shooter and he plays horrendous defense. Horrendous.

One of the Cavs best strengths, half court defense, would immediately become a liability.

IMO, this could be the rare trade that makes both teams worse.

Sarver has consistently shown that he cares more about the bottom line than titles, otherwise the Suns of the last 6 years probably would have won 4 titles.

Good comments by miles and hamas. The Pau Gasol trade looks a lot better now, with Marc becoming a top shelf center and money freeing up space to eventually add Randolph. Too bad the Grizz didn't take Tyreke instead of Thabust.

Isn't that what everybody said when Shaq was dealt to Cleveland? That it won't help Cleveland's inability to defend the pick and roll/teams like Orlando will only continue to have their way with them, etc.

I would LOVE it if this convinces LeBron to resign with the Cavs. I can't stand all the NY and NJ media and fans all but penciling him in to their lineups for the next 10 years.

I have always thought that Amare Stoudemire would be the PERFECT compliment with LeBron. Amare can shoot off the pick and roll and actually finish at the basket something LeBron has been missing from his bigs.

Ilgauskas is more of a pick and pop big guy and Verajo is extremely limited offensively. There is no way in hell the Cavs don't win the Finals if they get Amare.