Amar'e Stoudemire calls Phoenix Suns 'Plan A'

The Amar'e Stoudemire Basketball Academy ended Thursday in Gilbert. Next, Stoudemire leaves Phoenix for Miami.

As much as that sounds like free-agent foreboding, there was nothing about Stoudemire on Thursday to indicate that Phoenix has seen the last of its All-Star power forward. Wearing a camp shirt with purple and orange lettering, Stoudemire called signing a contract extension with the Suns this month "Plan A."

"Camp colors are purple and orange and bloodlines right now are purple and orange, until something changes," said Stoudemire, who plans to meet teammates Jared Dudley and Earl Clark in Miami for training and vacation.

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Paul Coro

The Suns big man having the big year has decided to decline his player option for next season but wants to stay in Phoenix.

 Phoenix Suns equipped with pads and more
Paul Coro

There are times when the Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire looks like a tailback hitting a seam as he barrels his way toward his end zone - the rim.

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During training camp, Suns assistant coach Bill Cartwright talked about a need for the team's stars - Steve Nash, Jason Richardson and Amar'e Stoudemire - to play like stars this season.

Nash often is brilliant offensively, although the burden of being the team's only playmaker is draining. In crunch time of Tuesday's loss to Charlotte, seven consecutive possessions ended in his hands, with more failure than success. He is committing more turnovers than ever and deep team-defense problems start at the top with him.

 Amar'e Stoudemire's contract situation with Suns a non-issue



After a summer of speculation, including some by himself, it has been a fall of serenity around the Amar'e Stoudemire situation.

What situation? That's exactly it. Stoudemire's contract predicament - in which the forward's deal can be extended or he can opt in or out for next season - has been a non-issue because of how the Suns have won and how he has handled matters. From town to town, there have been more of the same queries with the same diplomatic responses from Stoudemire.

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The bloodshot right eye, the pronounced redness that spider webs through what should be the white portion of the ball, is the immediate reminder that the comeback from the detached retina is not complete and will not be for some time, just as his conditioning is not where it needs to be after seven months of doctor-ordered inactivity.

 Do the Suns need a big man?
Paul Coro

Amare Stoudemire, Channing Frye, Louis Amundson
and Earl Clark.

That is the extent of what the Suns have available for big men until Robin Lopez's return, which could be in late November. With no true center playing, should the Suns add a big man? Even if so, will the Suns add a big man?

 Suns' Clark learning on the job
Paul Coro

 During his 4-for-16 shooting Saturday night, Suns rookie forward Earl Clark heard from coach Alvin Gentry about how careless he was getting - with his wardrobe.

 Gentry's balancing act
Paul Coro

Anyone who calls Alvin Gentry a player's coach is right. Anyone who thinks that means the Suns coach is all pep talks, back pats and jokes is wrong.

When a six-day training camp ended Sunday, Gentry had won his players' favor by running them hard and hitting them harder verbally.

 Kerr to meet with Nash in New York
Paul Coro - The Arizona Republic

Suns General Manager Steve Kerr will be in New York Thursday to secure a piece of the Suns' future.

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