Stoudemire big concern either way
Two concerns accompany the Bulls' presumed pursuit of Amare Stoudemire.
The first is that John Paxson won't find the key to completing the trade with the Suns.
The second is that he will.
Phoenix - with a seemingly befuddled front office that includes ex-Bulls guard Steve Kerr as general manager - might spare other teams the anguish over whether to gamble on Stoudemire.
The Suns are expected to fire head coach Terry Porter today after he spent little more than half a season on the job.
How the change would impact a potential Stoudemire deal is debatable.
Suns ownership could remove finances from the equation and determine it's crazy to dispatch a 26-year-old, four-time all-star for less than fair value.
Or they could say this guy is a lunkhead, so let's continue the makeover by getting what we can for him.
If the Suns are intent on dealing Stoudemire the question becomes whether Paxson can outmaneuver other bidders to acquire him.
Judging by Paxson's previous reluctance to make a deal, well, you decide how the Bulls' general manager will play this one even as rumors swirl that he soon will leave as GM.
For discussion's sake, let's say Paxson agrees to surrender some of his young core and acquires Stoudemire to play with Derrick Rose.
So then what?
Stoudemire would land on a Bulls team that doesn't appear to have the infrastructure to manage his dubious mental and emotional makeup.
As one longtime NBA observer explained Stoudemire to me last week, most star players are high maintenance but this guy is higher maintenance.
The scouting report says Stoudemire doesn't defend, plays when he wants to and is prone to sulking. Hey, maybe he's perfect for these Bulls.
Anyway, none of this would matter if the Bulls were a team that could bring in a troublesome player and finesse him into conforming.
By the way, this issue isn't limited to the Bulls around here. Like, will the Cubs be able to get Milton Bradley to behave? Could the Bears get Chad Ocho Cinco to be sane?
The Bulls won three NBA titles with Dennis Rodman because Phil Jackson managed him and Michael Jordan commanded his respect.
Ah, but if the Bulls trade for Stoudemire, who will persuade him to maximize his immense talent for the good of the team instead of for the good of a contract extension?
Would Stoudemire respect first-time-ever-anywhere head coach Vinny Del Negro? Would he listen to Paxson when talk of new money is raised? Would he defer to a 20-year-old like Rose who tells him where to be on the court and when to be there?
Del Negro, in the Suns' front office as recently as last season, likely already knows.
The primary concern is that Stoudemire - considering his considerable achievements compared to those of his teammates - would view the Bulls as his team.
My goodness, if Stoudemire was erratic alongside two-time league MVP Steve Nash and other Suns veterans -
No, don't bother envisioning what he might be like alongside the younger, often immature, less successful Bulls. Your head might explode.
On paper, Stoudemire with Rose is tantalizing. On the court, it could be a bad fit.
So pick your concern, folks: Paxson can't trade for Stoudemire or that he can.