Sports Radio Interviews

Charles Barkley Calls Trading Amar’e Stoudemire “a no-brainer” for the Suns

The Phoenix Suns started the season at 14-3 and were one of the best teams in the NBA early on. People had high expectations for the Suns at that point. Amar’e Stoudemire was healthy and playing great and Steve Nash looked like he had regained his MVP form. However, since that time, the Suns have dropped off significantly and are currently clinging to the seventh seed in the playoff picture in the Western Conference. With their recent struggles now there’s talk about the Suns once again rebuilding by trading away their most valuable commodity, Amar’e Stoudemire.

Stoudemire is once again an All Star in the Western Conference and looks healthy for the first time in a couple of years. However, with his impending free agency in 2010, the Suns may not be able to keep STAT long term. In the off-season, the Suns traded away Shaquille O’Neal to try and clear some cap room and look toward the future. Now that we are halfway through the season and with Amar’e Stoudemire set to hit free agency in the off-season, it’s time for the Suns to make another move that will benefit them in the future before they let one of their best players leaves the Valley and the Suns get nothing for him.

Charles Barkley joined XTRA 910 in Phoenix with Bickley and MJ to talk about the retirement of Kurt Warner, what he expects Brett Favre to do, why the Suns should trade Amar’e Stoudemire, and whether or not he would like to take over for Steve Kerr if he steps down in Phoenix.

On the retirement of Kurt Warner:

“I think it’s different for him. He has something still left in the tank. I retired ‘cause I couldn’t jump over a jelly-glazed donut. I’m not gonna put him in the same sentence as Jim Brown, but there are very few athletes that are retired with anything left in the tank so God bless Kurt.”

On Warner walking away from an 11 million dollar contract:

“Yeah but as much money as he’s got, that’s all Monopoly money. Most guys today, God bless them, I’m not hating on them, they make so much money today. 11 million dollars, that’s only like 5 million dollars after taxes. He’s not gonna miss that.”

On whether or not it’s time for Brett Favre to retire:

“I think it is. I think that, to me is like a boxer when you take a serious beating and you’re all right after the fight to a certain degree but then it comes back and gets you in the long run. He was brutalized that game. Clearly the older you get, the more those beatings effect your body in the long haul. Cleary he wanted to stick it to the Packers and it kinda worked out 50/50 for both teams. He had a great year and the Packers got the last laugh. I hate to see any of my guys – when I say any of my guys – anybody that plays sports is a part of my family. I hate to see any of my guys have repercussions in the future.”

On what the Suns should do about Amar’e Stoudemire:

“The Amar’e situation. Amar’e is a very good player, but to me it’s a no brainer as far as trading him. He’s got an option for 17 million, he wants the max which will probably be 100 and something million, the Suns are not a legitimate contender and he’s a valuable piece. They’ve got to start rebuilding for the future. The thing that makes me laugh and I’ve been on this question for the last couple of weeks – people are acting like they’re breaking up the ’96 Bulls. That team won six championships and Michael (Jordan) has said he’s really bitter. They probably could’ve won another couple of championships. But the Suns haven’t made it past the first round of the playoffs in awhile. It’s just funny how fans are like oh we can’t do this. I’m like why can’t you do it? It’s like a no-brainer.”

On whether or not he would like the job in Phoenix if Steve Kerr steps down:

“No, I don’t want the job. First it’s a job that’s gonna take three or four years. Like you said they don’t have a number one draft pick next year so that definitely screws them. And it depends on what they can get for Amar’e. People aren’t going to go crazy over Amar’e because he can walk away from his contract. They’re just gonna have to make the best deal possible and go for it. It’s not like they’re winning. At this point, they’re clearly trying to shave salary. The sooner they can get started building toward the future, the better.”

Listen to Charles Barkley on XTRA 910 in Phoenix here

Tags: Amare Stoudemire trade rumors, Charles Barkley, Kurt Warner Retirement, NBA, NFL, Phoenix Suns, XTRA 910