Sportsbook Fans Notice Stoudemire Hitting the Free Agent Market. One of the top free agents who could impact NBA odds at the sportsbook next season is Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire. He opted out of the final year of his contract with the Suns and will be on the free-agent market. Stoudemire is a five-time All-Star who will impact NBA odds at the Internet sportsbook.
Sportsbook odds on the Suns would take a hit if Stoudemire does not return. The early signs point to Stoudemire going somewhere else because the Suns couldn’t reach a deal with Stoudemire on a new deal. Stoudemire could still return to the Suns but with so many teams interested, the chances are a lot less than they used to be. Stoudemire was the ninth overall pick for the Suns in 2002 and has spent his entire career in Phoenix.
Stoudemire is looking for a big contract that the Suns were not willing to give him. Perhaps Stoudemire will reduce his demands after exploring the free-agent market. Stoudemire wanted a six-year deal and the Suns were not willing to commit to that length of the contract. The Suns are concerned about the health of Stoudemire as he has missed time due to injury. He missed almost all of the 2005-06 season and he missed a chunk of the 2008-09 seasons as well. Phoenix was trying to work out a deal with Stoudemire even though they don’t have a general manager. Steve Kerr stepped down as GM and he was not part of the negotiations.
Stoudemire was excellent last season as he played in all 82 games. He averaged 23.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game during the regular season. In the playoffs he averaged 22.2 points per game. He has a career average of 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. It is tough to find a power forward with those types of numbers so there is no question that Stoudemire will get a lot of interest in the free-agent market. He might even get a long look from New York since they are coached by former Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni.
It is a big free-agent market with star players like LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade on the market. Stoudemire is now another name on that list.