Just a few weeks ago, everybody seemed pretty set on the idea that Phoenix Suns forward Amar'e Stoudemire(notes) would opt out of his contract this summer and join the star-studded free-agent class of 2010. So the Suns began to try and trade the fella, figuring they should get some value back in the process of losing such a talent.

The team apparently got some good interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers but then Stoudemire mucked things up when he said last week that he was leaning toward not opting out and playing a final year in Phoenix. Guess he doesn't want to lose that $17 million the team owes him if he stays.

Due to the financial instability of our world right now, there will only be so many big-money, long-term deals that can be handed out this summer. Some people think Stoudemire is deserving of a big contract and some people don't.

So the teams that thought they were just trading for Stoudemire for the short term are now backing off a little since they don't have that $17 million inked into the budget for next season. A deal could certainly still get done. There is just a new barrier to deal with. Perhaps Stoudemire would agree to opt out if he got traded.

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Source: Arizona Republic

The NBA has sliced $4 million from the Washington Wizards' salary cap this year due to the suspensions of Gilbert Arenas(notes) and Javaris Crittenton(notes). So now the team only needs to get rid of $4 million or $5 million more to get under the salary cap, so it's looking more and more like the team is going to ditch Caron Butler(notes) before the Feb. 18 trading deadline, according to NBA.com.

The rumor is that the team has offers from the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets and will likely decide on one by week's end. However, the Wizards may want any team taking Butler to also take Mike James(notes) or DeShawn Stevenson(notes) in order to clear up some more cash.

The Wizards apparently want a younger player in the deal, which means the Mavs would need to include rookie guard Rod Beaubois. The Rockets have young guard Kyle Lowry(notes) and an expiring contract in forward Luis Scola(notes) to deal along with the massive $23 million expiring contract of Tracy McGrady(notes).

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Source: NBA.com

Kobe Bryant(notes) had some prime seating to watch his teammates maul the San Antonio Spurs Monday night, 101-89. Of course, he couldn't get out onto the court because of a sprained ankle but he seemed to enjoy it all the same.

Still, that severely sprained ankle is bothering him. Right now, he can't even push off on the ankle, which "limits his ability to run and shoot." Just a few crucial little things.
So it is looking likely that he'll end up skipping the game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday and the All-Star Game this weekend.

"I'm not an idiot. I'm not going to run through a wall just to run through a wall," he said. "Injury-wise, if I feel I can play through it, I will. If it can heal while I'm playing, I'll play. But if it's the type of injury that playing will make it worse, I won't play."

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Source: Orange County Register

Can Carmelo make it nine straight? Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony(notes) still has a hurt ankle and, as of Monday afternoon, wasn't sure if he would be ready for tonight's game against the Dallas Mavericks, according to the Denver Post.

It'll make nine straight games that Anthony misses if he sits out tonight with the sprained left ankle. If he doesn't play tonight, it seems clear that he'll be back on Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs.

"Hopefully I can get back out there tomorrow," Anthony told the Post. "It felt good out there today. It's getting better each day. Pretty much I was doing a lot that I could do before I got hurt."

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Source: Denver Post