The Phoenix Suns played in the Western Conference Finals last season but the future is uncertain for them. Amare Stoudemire has opted out of his contract and GM Steve Kerr has stepped down. Could the Suns be downsizing after a trip to the Conference Finals? They need to either bring back Stoudemire or bring in a player like David Lee or Carlos Boozer. If the Suns downsize at power forward they might look to start over. If they do that they might be moving Steve Nash and Jason Richardson. It basically comes down to the Suns need to bring back Amare Stoudemire in 2010-11 and beyond.

The Suns have picked 22-year old power forward Dwayne Collins with the #60 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Collins played in 29 games (28 starts) for the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes and he averaged 12.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He played in 126 games (99 starts) in his college career and he averaged 9.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. The Suns are thin along the front line so maybe Collins could get some P.T. as a rookie.

The Phoenix Suns have selected power forward Gani Lawal with the 46th overall pick of the NBA Draft. Lawal played in 36 games (all starts) for Georgia Tech last season and he averaged 13.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. He played in 99 games (91 starts) in college and he averaged 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. The Suns were lucky to find a tough forward like Lawal sitting for them in the 2nd round.

The Suns will likely take the best player available when it’s their turn to pick. They have the #46 and #60 overall picks in the NBA Draft tomorrow night so hopefully they scouted well. The Suns really need to decide whether or not they are going to go for it next season or start rebuilding. If they decide to rebuild they could make some unpopular deals tomorrow night.

The Suns need to offer 27-year old PF Amare Stoudemire a max deal to keep him in Phoenix. Stoudemire played in 82 games (all starts) last season for the Suns and he averaged 34.6 minutes, 23.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 blocked shot. He has now played in 516 games (499 starts) in his 8 years with the Suns and he is averaging 34.3 minutes, 21.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Stoudemire is tenth all-time in games played with the Suns appearing in 516. He is also #3 in rebounds (4,613), #5 in blocked shots (722) and #6 in points (11,035) in Suns’ history. The Suns just can’t afford to let Stoudemire go.

UPDATE: Stoudemire has opted out of his contract becoming a unrestricted free agent. The Suns will keep talking to him as they can’t really afford to let him go. Remember it wasn’t that long ago that the Suns were pushing the Lakers in the Conference Finals.

UPDATE II: (7/9/2010) - The Suns have done a sign and trade deal with the Knicks for Stoudemire. The Suns will get a $16.5 million dollar trade exception and a conditional 2nd round pick for Stoudemire. That’s not much but it’s better than letting him walk away for nothing.