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High Drama in the NBA

Guest contribution from current Dynasty intern, Wade Senti.

In the coming week, expect a number of trade rumors, requests, and roster movements. The NBA trade deadline is February 18th.

Nevertheless, it is Amare Stoudemire who is captivating bloggers and journalists alike. In his seventh NBA season, Stoudemire is averaging just over 21 points and almost 9 rebounds per game.

Over the past several weeks, rumors have boiled about his desire to leave Phoenix. Whether it’s a clash with management (which definitely could be the case), a yearning for a title, or potentially a need to try out a new market, the trade may just happen.

According to multiple blogs and NBA junkies, it looks as though the Phoenix Suns maybe brokering a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers to send Stoudemire and up north for potentially llgauskas and J.J. Hickson. However, any such terms are by far preliminary in nature. It is also said that there could be a multiple team deal involving the Cavs, Pacers, and Bulls.

One constant is Stoudemire’s desire to leave and Phoenix’s desire to dump Jason Richardson’s contract on someone else ($13.3 million this year, $14.4 next year).

Ever since Steve Kerr took over as GM in Phoenix, tensions have been high. Kerr’s move to revamp Phoenix into more of a half-court style team (only seen in San Antonio) has not set well with fans and players, who were just fine with fast-break, run-and-gun style of basketball.

Regardless, if you’re Happy Walters (Amare’s agent), have fun pleasing him this time (apparently Stoudemire has had his ‘fair share’ of agents); maybe throw in some complementary peanuts for his long flight east.

If you have some time on this busy Monday, check out the excitement from All-Star Weekend:

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/top_plays/2010/02/13/20100213_top10.nba/#

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.