The player transfer deadline in the NBA is looming next week.
Although it has been a season in which a number of clubs have unexpectedly struggled, this year's deadline of Thursday is being heavily influenced more by the state of the US economy than the state of teams on court. Take the Phoenix Suns. In recent years, orchestrated by their wizard star guard Steve Nash, they produced the most exciting Basketball in the NBA, blitzing up and down the court and determined to out-offence the rest.
They have been a shadow of their former selves this season, limping to a 28 and 22 record in the highly-competitive Western Conference, and Utah Jazz are breathing down their necks for the final play-off spot.
The Suns' general manager, the ex-Chicago Bulls star Steve Kerr, has made some rather bizarre trade decisions in the last 12 months, trying to strengthen the team to produce a champion, including signing an over-the-hill Shaquille O'Neal from Miami.
Yet now, when they need help most, Kerr is shopping their star centre, Amar'e Stoudemire, who can opt out of his contract in 2010 when he is due to earn 17million. Having already lost Shawn Marion to Miami, the Suns without Stoudemire would be powder-puff, and Nash would be passing to shadows.
A number of other NBA stars are also on the block - all in the interests of teams' salary caps.
The Toronto Raptors , who were expecting to push Boston and Cleveland for Eastern Conference honours after signing All Star Jermaine O'Neal in the off-season, are instead suffering from a six-game losing streak, and are one off the bottom of the Conference with their play-off chances small to nil.
President Bryan Colangelo's answer is that he will not do anything that might affect the financial stability of the club, so there are no promises of any signings being made before next Thursday!
Hard times ahead for Raptor fans, and many other teams in the NBA.
