Bordow: Talks of dealing Amaré just talk

Here’s how a rumor gets started: The Suns want Kevin Garnett. They call the Minnesota Timberwolves and say, “We’ll give you Shawn Marion, Kurt Thomas and other considerations for Garnett.”

Not interested, the Timberwolves respond, but perhaps we can get the Boston Celtics to take Marion and we’ll get some of their younger players and draft picks.

That doesn’t work out when Marion makes it clear he’ll opt out of his contract after next season if he’s dealt to Boston.

Minnesota calls Phoenix back.

“We’ll give you Garnett for Amaré Stoudemire.”

The Suns say no, but an intrepid reporter (we really are intrepid) hears about the conversation and writes that the Suns and T-Wolves are discussing a Garnett-for-Stoudemire deal.

Well, they did. But only for as long as it took for the Suns to say no.

Here’s the truth: Stoudemire isn’t going anywhere. Not to Los Angeles for Kobe Bryant. Not to Minnesota for Garnett.

He’s not untouchable, but there are fewer than five players in the league that the Suns would consider for Stoudemire. And when you factor in the salary-cap considerations of acquiring a superstar — Garnett, for example, will count $28.5 million against the cap next season — a trade is nearly impossible to consummate.

There are a few voices in the Suns’ front office who wouldn’t be opposed to dealing Stoudemire. They point out that Stoudemire was responsible for almost everything negative that happened in the San Antonio series: Getting into foul trouble while trying to guard Tim Duncan; forgetting team defense concepts, thus allowing Tony Parker to repeatedly get to the basket; and, of course, being suspended for coming off the bench near the end of Game 4.

They worry that Stoudemire, for all his talent, will never be good enough defensively for the Suns to win a title.

Stoudemire, though, has an ardent supporter in the one voice that counts most: Coach Mike D’Antoni.

D’Antoni recognizes Stoudemire’s limitations. But he also sees a 24-year-old who was first-team All-NBA this past season and will only get better, assuming his knees hold up.

You don’t trade a guy like that, even if he misses the final team meeting of the year, tends to blame others for his own mistakes — such as criticizing the assistant coaches for not being quick enough to grab him as he came off the bench in San Antonio — and isn’t the most popular player in the locker room.

Stoudemire still has some growing up to do. But he’s not Terrell Owens. Trade him now, and the Suns will pay for it later.

The Suns’ desire to hold on to Stoudemire doesn’t mean the Garnett talks are dead. Comatose, maybe, but not dead.

Garnett could force Minnesota’s hand by saying he’ll opt out of his contract after next season unless he’s dealt to the Suns. The T-Wolves might then accept Marion, Thomas and a draft pick or two rather than lose Garnett to free agency without getting anything in return.

Will that happen?

Probably not.

But the Suns would do back flips if it did.

Most likely, any deal the Suns make before Thursday’s draft won’t qualify as a

blockbuster. They’ll try to rid themselves of a big contract by trading Thomas or use the unprotected pick they own from Atlanta next year to move up in the first round.

It’s too bad. A front line of Garnett, Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, with Raja Bell and Steve Nash in the backcourt, might just be good enough to topple San Antonio and win a championship.

Oh, well, a fan can dream. And so can a basketball team.