As if the offseason loss of Joe Johnson wasn't enough, Phoenix Suns fans must now deal with the news that Amare Stoudemire will be out for an extended period this season.
Stoudemire underwent surgery Tuesday to repair damage in his sore left knee, and will miss at least four months of action.
This news comes after the Suns just inked a new five-year, $73 million contract extension with Stoudemire.
After posting the league's best record last season before falling the San Antonio Spurs the Suns have done their best to retool after losing two of their five starters from 2004, Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson.
Now, with the loss of Stoudemire, the Suns are beginning to look a lot more mediocre.
Offseason pickups of Raja Bell, Brian Grant and Kurt Thomas should have been meant to bolster the Suns' bench, but now, these new players will be forced into more prominent, even starting, roles.
Stoudemire is an animal in the paint, and the Suns, who were already lacking in interior size and rebounding, will now miss Stoudemire even more.
But will the Suns still be a good team? Yes.
Will they reach the heights they set last season? It's beginning to look even less likely.
The Spurs, almost unbelievably, have gotten even better after winning a championship, with the additions of proven veterans Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley.
After not being able to match up with the talented Spurs in last year's playoffs, the Suns certainly have even less of a chance now.
But don't count them out.
One thing the Suns displayed last year was a great team mentality. The players all got along and actually looked like they were enjoying themselves every night.
Here's hoping the new additions to the team are able to drop right in and mesh with the remaining players from last year, and continue the chemistry that was so evident.
But talent wins more games than chemistry, and with only two starters remaining from last year's dream season in Steve Nash and Shawn Marion, the Suns will also need a little luck to reach new heights this season.
If the Suns can hold on throughout Stoudemire's absence and remain in the hunt for a top playoff seed, his return will bring a spark that could carry them throughout the playoffs.
Reach the reporter at charles.obrien@asu.edu.
