Sean Deveney

We are just a week away from the NBA's trading deadline, and we're on the eve of All-Star weekend — which, conveniently, will be hosted by the Phoenix Suns, the team that has been providing the bulk of the grist that's running through the league rumor mill. While trade talk has brushed on center Shaquille O'Neal (whose contract is too big to dump) and point guard Steve Nash (who is considered too much of a draw to deal), just about the whole league's attention has been focused on power forward Amare Stoudemire.

As we discussed Wednesday, the Suns need to get themselves below the luxury tax threshold, and dealing Stoudemire is likely their only option. In order to make a Stoudemire deal work, though, the Suns are asking for the three classic franchise-player trade requirements: Salary relief, young talent and draft picks. It's tough to find teams that can provide enough of all three to make a deal work.

So where can they turn? Several possible Stoudemire destinations have been floated, though all have flaws (not enough young talent, not enough salary relief, no draft picks). Conversations with general managers, front-office types and league agents point to a few possibilities:

Chicago: For the last three years, the Bulls have gotten involved in talks for top-tier big men. But, they missed out on Kevin Garnett despite offering a very good package to the Timberwolves, then got trigger-shy in negotiations for Pau Gasol when he was with the Grizzlies. Maybe the third time is the charm. Chicago has underachieved this year, which has pushed up the pressure on GM John Paxson to pull off some kind of move before the deadline.

The Bulls can provide the Suns with payroll room by dealing the remainder of Drew Gooden's contract ($7.1 million, expiring after this year) and other minor contracts (Lindsey Hunter, Michael Ruffin). The Bulls would have to add power forward Tyrus Thomas as part of any package, as well as their first-round pick this year. Sources say that any of the Bulls' players who have significant money on their contracts -- Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni — won't be part of a deal.

But the Suns would want the Bulls to sweeten that pot, at least with Thabo Sefolosha and perhaps more. That's where Paxson may have a difficult question to answer: Does he include fast-improving Joakim Noah, too? A package of Gooden, Thomas and a draft pick is underwhelming. But, add Noah, and the Bulls may be giving up too much.

Miami: The Heat, desperate to pair a top big man with Dwyane Wade, have popped up on the Stoudemire radar. But here's what one general manager said of their prospects: "The problem with Miami is that their cupboard is bare. There's nothing to offer."

Any Miami-Phoenix will likely require two features: Michael Beasley and a third team.

The only immediate payroll relief the Heat can offer is the contract of Shawn Marion — everyone else on Miami's roster is either signed for next season or does not make enough to provide significant relief. One year after sending Marion away, the Suns are not excited about the prospect of bringing him back. It's not impossible, but it's not ideal.

Miami's other problem is that its first-round pick belongs to Minnesota this year. All the Heat could offer the Suns is a package of Marion and Beasley, with Marion leaving in free agency this summer. Phoenix would have to decide whether Beasley alone is enough of a return on Stoudemire. If the Heat can find a third team to insert a draft pick and add someone besides Marion to the contract-cutting mix, they'd greatly improve their position.

New Jersey: How much do the Suns like Yi Jianlian and Ryan Anderson? They're both young, big and have some talent, but sending Stoudemire to New Jersey for Yi, Anderson, the expiring contract of Stromile Swift, Bobby Simmons (whose contract is up after next year) and a draft pick is probably not what the Suns had in mind. Swift's deal is worth $6.2 million, which might not be enough to get Phoenix under the luxury tax threshold — and if the Suns can't definitely get under the tax, then there's no point in trading Stoudemire in the first place.

Portland: The Blazers, we've been told, did not offer the insanely rich package of LaMarcus Aldridge, Jerryd Bayless and Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract. "They'd probably be willing to part with Aldridge or Bayless in a deal like that," one Western Conference team official noted. "But both? That's too much."

NBA’s Feb. 19 trade deadline Special feature: 2009 NBA deadline trades Ventre: Deadline just another fan teaser Orlando gets Rockets' Alston in 3-way deal Knicks trade Thomas to Bulls for Hughes Wolves, Kings trade lottery washouts Chandler fails physical, trade nixed Bulls get Miller, Salmons from Kings Opinion: O'Neal helps Heat on and off court More coverage of the NBA

Don't count out the Blazers just yet, though. Talks between the teams have been reported to be, "dead," but it only takes a phone call to start them up again, and there's no question that Portland has the best combination of talent and cap space available to deal for Stoudemire -- that is, if they want Stoudemire. Remember, this is an organization that is very conscious about its image, and though Stoudemire is not an off-court troublemaker, he obviously has had chemistry issues with coaches and teammates.

Golden State: Don't hold your breath. A package of Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, a draft pick and expiring contracts is not bad, but the Suns would much prefer to get Stoudemire out of the Pacific Division. Biedrins' contract — it runs through 2014 — and the fact that he is a base-year compensation player (an NBA rules hitch that makes it difficult to trade players immediately after they get big pay raises) is prohibitive. The Warriors are likely to stand pat this trade deadline, evaluate the team down the stretch now that Monta Ellis is healthy, and wait till the summer to make major moves.

Oklahoma City and Memphis: Both teams have been mentioned in connection with Stoudemire, but he won't be going to either spot. However, both teams have some great add-in chips (Joe Smith, Chris Wilcox, Earl Watson, Steve Francis, Antoine Walker's contract) that make them ideal third parties should this thing balloon into a multi-team deal.

Also on NBCSports.com Golf: Euphoric win for Mickelson, crushing defeat for Tiger Beyond the Arc: No. 11 Mich. St. takes big step forward Chandler: Jeremy Lin was special even in 8th grade What NFC teams need this offseason  |  And AFC Follow us on Twitter: @NBCSports  |  And Facebook