NBA Executives think Amar’e Stoudemire is going to Dallas
By Andrew Ross
Amar’e Stoudemire is getting the heck out of New York and will have the opportunity to play for a real contender.
Life comes at you fast, and Amar’e Stoudemire is a great case of that.
After signing a five-year, $100-million contract in the summer of 2010, the former all-star and the New York Knicks agreed on a buyout today that will allow him to walk away from the Big Apple and play wherever he wants after he clears the waivers on Wednesday.
How did Stoudemire reach this point with the Knicks?
He had a stellar first season in New York by playing 78 games and averaged 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds, but it was all downhill from there – and it went downhill fast.
I mentioned he played 78 games in his first year because he only played in 141 games over the following three seasons. Multiple injuries simply hit him hard.
After being a starter that put up huge numbers, Stoudemire has now become a bench player that averages 12 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Even though he is a shell of his former self, he is still a valuable player on offense that could help give a contending team a little boost off the bench.
As soon as his buyout became official, many of the league’s best said they were interested in him: Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs.
However, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported that it is actually the Mavericks who are the frontrunners, and most NBA executives believe that is where he will finish the season at.
Several teams, including Clippers, working to talk to Amar'e Stoudemire today, but most feel Mavs will sign him, league sources tell Yahoo
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 16, 2015
According to Wojnarowski, Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle both have a strong relationship with Stoudemire’s representatives, and that is what’s ultimately giving them the nod over all the other interested teams.
The Mavericks are right in the middle of their conference seeding for the playoffs with their 36-19 record, and they still haven’t fully gotten Rajon Rondo into the mix like they will at some point.
Most people aren’t bringing up the Mavericks when they discuss who might win it all, but Stoudemire could definitely make their chances greater.