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Amar’e Stoudemire commits to sign with Mavericks

By Mike Dyce

Jan 21, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks center Amar
Jan 21, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks center Amar /
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Former New York Knick Amar’e Stoudemire has committed to signing with the Dallas Mavericks.

The New York Knicks and Amar’e Stoudemire agreed to a buy out, freeing him to sign up with any team in the league. It was rumored early on Monday morning that the Dallas Mavericks were the front runners to sign the big man.

Now, on Monday night, there is a report that Stoudemire has committed to signing with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks have made it a habit of recruiting New York Knicks players, trading for Tyson Chandler and courting Carmelo Anthony in free agency. NBA executives stated that they felt like Stoudemire would end up in Dallas and superstar Dirk Nowitzki stated that he thought the Mavericks would make a run at Stoudemire.

The Dallas Mavericks restart the season after the All-Star break with a game on Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road. They follow that game up with a game at home against the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Stoudemire isn’t coming to Dallas to be some kind of savior for the team or considerable piece in the puzzle. Instead the Mavericks likely see him as a piece in their rotation as they look to make another deep post season run in a tough Western Conference.

When Stoudemire has found his way onto the court he has averaged 12 points and 6.8 rebounds in 24 minutes. If he could keep that production going he’d be a solid player behind Tyson Chandler at center. The Mavericks had a solid player behind Chandler in Brandan Wright, but he was traded to the Boston Celtics in the Rajon Rondo real and Stoudemire looks to fill that void.

Stoudemire won’t be able to replicate what Wright did for the Mavericks, which was fly through the air and bury alley-oops thrown his way, Stoudemire has lost his prolific dunking ability over the course of his career. Wright was also shooting 74.8 percent from the floor when he left Dallas.

Still, Stoudemire is an upgrade for the Mavericks over their current options.

The Mavericks had been considering Jermaine O’Neal, but he seemingly announced his decision to not come back this season on Instagram.

[UPDATE:] ESPN Dallas’ Tim MacMahon confirms the report.

Marc Stein also chimed in to confirm the report, adding that Stoudemire could be suited up for the Mavs as soon as Thursday night.

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