Knicks Look To Send Amar’e Stoudemire Out Of New York
The New York Knicks are actively trying to start fresh under new President Phil Jackson and the first dominos have already fell. Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton were sent out of New York to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal in June. The next step for The Zen Master is to get rid of two huge contract mistakes, Amar’e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani.
While keeping Bargnani would make sense due to Bargnani’s shooting ability that would work well with the triangle offense and the fact that Bargnani is in a contract year, his contract number still is too high. Amar’e Stoudemire being shipped out should be the next move on the table for Phil.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported that the deal might involve a piece that both the Knicks and Knicks fans don’t want to see leave the team. The high-top faded, high energy, high performance guard, Iman Shumpert.
The Sixers have $30 million in cap space and have made it known they’d be willing to accept an undesirable expiring contract if a pawn is thrown in. That extra pawn likely would be Iman Shumpert — something the Knicks prefer not to do.
The idea is, at the least, reduce payroll so the Knicks can make a sign-and-trade to obtain a free agent and be able to wield the full mid-level exception of $5 million instead of mini-midlevel $3.27 million. Currently, the Knicks are above the luxury-tax apron and are forbidden to obtain a free agent through a sign-and-trade or use the full mid-level to try to lure free agent Pau Gasol.
Getting rid of Amar’e and getting Pau Gasol would be a great scenario for the Knicks going forward especially with the roster they’re setting up right now. Getting rid of Shumpert however might be a huge mistake for New York. Amar’e has said that he does look to return to All-Star level this upcoming season, so maybe the Sixers wouldn’t be acquiring a bad contract after-all. At this time though, the Knicks need to do something to make more room in the salary cap if they want to prove to Carmelo Anthony that they are ready to win.
