Amare Stoudemire

The Stoudimire Slam Dunk? Amare to Potentially Bring Along Tony Parker and Melo??

ESPN.com Reports:
The New York Knicks and Amare Stoudemire continued to move closer to an agreement to bring the free-agent forward to Madison Square Garden next season, but sources told ESPN that the deal has yet to be struck.

Stoudemire's agent Happy Walters said Friday that the Knicks and his client have "a structure of an offer on the table" and the All-Star forward was still talking to other teams. Walters said the All-Star forward was still talking to other teams, and wherever he signed would be for the maximum allowed: five years and about $100 million.

It was reported on Friday that Stoudemire would be meeting with the Knicks this weekend, but the former Phoenix Sun confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley on Saturday night that the two parties would sit and talk on Monday.

It's no secret that this year's free-agent actions are being driven in large part by the threat of a locked-out 2011, ESPN.com's J.A. Adande writes. Story

Stoudemire wrote on his Twitter page late Saturday afternoon that he had "just touched down in NY, going to a Broadway Show tonight."

Stoudemire, according to the ESPNNewYork.com, attended "Rock of Ages." He said he is working to get other stars to New York.

"I've talked to Carmelo Anthony that he needs to come out here," Stoudemire said. "I've talked to Tony Parker. Both guys are ready to join me if I decide to come here. So we will see if we can work it out."

Friday, Yahoo! Sports and the Daily News reported that Stoudemire and the Knicks had the "framework of the deal" in place.

Stoudemire and his representatives broke off negotiations with the Suns on Friday.

"It wasn't the right deal," Walters told The Arizona Republic on Friday.

"He'll be sad to leave his teammates and the city he loves, but it's time to move on," Walters said.

Sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford that Stoudemire's desire to leave Phoenix dates back to the tough negotiations he had with owner Robert Sarver in Februrary. Stoudemire's camp knew it was highly unlikely Sarver would offer Stoudemire a five-year deal at max numbers, and Stoudemire has been worried that even if he did, he'd gut the rest of the team to pay for it.

When Stoudemire received the Suns "final offer" -- a five-year, $95 million deal with partial guarantees on the last two years, contingent on Stoudemire playing a minimum of 2,200 minutes his third and fourth seasons -- Stoudemire pulled out of the negotiations, a source told Ford.

The Suns agreed to a four-year, $18 million deal with free-agent forward Hakim Warrick on Friday, sources confirmed to ESPN.

The only way the Suns can afford to sign both Channing Frye and Warrick under collective bargaining rules is to renounce the team's rights to Stoudemire.

Once renounced, the Suns no longer will have the ability to exceed the salary cap to re-sign Stoudemire. On Friday a source inside the Suns confirmed that the team will renounce its rights.

Based on all the rumors- the best case scenario left?

In looking at all the rumors- and honestly- based on what we've heard we can all be sure of one thing, no one knows anything for sure yet.

But if the latest Amare to NYK rumor is true I think the best scenario we have left now (including where other players go) is LeBron and Amare to NYC, DWade stays, Bosh is the lone man to end up in Chicago and the rest of the players return to their hometowns (ok maybe Boozer to Miami and teams up with DWade... but thats not the scariest thing we can imagine...)

This would bring the East back to the 90's- NYK, Miami, Chicago (and ok, add in Orlando) rivalries renewed.

Otherwise thinking of the potential teams/players LeBron could end up with, pretty much any of the top FA's, no matter who the Knicks fill up the roster with we will again play second fiddle to wherever LeBron goes.

...and as most of the true Knicks fans, tough to say David Lee is not part of the ideal play right now...

Vegas Odds on the Big 5 Free Agents

With the 2010 Free Agent buzz dominating all NBA discussions, Vegas has jumped in with their opinion on the top 5 Free Agents:

LeBron James

Cavaliers -150
Bulls +125
Knicks +250
Nets +400
Heat +600
Clippers +1000

Dwyane Wade

Heat -400
Knicks +500
Bulls +500
Nets +1200
Clippers +1200

Chris Bosh

Knicks +300
Bulls +300
Heat +300
Rockets +300
Clippers +800
Wizards +800
Nets +1000
Raptors +1000
Cavaliers +2000

Amare Stoudemire

Knicks +220
Bulls +220
Heat +220
Suns +500
Nets +700
Clippers +1500
Cavs +2000

Carlos Boozer

Jazz +300
Bulls +300
Heat +300
Nets +300
Knicks +700
Cavaliers +1500
Clippers +1500

These odds allow gamblers to put their money where their mouth is, while also splashing a dose of reality into all the speculation out there.

Vegas is again shifting on LeBron, this time with the Bulls inching closer. Wade staying in Miami is as close to sure to a sure thing as you can get at -400. While Bosh, Stoudemire and Boozer still seem to be anyone's guess given how contingent they are on where LeBron lands.

We'll continue to update any changes, which are sure to come as July 1st arrives and the official recruitment begins.

Amare: Knicks should take me over Bosh

In "despite the fact that I can't see out of one eye, have already had micro-fracture surgery, but still want to market myself" news, the New York Post's Blog is reporting the Amare Stoudemire thinks he's better than Chris Bosh and he will be seriously considering New York in 2010:

CHICAGO - Here in Chicago waiting for the next wave of potential first-rounders to fill into Westin for the final media availability..

Back in New York, ESPN Radio's Brandon Tierney had Amare Stoudamire on this morning and reiterated remarks about his desire to play for Mike D'Antoni in 2010 while boasting about being better than Chris Bosh. Stoudemire told The Post similar stuff during All-Star Weekend.

When Tierney asked Stoudemire if he's better than Bosh, the Suns forward said, "Oooh man, are you kidding me? Ask Chris Bosh that question."

So that's a yes?

"No doubt about it, I'm better than Chris Bosh"

"How serious will you consider the Knicks in 2010"?

"I will be totally serious about that, I spent a lot of my childhood there, I have a connection with the state, and I also love the entire coaching staff"

" I think Coach D'Antoni's doing a phenomenal job with the Knicks, NY's a great city, I follow them closely."

Amare: "[In] 2010 would I entertain NY? Absolutely, Absolutely"

The New York Post Reports:

"Amare Stoudemire is expected to be dealt by the Feb. 19 trading deadline, perhaps to Chicago, but his new team will be renting his services.

Though the Knicks are extreme long shots in the current Stoudemire sweepstakes, New York won't be in 2010 when the star power forward is a free agent.

'2010, would I entertain New York?' Stoudemire said, repeating a question. 'Absolutely. Absolutely. [Mike] D'Antoni is a positive. He's a guy I played with and he is a pretty good coach. Great offensive coach, lets you go out and play.'"

Again and again one of the first things you hear from one of the potential 2010 free agents is about D'Antoni: Nash, Amare, LeBron, Kobe, Wade (and the list goes on), have all spoken about how much they love his style.

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