Knicks Land Amar'e Stoudemire
The Knicks have waited for two years to get a marquee name. Although it's not the marquee name that most fans desire, it is a marquee name nonetheless.
The New York Knicks have come to terms with free agent Amar'e Stoudemire. The deal is reportedly for five years worth $100M. After a weekend of negotiations, and discussing the parameters of the contract, the team and Stoudemire's agent, Happy Walters, have come to terms. The former Phoenix Sun will now leave the desert in Arizona for the bright lights and big city of New York.
Stoudemire spent the weekend in New York, attending a Broadway play, a New York Yankees game, and a party at the Hamptons with Knicks owner James Dolan. He spent Sunday having breakfast with head coach Mike D'Antoni, and they cleared the air from their rifts in Phoenix in which Stoudemire attributed that his immaturity got in the way. The Knicks appeared the most likely destination for him after negotiations with the Phoenix Suns broke down after Suns owner Robert Sarver told Walters that he could not wait on Stoudemire, and signed Hakim Warrick to a contract. With the signing of Warrick, and the re-signing of Channing Frye, Stoudemire's time in Phoenix was definitely up.
Now that Stoudemire has signed, his next mission is to try to recruit another big name, whether it is LeBron James or Dwyane Wade this year, or next year with Carmelo Anthony. He has also stated that with or without James, the Knicks would be a winner.
The deal will not be official until Thursday, July 8th when the NBA Free Agency moratorium period is lifted.
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press
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