For the better part of the NBA offseason, Phil Jackson has been attempting to trade either Amar'e Stoudemire or Andrea Bargnani. The New York Knicks' team president successfully traded away Tyson Chandler who was eating up a portion of the team's salary cap, but that still leaves Stoudemire and Bargnani with one year left on each of their contracts. Jackson has been unsuccessful trading either big man up until this point, but one team is starting to show interest.
The Philadelphia 76ers were interested earlier in the offseason in a deal that would have them acquiring Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert. However, instead the 76ers got involved in the Kevin Love trade and will reportedly be sending Thaddeus Young to Minnesota in exchange for former first-round pick, Anthony Bennett. However that leaves them with an extremely young roster and as a result Philadelphia is re-visiting the Stoudemire deal.
According to Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com, the 76ers remain interested in Stoudemire. Philadelphia must get over the minimum salary cap by the trade deadline. Stoudemire's inflated $23 million salary would push the team well over the minimum. They would owe the power forward around 30 percent of his remaining contract and pay him $7 million in cash. The Knicks would likely only have to give up Stoudemire and not include Shumpert or JR Smtih, two players Jackson has been coy about their availability right now.
This is likely the only deal the Knicks will be able to find for Stoudemire. If Jackson is set on dealing the forward, he must lower expectations of what can be received in return. At this point, Stoudemire's value in the league has dropped. Injuries and low stats have seen him fall out of favor. However, the forward could be a strong asset for Philadelphia. He is a veteran with leadership skills, something the 76ers need with one of the youngest rosters in the league. The team cannot afford to come in under the minimum salary figure, so adding Stoudemire benefit them in multiple ways.
Out of the remaining big men for the Knicks, Bargnani could be the better one to hold on to. Bargnani failed to succeed last season because spent a good portion of the season complaining over his lack of playing time. Given the opportunity, Bargnani could be productive for the Knicks.
