The chance Amar'e Stoudemire is still on the New York Knicks' roster come the beginning of March is slim to none. The power forward might have made his return to the court following a lengthy absence due to various injuries, but that does not mean he is in the long-term plans for New York. As team president Phil Jackson continues to evaluate all potential roster moves leading into the trade deadline, Stoudemire could be out either way and there will be a market for him in free agency.
Stoudemire has stressed his loyalty to the New York Knicks, but it does not appear to be mutual. Rumors of a potential contract buyout have been running wild as Jackson continues to fail at getting a deal done for the forward. Stoudemire is in the final year of a five-year, $99.7 million contract and his stats and injuries do not make him a desirable target. The forward told Yahoo! Sports that while it is hard for him to think about leaving New York, he understands that could be in the works.
"It's not an easy decision to make," Stoudemire said, via Yahoo! "Over time, we will see how things pan out. You give yourself a break during the All-Star break. You think about it with your family. ... That will give me a good solid week on how to weigh out the rest of the season."
According to ESPN.com, if released the Dallas Mavericks are very interested in acquiring Stoudemire. Dallas has been searching for a big man to help on defense in a competitive Western Conference after the team gave up players like Brandan Wright and Jae Crowder in the trade for Rajon Rondo. Dallas has Tyson Chandler and Dirk Nowitzki, but adding Stoudemire would give the team key depth heading into the final stretch of the season. They will not trade for the forward, but would consider signing him to a small deal if available.
If Jackson has not found trade interest in Stoudemire yet, he likely will not. There is a small chance a team like the Los Angeles Clippers could make a trade for the forward after Blake Griffin was ruled out indefinitely following shoulder surgery. However, most teams are aware that Stoudemire is likely going to be a free agent come March and would prefer to strike a deal then rather than giving up players in a trade before the deadline.
