Amar'e Stoudemire is looking to prove himself this season as he enters the final year of his contract. Stoudemire opted in to his player option, knowing he would not get that kind of money anywhere else. However, if the big man is going to show that he deserves a lengthy contract either with New York or elsewhere next season, he will have to do so from the bench. Stoudemire admits that he is totally fine with a reserve role on the team.
Entering 2014, Stoudemire will not be the starting center for the Knicks. That role will likely go to Quincy Acy or Andrea Bargnani once he returns from a hamstring injury. Stoudemire will instead be limited to the bench no matter how healthy he feels. The big man still has issues playing back-to-back games thanks to numerous injuries to his knees and back. While he stresses that he is feeling healthier than ever, it is clear Derek Fisher and company do not trust his long-term outlook.
"I know whatever the situation is, I'm learning three different positions, as far as the power forward, the center and perimeter player, so it's very versatile on my end, too, so I'm ready to utilize my skill in whatever it is, a starting role or a sixth man role," Stoudemire said, via ESPN.com.
The Knicks will be thankful to get anything out of Stoudemire at this point. The veteran is in the final year of his marquee five-year, $100 million deal. His tenure in New York has been marred with injuries and inconsistencies. The Knicks have attempted several times to trade Stoudemire, ramping up the efforts this past offseason. No team has expressed any kind of interest in Stoudemire. If the Knicks are serious about dealing him, they would have to include another player, likely one of their shooting guards.
Stoudemire is not the only one-time starter to lead the bench in the upcoming season. With a number of shooting guards on the roster, either JR Smith or Iman Shumpert could also be vying for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Right now, Carmelo Anthony and Jose Calderon appear to be the only starters set in stone for the Knicks. Fisher continues to toy with the best starting lineup moving forward.