The chances Amar'e Stoudemire played his final game in a New York Knicks uniform is highly likely. Following the NBA All-Star break, the Knicks have decisions to make regarding players like Stoudemire and he intends to be active in discussions. After the team fell to the Orland Magic on Wednesday night, Stoudemire made it clear that while he loves New York and remains dedicated to the Knicks, he is ready to play for a contender.
Following the loss, Stoudemire told media that he will be asking for a contract buyout from the Knicks because Father Time is ticking and he wants to win a championship sooner rather than later.
"Father Time is ticking. You want to try to take advantage of good health when you can and try to win a championship when you can,'' Stoudemire said, via the New York Post. "But that's still the conversation we have to have in the near future. It's a tough decision. It's nothing that I can really think about now because it's kind of a moment, a sad moment, for me because New York is deep in my heart.''
The Stoudemire experiment in New York did not amount to much. The Knicks acquired the power forward with a five-year, $100 million deal to pair with Carmelo Anthony and later Tyson Chandler. However, the trio failed to bringing anything other than a few playoff wins and now the Knicks are rebuilding as a result. Chandler was traded prior to the year beginning and now it is time for Stoudemire to move on as well.
Stoudemire's agent Happy Walters told the Post that he will have conversations with team president Phil Jackson over the weekend and decisions will be made regarding the forward's future. Jackson has attempted to trade Stoudemire on multiple occasions, but those effort generally fell flat leaving a buyout as the only option.
"Certainly [Amar'e] didn't think his last year would be what it is now where the team is struggling. I think everything's possible. Amar'e and I talked about what to do. It's an ongoing discussion. I've talked to the Knicks a little bit about it but we haven't gotten to anything substantive," Walters said.
Stoudemire intends on signing with a championship contender following the buyout because why not? With his age and injury history working against him, Stoudemire might not get too many more chances. The Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets have all expressed interest in the forward. According to Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post, the Phoenix Suns are also frontrunners in a deal for Stoudemire. The Suns have a stacked backcourt, but Alex Len's injury opens the door for Stoudemire.
The Knicks will move on with Andrea Bargnani, Lance Thomas and Lou Amundson helping with size along with Cole Aldrich who has been getting minutes. The move of Stoudemire means other trades are likely to be denied so the Knicks can field a full team.