The NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching on February 19 with the deadline to release players on March 1. The New York Knicks plan to be active in all of it if they can as Phil Jackson continues to admit that right now his experiment with the team is failing. As the team president continues to search through potential trades for some of the Knicks top players, contract buyouts could be the likely end scenario.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on the future of Amar'e Stoudemire who by all accounts has been a bust in New York. Stoudemire was at one point the big free agency get for the Knicks as he signed a $100 million contract with the team. However, now as he plays out the final year of that deal, he has barely been seen on court thanks to an array of injuries and could now simply have his contract bought out, something he admits he is considering agreeing to.
"It's not an easy decision to make," Stoudemire said, via Yahoo! Sports. "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. I haven't talked with Phil [Jackson] or [GM] Steve Mills yet about the future. I'm sure we'll have a conversation soon about it."
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, Stoudemire is poised to have his contract bought out as the team finds it incredibly hard to deal away his $23.4 million salary this season. Stoudemire told the media that he is focused on getting healthy having played in just 32 games this year after knee, wrist and ankle injuries continue to keep him on the bench. Stoudemire was quick to say that if no trade happens, he is planning on trying to get back on the court following the All-Star game.
"All possibilities at this point are still open," Stoudemire said. "The door is still open for that. But at the same time, I am with the Knicks now. I got to stay optimistic about things and what we are doing here. I can't really focus on the future because it's not here. We still have a couple weeks left before it's all said and done."
If the Knicks can get Stoudemire to agree to a buyout, they might be major players in the trade deadline for someone like Greg Monroe. According to SportingNews.com, the Knicks are still planning on being major players for the Detroit Pistons center at the trade deadline. It is not clear if Detroit will let him go considering they are contenders for the playoffs. However, Monroe is expected to exit in free agency and the Pistons might try and get something in return for him. The Knicks want Monroe regardless of whether it is in a trade or free agency and will try all methods to get him.
