David Lee

New York Knicks forward David Lee is an unrestricted free agent this summer. And he sounds like he would not mind heading to the 7-55 New Jersey Nets.

The team’s dismal record is going to keep some free agents away. There are some – such as Amare Stoudemire and Rudy Gay – who seem attracted to the team that will someday supposedly move to Brooklyn.

Lee is thinking that if the team gets the No. 1 pick in the draft and picks up a good free agent, it could turn things around pretty quickly.

Yahoo Sports

Amare Stoudemire

Amare Stoudemire said he wants to table contract-extension talks until after the season, when he also will have to make a decision about opting out of the final year of the deal.

“I just don’t want the distraction,” Stoudemire said. “I don’t want to distract the team right now. We’re playing well. So in the off-season, we can talk about extensions.

“The way I play is not really focusing on the contract at all. I’m playing strictly to get a better spot in the playoffs and a higher seed and also have a great playoff. Next season’s contract is really not on my mind at all.”

Real GM

Carlos Boozer

Miami’s reported efforts involving the Utah Jazz and Carlos Boozer were actually to send him to Phoenix in a three-way trade.

The Jazz passed on an offer that would have sent Boozer to Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire to Miami and expiring contracts along with picks to the Jazz, according to a report from Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald.

Real GM

Photo by Keith Allison

With the Cavaliers grabbing Antawn Jamison from the Wizards, one major player for Amare Stoudemire disappeared and now it is looking like the forward will end up staying in Arizona.

Stoudemire said after last night’s game that he talked with Suns owner Robert Sarver and gets the feeling he will be staying in Phoenix past 3 p.m. Eastern trade deadline today.

“I feel good. But either way I was going to feel all right,” Stoudemire said.

The Miami Heat is still interested in getting Stoudemire but the money seems to be on the forward staying in Phoenix.

Yahoo Sports

Amare Stoudemire

Happy Walters, the agent for Amare Stoudemire, said Wednesday that he expects his client to be traded before the Thursday deadline.

Walters said the Cavs and Heat are the two most likely destinations for Stoudemire.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Cavs could be on the verge of hearing back from the Suns.

“There are some indications out there that the Suns are getting close to giving Cavs an answer on Amar’e,” wrote Windhorst on his Twitter page. “As in very soon.”

Real GM

Amare Stoudemire

The Cavaliers have emerged as serious bidders for Amare Stoudemire, and here is a good reason for their pursuit: When presented with several trade proposals, LeBron James preferred Stoudemire, a league source said.

It is not clear how center Shaquille O’Neal feels about the possibility of a Stoudemire deal because the two did not mesh well in Phoenix.

Privately, Stoudemire’s preferred destination is the Miami Heat, where he could pair with superstar Dwyane Wade in a far more warmer climate.

FanNation

Amare Stoudemire

The Miami Heat have intensified their efforts to trump Cleveland in the chase for Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, sources close to the situation said Monday.

The Heat emerged from the All-Star break even more determined than they were before to find a third team to help them broker an Amare deal before Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline.

Miami is “coming hard” after Stoudemire, one source said.

ESPN.com

Corey Maggette

Cleveland’s pursuit of Amare Stoudemire continues, but in case they can not land the Phoenix Suns’ All-Star forward, they have begun talks with the Golden State Warriors about Corey Maggette.

Despite their league-high 13-game win streak, the Cavaliers are leaving no stone unturned in attempting to improve their team and bring the city it’s first major sports league championship in 46 years.

In addition to speaking to the Washington Wizards regarding Antawn Jamison and the Indiana Pacers regarding Troy Murphy, Cleveland is in discussions with the Warriors about Maggette, according to four sources with knowledge of the talks.

ESPN.com

O'Neal and Stoudemire

According to multiple league sources, Cleveland has turned its attention on Amare Stoudemire and have paused their pursuit of Antawn Jamison and Troy Murphy.

Danny Ferry and Steve Kerr, friends who have dealt as GMs before, met on Friday in Dallas.

Sources indicate the Cavs, who first started talking to the Suns about their high-profile big man last month, are advancing talks to bring him to Cleveland.

The Suns are also believed to be interested in J.J. Hickson and Cleveland may also use Wally Szczerbiak in a sign-and-trade.

Real GM

Michael Beasley

Miami Heat President Pat Riley has emerged as one of the most determined pursuers of Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, according to sources.

The Heat have discussed several different scenarios with the Suns, including trade packages of young players such as Michael Beasley, Dorell Wright, as well as, expiring contracts of Jermaine O’Neal and Quentin Richardson.

The Heat are also willing to part with their 2010 first-round draft pick.

”Nobody is pushing harder on this than Riley,” one league source said.

HoopsWorld