Amare Stoudemire
Amare Stoudemire’s availability for Team USA was thrown into doubt Monday night after questions were raised over whether his contract with the New York Knicks could be insured to allow him to play in a FIBA competition.
The news was both a blow to Team USA and to the Knicks, who signed Stoudemire to a five-year, $99.8 million contract earlier this month.
Stoudemire underwent knee and eye surgeries while playing for the Phoenix Suns, but it was believed he was fully recovered from both conditions.
ESPN.com
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Eddy Curry
The agent for Timofey Mozgov was reportedly told that Eddy Curry, who is in the final season of his contract, will not receive playing time with the Knicks.
Mosgov’s agent said that his client was guaranteed a spot on the Knicks’ roster, as the backup to center Ronnie Turiaf.
Amare Stoudemire, whom the Knicks signed to a maximum-salary contract as a free agent, was apparently assured that he will be used in his natural position at power forward.
Real GM
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Chris Paul
Chris Paul may have used a toast to set the table for Knicks fans.
During Carmelo Anthony’s wedding Saturday night at Cipriani’s on 42nd Street, Chris Paul predicted a future Knicks Dream Team.
According to a person who spoke with wedding attendee Amare Stoudemire, Paul made the reference during a speech of a potential union of himself, Stoudemire and Anthony, saying, “We’ll form our own Big 3,” Paul allegedly said.
Attendee Spike Lee nearly passed out at the suggestion.
FanNation
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Carlos Boozer
The New York Knicks have had exploratory talks with Carlos Boozer, according to a source close to the situation.
It is unclear how Boozer would fit with a team that just gave a five-year, $100 million deal to another power forward, Amare Stoudemire, but the source said a meeting between the Knicks and Boozer is “possible.”
Of course, the Knicks’ top priority is signing LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. James will announce his decision on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, according to ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard.
ESPN.com
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David Lee, Carlos Boozer
There was talk Monday of supposed sign-and-trade discussions between Utah and New York, involving Jazz free-agent power forward Carlos Boozer and Knicks free-agent forward David Lee.
That, though, was before Phoenix free-agent big man Amare Stoudemire reportedly agreed to a five-year, max-money deal with New York.
FanNation
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Amare Stoudemire
The New York Knicks reached an agreement in principle Monday with free agent Amare Stoudemire after receiving assurances it would not be an impediment to their pursuit of LeBron James.
The All-Star forward will receive a five-year, $99.7 million contract that will reunite him with coach Mike D’Antoni.
Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, said last week there was a “structure of an offer on the table,” but no actual offer was put forth by the Knicks until they met with Stoudemire at Madison Square Garden on Monday afternoon. The deal cannot be signed until Thursday.
ESPN.com
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Monta Ellis
When Amare Stoudemire becomes official, it would end the five-year era of David Lee, but set up a possibility of a sign-and-trade to add another piece.
There has been rumors of a three-way trade talk between Golden State, Minnesota and New York where Lee winds up with the Timberwolves, Monta Ellis comes to the Knicks and Al Jefferson goes to the Warriors.
Lee visited Minnesota yesterday and it has only $7 million in cap room, meaning he would want a sign-and-trade.
HoopsWorld
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Dwyane Wade, LeBron James
When Miami Heat president Pat Riley met with Amare Stoudemire last night, he tried to sell the power forward on the idea of teaming him up with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.
The lack of a state income tax in Florida is one of Riley’s big selling points, which is good because the three players would each have to take about $15 million to start on five-year deals, less than what they could get elsewhere.
Riley’s pitch was mostly about how all great championships are built on three great players, the source revealed.
Yahoo Sports
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Hakim Warrick
The Suns have agreed to terms on a four-year, $18 million deal with free agent forward Hakim Warrick, sources tell Marc Spears of Yahoo!
Warrick played with the Bucks and Bulls during the 09-10 season.
The signing likely signals the end of Amare Stoudemire’s tenure with the Suns.
Real GM
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Channing Frye
Channing Frye agreed to re-sign with the Suns for five years and $30 million, $8 million more than the Suns expected to pay.
Amare Stoudemire has yet to get the five-year offer from the Suns he wants, making a league source call a return to Phoenix “highly unlikely.”
He met two hours late Wednesday with Miami, and his agent said he received a better offer from another team Thursday and plans to go to New York for a meeting Monday with the Knicks.
Inside Hoops
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