The first big-name free agent to change teams this summer will be forwarding his fan mail to Madison Square Garden. All-star center Amar’e Stoudemire has reached an agreement in principle to become the newest member of the New York Knicks. Stoudemire announced his arrival today by telling reporters, “The Knicks are back!”
The deal, which cannot be officially finalized until Thursday, when salary cap numbers for next season become official, will reportedly run five years for “the max” – approximately $100 million in all.
The addition of Stoudemire – who is already being called the best Knick since Patrick Ewing -- obviously makes Madison Square Garden a much more attractive destination for other marquee players. Even before his signing was announced, Stoudemire was quick to suggest he’d try to recruit the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Tony Parker to join him on 33rd and 7th. Of course, Anthony and Parker aren’t free agents until next summer – it will be interesting to see if his arrival has any impact on LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, who should announce their plans later this week.
Stoudemire shouldn’t have much trouble adjusting to the Knick system – he actually has more experience in Mike D’Antoni’s sets than any of his new teammates. Stoudemire played the first six seasons of his career with D’Antoni, used primarily as a slightly-undersized, but incredibly explosive center. Depending on who else Donnie Walsh adds to the roster before the season begins, Stoudemire could have a similar role this season, possibly with Wilson Chandler taking over the Shawn Marion-esque inside/outside power forward position.
Of course, the signing is not without risk. Stoudemire has sustained significant injuries during his NBA career. He has had his knee repaired via the dreaded microfracture surgery, and missed time a season ago due to a detached retina. But neither injury had an impact on his 2009-10 season; he played all 82 games last year, averaging 23.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
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