The New York Knicks will likely trade power forward Amar'e Stoudemie to the Philadelphia 76ers before trade deadline unless the All-Star big man has become an instrumental part of the team's campaign this season.
According to NBA analyst Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the trade that will send Stoudemire to the tanking Sixers is almost a done deal. The Knicks have been trying to unload Stoudemire's huge contract for awhile now, and there's no other team that can absorb a $23 million salary and stay under the salary cap than the Sixers.
"What's far more likely is that the long rumored Amar'e Stoudemire to Philadelphia deal gets done at the deadline. The Sixers take on Stoudemire's $23 million salary cap number, which pushes them way over the minimum," Kyler stated in his NBA preview.
"They would only owe him roughly 30 percent of his remaining contract, so they'd end up paying him $7 million in cash and likely extract a draft pick or a rookie scale player for their troubles."
The Knicks signed Stoudemire to a five-year, $100 million deal in the summer of 2010, hoping the power forward will become one of the cornerstones of a championship team alongside star swingman Carmelo Anthony. Instead, Stoudemire spent most of his career on the sidelines as he dealt myriad of injuries during his five-year tenure with the organization.
The arrival of Phil Jackson as the Knicks president for basketball operations only suggested a major roster overhaul is at hand, and Stoudemire's contract is certainly one of those burdensome deals the Zen Master is eager to get rid of.
Then again, Stoudemire could still hang on with the Knicks until the end of the season if he's able to put up big statistical line moving forward. Amar'e is averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes of playing time for the 1-1 Knicks.