The New
York Knicks are not going to make any major acquisitions this offseason due to
their extremely looming salary cap problem. The Knicks “Big Three” of Melo,
Tyson, and Amar’e account for $58 million dollars next season. Amar’e
Stoudimire’s contract alone is worth $21.7 million this year, and $23.4 million
next year. This contract that the Knicks allowed is also uninsured, meaning
that the injuries that Stoudemire suffers throughout his tenure with the Knicks
do not affect the amount of money that he gets paid. So basically, if there is
a creek in the greater New York are, and
if that creek happens to be called Sh*t, then the Knicks are most certainly up
it.
Amar’e
contract is both unwanted by every Knick fan I know, and untradeable by most
NBA standards. If the Knicks wanted to get a worthy player in
compensation for Amar’e contract, they’d be lucky to get a lottery pick in this
year’s draft. Amar’e has had knee issues since his years as a Phoenix Sun.
Countless NBA analysts also said that Amar’e signing a 5 year deal was a waste,
knowing that he would only be good for the first three years if that.
This season
Amar’e played 29 total games, averaging 14.2 PPG and 5 RPG in 23 minutes of play.
Coach Mike Woodson put STAT on a minutes restriction because he knew what every
Knick fan was afraid of admitting this season: Amar’e isn’t healthy, and he
hasn’t been since his first campaign with this team.
Amar’e
worked out with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon last summer, and plans to
do the same this offseason, in hopes of healing his aching knees and adding
more offensive prowess to his deconstructed game. Amar’e has always been known
as a flashy finisher, but now wants to be known as a man with a deadly hook. That
will not happen. I repeat: THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
In his NBA
career, Amar’e has constantly tried to become a threat with more than a big
time dunk and a sweet mid-range jumper but the case is clear that he will not
be able to develop a hook shot because he does not have enough left in the
tank. His knees are not what they used to be and just to face the facts; he
cannot be a consistent second scoring option for the New York Knicks. This is
the truth, as I am afraid to admit it. I have watched closely as Amar’e tries
to run down the court and play two-way basketball but he cannot rebound, and he
cannot defend in the post, two things that Kenyon Martin, Amar’e inevitable
replacement, can do with great success.
The Knicks
must face the dwindling era of STAT with as much class and grace as they can
endure. If there is a possible suitor for Amar’e, fine, send him away from the
Big Apple and onto better things (coaching, maybe). But in reality, the Knicks
will eat the next two year the best way they know how: raise ticket sales,
jersey sales, and endorsement deals, because Amar’e contract is likely here to
stay. We can hope he shows up in the playoffs next year, if the Knicks do make
it, and in an established bench role, Amar’e can stand to be a vocal leader to
players like Chris Copeland and Iman Shumpert. In two years, the Knicks will
have a great option available: the max contract, but who is max contract worthy
in 2015? Rajon Rondo’s contract will have expired by then, and so will have
Marc Gasol’s. Imagine a Knicks starting lineup with Rondo, Shumpert, Carmelo,
Gasol, and a player to be named later (an exceptional three-point shooter…Copeland?).
But until
that pipe dream of mine ever happens, we wait…and wait…and wait…and wait.
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