New York Knicks veteran Amar'e Stoudemire hasn't ruled out asking for a buy out, and if he were to receive one, he wouldn't be unemployed for long. Teams such as the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers have been linked to Stoudemire, but Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News believes the Golden State Warriors could be where he lands if he becomes a free agent.
Stoudemire is in the final year of his contract, and with the Knicks headed for the NBA draft lottery, a growing number of people believe the 32-year-old will likely ask for the Knicks to buy out the remaining portion of his contract for a chance this season to play for a contender.
The Mavericks, the Clippers, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies all have been linked to him in various reports, but Kawakami thinks Stoudemire's history with Warriors coach Steve Kerr and his assistant, Alvin Gentry, could make them the frontrunner for him if he were to become a free agent before March 1.
"(Stoudemire) starred under Alvin Gentry in Phoenix... when Kerr was the GM there... and I think both men might be able to see a back-up 4/5 role for Stoudemire with the Warriors if he was interested in coming for a playoff sprint," Kawakami wrote Tuesday. "Stoudemire, maybe for 4 or 5-minute stretches, can do one thing no Warriors big man can do currently-get on the post, power his way to the rim, then finish with scoring skill."
Kawakami, though, conceded there's a good chance Stoudemire - if he does ask for and receive a buyout - signs with the Mavericks, whom ESPN's Marc Stein confirmed were still interested in signing him as a free agent.
As for Stoudemire, he recently told Yahoo Sports he would weigh his options over the All-Star break and decide whether to request a buyout from New York. He must be bought out and signed with a team by March 1 in order to be playoff-eligible for the new team.
