Via NBA.com

This happens. This is sports. Everyone declines, even the greats, unless they leave before their feet touches the ground. Just like taxes and a Mark Cuban rant toward a referee, it’s inevitable. And it usually doesn’t happen suddenly; most of us can see it coming, for a variety of reasons: age, competition or a change in team dynamics.

That said, here are 10 players who appear most vulnerable to a slide in 2010-11, and why:

Amar’e Stoudemire (Knicks): He lost Steve Nash and he gained a potentially hostile crowd. Those are the hazards facing Stoudemire in his new digs. The Nash factor is very real; Stoudemire owes a bunch of his highlights to a point guard who excelled in the pick-and-roll and knew how to deliver the ball. As for the New York atmosphere, it might get gruesome should the Knicks falter and/or their new big man fail to meet the steep expectations. If you recall, Stoudemire was a bit touchy last spring when he was called out in the postseason. Therefore, is he too sensitive to deal with media that’s triple the size of what he saw in Phoenix, and twice as skeptical?

I guess we’ll see. He looked pretty good in the playoffs just a few months back…

Via Huffington Post

Now, the fog is clearing, and according to haaretz.com, the Knicks power forward’s trip to Israel comes in light of his learning that his mother is Jewish. As sbnation.com pointed out, this means that Stoudemire is also Jewish.

He seems to be embracing his newly discovered religious roots, as he is quickly picking up on some Hebrew, as he noted in his latest tweet, and has ended each of his last two with “Shalom.”

Be sure to follow Amar’e on Twitter as he’s tweeting about his trip…

Via NY Post

According to an NBA executive familiar with Knicks team president Donnie Walsh’s thinking, the Knicks are willing to include in a trade anyone other than Amar’e Stoudemire for Chris Paul, knowing how badly the superstar point guard wants to come to New York.

The Knicks will soon find out if Paul is available.

On Monday, Paul is expected to meet with new Hornets GM Dell Demps, new coach Monty Williams and president Hugh Weber in the Big Easy, according to a Hornets official.

“Amar’e won’t be traded, but everyone else is available,” the executive said…Also, their three Golden State acquisitions can only be traded separately until Dec. 15 and can not be paired up in a trade. The biggest trade pawn of the Golden State trio is coveted Anthony Randolph…”

The last part of the statement is not true. The Knicks are under the cap and can trade any of the recently acquired players in a package (thanks DL for the confirmation) before Dec 15th.

And it’s pretty common knowledge that any player on the roster is available especially if it means not having to take back Okafor’s contract. As we reported yesterday, it sounds more and more like Tony Parker is firmly in place next year as a back up plan should the Hornets hold Okafor as the deal breaker.

I would think that they’d want Anthony Randolph over Gallinari, who would be quite partner stretching the floor with Paul and Stoudemire. I would also have to imagine that the Knicks would hold off Gallo AND Randolph in a deal. But at this point you never know.

Via Daily News

The Knicks informed their new power forward Monday night, just days after Stoudemire tweeted: “There isn’t anything that would stop me from playing for the U.S.”

Stoudemire was disappointed but accepted the decision, according to team president Donnie Walsh, who wasn’t willing to risk his free-agent prize on a 15-day tournament in Turkey. The U.S. team opened training camp Tuesday in Las Vegas.

“He really wanted to play but understood our position,” said Walsh, who added that Stoudemire needed more rest after playing through the end of May in the Western Conference finals. “He was a man about it.”

We said yesterday that the Knicks were not interested in having Amar’e play based on the mileage following Alan Hahn’s tweet that this was an insurance issue. As a competitor you’d expect Amar’e to be upset, but the Knicks simply can’t take any chances.

Amidst all of the new acquisitions made by Donnie Walsh, I have heard plenty of people talk about how Raymond Felton is the key to this coming season.  Because he plays point guard, fans and writers alike tend to believe that his significance to the daily success of this team is unparalleled.  In a sense, that theory is true, but as important as Felton may be, let us not forget that it is Amare Stoudemire who holds the keys to this coming season.

We have all seen the power of a team dynamic at one point or another. Games are not won with one player and one player only.  Regardless of how critical people have been of LeBron James’ former supporting casts in Cleveland, those Cav teams did not lead the league in wins with LeBron playing 1-on-5 every night.  All players have their importance to a team, but some players are just more important.

Amare is just that for the Knicks.

(more…)

Via basketball prospectus

Even without knowing all of that backstory, SCHOENE still slightly favors Stoudemire over the next three years. Now, as to whether I’d rather have Stoudemire at $100 million over five years or Lee at $80 million over six years, that’s a different question and one that is much more favorable to Lee. Strictly on performance terms, though, Stoudemire makes the Knicks somewhat better.

It’s hard to compare one for one when you consider roster changes. Amar’e with Felton obviously > Lee with Duhon. Lee with Felton doesn’t have the same impact for me. Amar’e in transition setting screens can turn into dunk after dunk. I think Amar’e at the end of his contract will be fine based on how his mid range game has developed. If he doesn’t get injured, it’s hard to say that Amar’e isn’t worth the contract he signed. At 27 he’s a centerpiece. Amar’e paired with a player like Turiaf makes for a better defensive pairing than Lee and Turiaf because Amar’e can protect the rim.

There’s too much to talk about but I’ll try my best.

Isiah Thomas is not returning to the Knicks as president and/or general manager, he is being considered. That’s a polite way of saying he wasn’t responsible for ruining the franchise now that it’s stable. Isiah, I’ve heard, is a charming man and does have positive skills in his ledger. He is a friend of Jim Dolan and has the respect of Donnie Walsh.

But his return to the Knicks in an executive or decision-making role would be an unbearably horrific management decision.

Lebron’s decision absolutely destroyed the balance of the NBA. Could you imagine this phone call?

Yo Magic, it’s Michael. Now that Kareem’s gone, I’m comin’. And I’m bringing Barkley too.

I read a great tweet after the decision which read:

Somewhere Kobe is shooting jumpshots…

The Knicks went all in for Lebron. They had to. I still believe he made a miscalculated decision, which is shocking because of the process and his brain trust. I admit I over thought it. Ultimately, the guy didn’t want the pressure of NY, where writers, at least one who said simply that he “hopes the team goes 0-82.”  Lebron didn’t want the responsibility of The Big Apple. He doesn’t love lead vocals, nor did he want to continue a solo act.

He just wants to play and win with his buddies.

This is a new beginning. I’ve been asked a zillion times “what’s plan B?” and I would always say that it was to spend some money and maintain flexibility for Carmelo. And that talk is real. I’ve heard 5 people now tell me Melo to NY is “65-70%” but it’s impossible to get your hopes up. I’m excited for Anthony Randolph, Azubuike and Turiaf, I think that’s a lot to get back for David Lee, who I wish all the best. I’m excited to see Ray Felton in a structure that is built far more like 2005 than the Bobcats were for him and his contract is reasonable. He was the most efficient player on the floor that night in April. He’s an above-average NBA point guard, but I truly think with Amar’e and space that he’s have a career year and lead this team to victories. He can use the pick and roll different ways, and he can make plays on both sides of the ball. (more…)

Brandon Tierney had a great interview with Amar’e Stoudemire last year and when he told BT that he was a better player than Chris Bosh, the quote made national news. On his blog, BT says the Knicks made a step in the right direction when they signed the brash ex-Suns big man.

I believe Amar’e Stoudemire is better than Chris Bosh, the same way Amar’e Stoudemire believes Amar’e Stoudemire is better than Chris Bosh.

Well, perhaps my position lacks the same conviction, because it is very, very close. They’re both terrific talents, the new age forward who strokes J’s as effortlessly as he rips down rims on two-handed tomahawk jams. Want to really point to the evolution of the power forward position in the NBA, you may as well start with these two immensely gifted All-Stars.

But specifically, why is Stoudemire a better fit on the court, and why will he mesh better with the rabid fans of New York City?

Simple.

Because he wants to be here.

From Ian O’Connor (ESPN-NY):

The great free-agent class of 2010 turned out to be a two-man class, and Amare Stoudemire does not have a desk in that room. He is not LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, and no, he is not a true max-out player or $100 million asset, either.

But you do know what Amare Stoudemire is, right?

A hell of a catch for the New York Knicks.

In fact, if Stoudemire can persuade James or Wade to join him, he will represent the smartest signing the Knicks have ever made.

First domino has fallen.  Maybe Amar’e can send LeBron a NYK cap to wear during the Nike camp in Akron.

More from Ian O’Connor (via Twitter) –

Ian_OConnor

Ian O'Connor

@Ian_OConnor: #Knicks hope this becomes Escape to New York deal w/ DWade & #LeBron racing each other to Garden w/ both afraid of being stuck alone

Jul 6, 2010 @ 03:38 AM from web