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Amar’e Stoudemire Can Clearly Still Contribute to the New York Knicks

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By @JosephMCrevier

New York Knicks

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The New York Knicks‘ salary cap issues have played a major role in the franchise’s inability to construct a roster that is capable of contending for a championship. In fact, these issues originated immediately after former superstar Amar’e Stoudemire put ink to paper, signing a five-year, $100 million contract with the Knicks back in 2010.

Formerly a Phoenix Sun, Stoudemire has made a name for himself within Mike D’Antoni‘s run-and-gun style of offense led by the perfect orchestrator, Steve Nash. In eight years in Phoenix, the former ninth pick averaged an incredible 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, most of those points coming via dunks or alley-oops. Aside from a rough 2005-06 campaign in which he missed all but three games, Stoudemire managed to remain relatively healthy throughout his tenure with the Suns. So when New York offered the high-flying big-man such a substantial amount of cash, they appeared like a bunch of geniuses at the time, prying him away from Phoenix and reuniting him with the man who made him all that money, Mike D’Antoni.

Season one went as expected as Stoudemire cruised through the 2010-11 season averaging 25.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game on his way to an All-Star appearance and Second Team All-NBA honors. The Knicks clinched the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and despite being ousted in the first round after acquiring Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, the Knicks had two solid building blocks. Little did we know, Stoudemire’s career would crumble from that point on.

In three seasons following the 2011 NBA lockout, Stoudemire missed 89 games due to a bulging disk in his back and a variety of knee injuries that were linked back to the surgery he underwent in Phoenix. Unfortunately, this destroyed what could have been a dynasty in New York, causing fans to view Stoudemire’s contract merely as a cap figure rather than recognizing him for his talent. A salary that has now inflated to a monstrous $23.4 million will finally come off the books for the Knicks next summer, but the team should look to re-sign the big man as he has shown that he is still capable of contributing to the team at a much diminished role. In Monday night’s 91-85 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Stoudemire managed to score just four points, while grabbing a much needed 10 rebounds in 26 minutes. This has actually been a trend all season as he is averaging an acceptable 11.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game primarily off the bench, which are solid numbers for a role player. If that colossal salary was not linked to Stoudemire, teams would be salivating over adding him to the roster for front court depth.

Therefore, when he ultimately comes off the books, New York must inquire about re-signing him at a lesser salary, that will in turn cause fans to truly respect the tribulations this man has overcome.

Joseph Crevier covers the New York Knicks for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, @JosephMCrevier, and Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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