From the time they signed Amar’e Stoudemire to a five-year, $99.7 million contract in 2010, the New York Knicks haven’t gotten much return on their investment. The former All-Star forward has had trouble staying on the court over the course of his deal, and it’s finally time for this partnership to call it quits.

This season, Stoudemire’s salary is just over $23.4 million, a lot of which has already been paid since the season is a little over halfway done. However, the remaining salary due to him this season is likely to make a trade by the deadline nearly impossible.

However, if he’s bought out by the Knicks, Stoudemire could sign with a contender for the stretch run of the season. This move is as much about rebuilding in New York as it is letting Stoudemire pursue a title in a different city.

With Stoudemire out of New York, they can begin to symbolically and logistically fix the rebuild that has gone so wrong thus far. By cutting ties, Phil Jackson can press the reset button for the Knicks.

There are plenty of contenders that need frontcourt help, but will any of them be interested in Stoudemire should he be bought out? Of course, his price tag will have a lot to do with it, but if the price is right, he could sign with a contender and be a bench contributor.

This season has been a shipwreck for the Knicks, and while the team and its players may be headed down with the ship, New York can toss Stoudemire overboard. Buying him out would provide him the life jacket he needs in order to survive in the NBA somewhere else.