Amar’e Stoudemire Rumors: Dallas Mavericks Should Look At Signing Him If Bought Out

ByDanny Webster|

Jan 21, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks center Amar

So this is interesting. Amar’e Stoudemire might want out of New York.

It’s not the most bizarre rumor that’s out there, seeing how god-awful the Knicks are this year and are the definition of a basketball abomination. But Stoudemire, the 32-year-old All-Star who has had nothing but knee problems since signing his $100 million contract with the Knicks in 2010, might be heading to a playoff contender.

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Paging the Dallas Mavericks if this does go down.

Here’s the main reason why the Mavericks should target Stoudemire, and it’s very simple: The waiting game on Jermaine O’Neal is over.

There’s no reason why it has taken this long for O’Neal to make up his mind on whether or not he wants to come back and play in the NBA. The Mavericks have been rumored as a front runner for the last couple of months, but nothing has come to fruition.

O’Neal lives in Dallas so it makes sense. But how long can Dallas really assure itself that O’Neal is the top option in the Mavericks’ plans?

That can quickly change if Stoudemire does get the buyout he wants. But asking to pay off the entire $23.7 million he’s owed this year is easier said than done.

But in the interest of wonder and flat-out thinking that this is plausible, Dallas should definitely consider getting Stoudemire to be Brandan Wright‘s replacement.

He’s not the highest of leapers or most athletic power forwards anymore. Those days are gone. He still has minor hops and an efficient offensive game. He has the tools for a guy Rick Carlisle can use for 15-20 minutes a game to back up Dirk Nowitzki or Tyson Chandler.

Not to mention he’s considerably younger than O’Neal, and could probably be a much better option in what Dallas wants to do offensively than the older O’Neal.

In actuality, the only downside to O’Neal not signing with Dallas is that the Mavericks can’t use this as a promotional video. Which, if you have yet to see this, it’s the greatest music video in Beatles history.

The 32-year-old Stoudemire is averaging 12 points and 7 rebounds per game in 24 minutes of action for the Knicks before a variety of injuries limited his production. He’s played in only 32 games this season in New York.

So here we go again, another player with a ridiculous injury history, more than likely on the Mavericks’ radar. Every time a subject like this comes up, it’s always imperative to need to mention the terrific medical staff in Dallas that is one of the top in the NBA.

It’s so great, that guys like Greg Oden or Andrew Bynum were moments away from becoming players in Dallas, once upon a time.

A guy like Stoudemire, who has great character and is a team player, deserves to be on a contender. He got the money he deserved when going to New York. Unfortunately, it never amounted into success.

Side note: I still take to my grave that the Knicks team with Stoudemire as the superstar and plenty of contributing pieces was better than adding Carmelo Anthony and getting rid of everyone around him.

Stoudemire is a team guy that doesn’t worry about his stats, and could be a key piece in a championship run wherever he goes.

And if it’s Dallas, that’ll help the frontcourt issues by leaps and bounds.

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