2010-7-4 14:42
on9edison
AMARE CLOSE TO NYK?
[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3607/;_ylt=AlU5xEbcase9DIeb7uLaFEMQmNIF][color=#003080]Amar’e Stoudemire[/color][/url][url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3607/news;_ylt=AhrWMaLNVqjOX6nIe7c1gx4QmNIF][color=#003080](notes)[/color][/url] and the [url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/nyk/;_ylt=Annt1S8ZVlqh5jvWPDxrYcEQmNIF][color=#003080]New York Knicks[/color][/url]are making progress in talks on a five-year, $100 million max contractand a deal could be completed as soon as Friday, league sources told Y!Sports.
The framework of the deal, which would give Stoudemire a $17.2million starting salary next season, is in place and the two sides areexpected to talk again soon, sources said. Stoudemire is expected totravel to New York on Saturday.
The Knicks and Stoudemire aren’t each other’s first choices, butStoudemire wanted a fifth year guaranteed and the Knicks needed to havesomething to show for years of losing and working to clear cap space.
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As Yahoo! Sports first reported, Stoudemire’s departure from the Suns was all but clinched after the [url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/pho/;_ylt=AtetXADKAZvgycWEBsEOa6YQmNIF][color=#003080]Phoenix Suns[/color][/url] reached agreement with forward [url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3945/;_ylt=AjM3XvmVLhBBGOkdrM05bq4QmNIF][color=#003080]Hakim Warrick[/color][/url][url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3945/news;_ylt=Aus0UJaSndwCs10D3ZWXHeMQmNIF][color=#003080](notes)[/color][/url] on a four-year, $18 million contract , league sources said.
The Suns moved forward with Warrick after negotiations withStoudemire stalled. Stoudemire’s agent Happy Walters had a late-nightconversation Thursday with Suns owner Robert Sarver, who insisted hecouldn’t wait any longer on Stoudemire’s decision and would need toconsider other options. Stoudemire was not ready to commit, sourcessaid, because he wanted to see how the rest of the free-agent marketplayed out and he believed he could get a better offer from the Knicksor another team.
The Suns made a last-ditch proposal to Stoudemire, offering him afive-year contract that guaranteed him $71 million, sources said. Thefirst three seasons were fully guaranteed. The fourth season containeda 50 percent guarantee that could become fully guaranteed based on thenumber of minutes Stoudemire played in the first three seasons. Thefifth season of the contract also could become guaranteed based on aminutes incentive.
The Suns put in the incentives because of concerns over Stoudemire’spast knee and eye injuries. Insurance won’t cover Stoudemire’s salaryif he can’t play because of any additional problems to either of hisknees or his right eye.
The Suns believed the Knicks were prepared to give Stoudemire amaximum offer with all five seasons guaranteed and weren’t prepared togo that high. The Heat expressed similar concern about Stoudemire’sprevious injuries, but were preparing to make an offer if they don’tland [url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3707/;_ylt=ApLlXzWRSqouyZ2uIT7rEcgQmNIF][color=#003080]Chris Bosh[/color][/url][url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3707/news;_ylt=AjzWU7t4PRtLrg9GBgG5hf8QmNIF][color=#003080](notes)[/color][/url]. The [url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/hou/;_ylt=Ar2I1V9fmuKXR.WpgAF0Sa8QmNIF][color=#003080]Houston Rockets[/color][/url] tried to deal for Stoudemire in February and also explored possible sign-and-trade scenarios with him in free agency.
Stoudemire has played all eight seasons of his NBA career with the Suns since they took him with the ninth pick in 2002.