BENCH MARK:The deal that made Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire teammates will likely mean a reduction of minutes for Stoudemire, along with a possible 20-minute nightly limit and not playing in back-to-back games (AP)
BENCH MARK: The deal that made Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire teammates will likely mean a reduction of minutes for Stoudemire, along with a possible 20-minute nightly limit and not playing in back-to-back games. (AP)
With 7-foot power forward Andrea Bargnani officially coming aboard July 10, the Knicks have had renewed discussions on a stricter minutes restriction next season for Amar’e Stoudemire, according to his agent, Happy Walters.
The idea of a 20-minute nightly maximum with a prohibition on playing both ends of back-to-backs has been one of the ideas that has been discussed.
“I don’t think anything has been decided,’’ Walters told The Post yesterday. “The doctors are still talking about that. But he’s not going to play a ton of minutes.’’
An extra-cautious approach on Stoudemire to have him on a minutes restriction lower than last season’s was a factor in the Knicks’ willingness to trade for Bargnani, feeling they needed another scoring big man. The Knicks played 18 back-to-backs last season, so that could potentially be 18 games Stoudemire misses. It’s not all that dissimilar to the Spurs’ treatment of the aging Tim Duncan.
When Stoudemire returned from his first knee debridement surgery on Jan. 1, he was put on a 30-minute restriction, but coach Mike Woodson held him to the mid-20s.
However, in March, Woodson twice played Stoudemire slightly more than 30 minutes during a four-games-in-five-nights stretch, after which Stoudemire headed for a second debridement surgery.
When Stoudemire returned for the second round of the playoffs, doctors told Woodson not to play Stoudemire more than 15 minutes a game. When the season ended, Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald acknowledged Stoudemire could be on a minutes restriction next season after playing just 29 regular-season games.
Now it’s even more prudent with Bargnani’s presence. The Knicks were willing to give up 3-point ace Steve Novak (who is limited otherwise), oft-injured center Marcus Camby, a 2016 first-round pick and two second-rounders for Bargnani, who himself had injury issues last season with a bum elbow, playing just 34 games.
The trade upgrades the team, but underscores the notion Grunwald made two mistakes last summer in overpaying Camby and Novak, both of whom fell out of favor with Woodson during the playoffs.
Bargnani knows the feeling, having fallen out of favor with Toronto fans. He was booed his last two seasons there, failing to live up to being drafted No. 1 overall in 2006. Even former Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo, who drafted the Italian, said late in the season Bargnani might benefit from a change of scenery. Colangelo stepped down last week, but the trade talks began weeks ago., revisiting talks from the 2011-12 season, when the Knicks were trying to pawn off Stoudemire’s contract on the Raptors for Bargnani.
While known for his outside shooting, Bargnani, who lives in Rome, has been a subpar rebounder, charged with lacking toughness and a stronger work ethic.
One source close to the Bargnani situation said he is best when he has another European on his squad, and fell apart when Jose Calderon was traded to the Pistons two years ago. The source said Bargnani is hopeful Spanish Leaguer Pablo Prigioni is re-signed by the Knicks.
“Everyone likes his talent, I just doubted how much he loves the game,’’ one NBA GM said. “He likes the game but loves what comes with it. ‘’
The Knicks and Raptors made final revisions to the trade, which won’t become official until July 10. In order to complete the deal, the Knicks will throw in Quentin Richardson in a sign-and-trade scenario to make the math work. Richardson was signed in the final days of the regular season by the Knicks for insurance, but only played during garbage time in the playoffs.The team needed an extra contract, and Richardson signed for the veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million. Because Richardson will be added as a free agent, the deal can’t be announced until the signing period begins in eight days.
The Knicks and Raptors tried to get the original package completed by Sunday night, but the NBA was unable to approve it. Because all of the salary changes that went into effect yesterday, the deal had to be altered to abide by the collective bargaining agreement trade rules.