CLEVELAND — Amar’e Stoudemire is already enjoying all New York has to offer, attending a Broadway show last night, taking in a Yankees game today and meeting with the Knicks tomorrow to potentially finalize a deal.
The Knicks chased hard after Stoudemire, feeling he was a better personality fit for New York than power forward Chris Bosh. The club felt Stoudemire, who spent part of his childhood in upstate Newburgh, had the mental toughness to play in New York — something brass deemed vital.
Bosh had recently talked about being “a country boy” and saying it would be an adjustment with all the people.
“He’s a different personality,” a member of the Knicks brain trust said of Stoudemire. “He’s very strong-minded and he’s not going to back down from the challenge of playing in New York, especially if he’s by himself as the lone star.”
The Knicks hope Stoudemire’s presence will attract another Yankee fan — LeBron James. And Stoudemire talked last night on Broadway of hooking up with Carmelo Anthony and point guard Tony Parker, who are both 2011 free agents and could be traded.
Joe Johnson is also a possibility, though the odds are slim. Johnson is expected to make a decision today, is leaning strongly toward the Hawks.
Fitting pieces around Stoudemire is the next challenge even it’s not James.
The Knicks met with sharpshooter Mike Miller in Santa Monica on Wednesday night and feel they have a good shot. With Parker tough to get, they want a point guard who can run the pick-and-roll with Stoudemire.
They feel Raymond Felton could be too pricey and would be happy with Luke Ridnour.
When Stoudemire becomes official, it would end the five-year era of David Lee, but set up a possibility of a sign-and-trade to add another piece. There’s been rumors of a three-way trade talk between Golden State, Minnesota and the Knicks where Lee winds up with the Timberwolves, Monta Ellis comes to the Knicks and Al Jefferson goes to Golden State. Lee visited Minnesota yesterday and it has only $7 million in cap room, meaning he’d want a sign-and-trade.
The Knicks would also hope to have enough room to add a low-priced veteran center such as Kurt Thomas or Theo Ratliff, both high on their pivot list.
Because of Stoudemire’s microfracture surgery and eye issues, his deal would be contingent on a physical. Stoudemire’s contract already won’t be insured for a career-ending knee or eye injury.
D’Antoni and Stoudemire had a complex relationship during their time in Phoenix as the coach thought the athletic power forward did not have a high basketball IQ or defensive instincts, according to a league source familiar with D’Antoni’s thinking.
However, Stoudemire made first-team All NBA under D’Antoni and sent them deep into the playoffs.
“I love the coaching staff with Coach D’Antoni with Phil Weber, Dan D’Antoni, those guys I happen to grow a great friendship and relationship with,” Stoudemire said on ESPN Radio in May.
However in March, Stoudemire said on Phoenix radio D’Antoni stunted his defensive growth.
“With us not really focused defensively and not teaching defense a lot of the finger pointing was towards me saying that I wasn’t a good defensive player but I just was never taught defensive strategy so it really was kind of unfair to put the blame on me,” Stoudemire said. “I think over time, it shows now that we are a better defensive team.”
Stephon Marbury played with Stoudemire in Phoenix and once said: “He’s a player who comes along once every 20 years.”