The New York Knicks are reportedly brewing several deals that could help them create more financial flexibility in the future and provide them with a player that fits Phil Jackson's triangle offense, multiple sources reported on Monday.
Stoudemire To Sixers Almost Done Deal Before Deadline: The name of Amar'e Stoudemire has been floating around on trade chatter for the past three seasons. However, NBA analysts believed this will be the year that Stoudemire and his $23 million expiring contract will be shipped to somewhere else in exchange for salary cap space and flexibility to sign another star.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the long-due deal that would send Stoudemire to the Philadelphia 76ers is almost a done deal before trade deadline unless the veteran power forward has become a major part of success of the Knicks this season.
"What's far more likely is that the long rumored Amar'e Stoudemire to Philadelphia deal gets done at the deadline. The Sixers take on Stoudemire's $23 million salary cap number, which pushes them way over the minimum," Kyler pointed out in his article.
"They would only owe him roughly 30 percent of his remaining contract, so they'd end up paying him $7 million in cash and likely extract a draft pick or a rookie scale player for their troubles."
Pacers, Knicks Swap: According to New York Post NBA insider Marc Berman, Knicks president for basketball operation Phil Jackson reportedly had a discussion with the Indiana Pacers for a player swap involving swingman JR Smith and Chris Copeland.
"One of president Phil Jackson's big decisions this season is whether to trade J.R. Smith, and the club had recent conversations with the Pacers regarding ex-Knick Chris Copeland, according to a league source," Berman stated in his report.
With Smith complaining about his struggle to play in a triangle offense, Jackson has apparently heard enough of the guard's bickering to the point that he's already open to ship him to another team in exchange for a guy whom he believes would fit well in the system.
At 6-foot-9, Copeland can play both the small forward and stretch four position as he proved during his stint with the Knicks two seasons ago. Moreover, his $3 million expiring contract makes him a solid financial decision for a team that is positioning for a big free-agency flash next summer.
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