A poor 6-10 start and chemistry issues have forced the Knicks to join the Dwight Howard sweepstakes. A package including Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler might be the best offer that the Magic get for Superman.
The Knicks have gotten off to a disappointing 6-10 start and are now exploring a trade that would sent power forward Amare Stoudemire and center Tyson Chandler to Orlando for Dwight Howard.
Superman in Gotham City? Doesn’t really sound right but one thing is for sure, it would be a great move for the Knicks and the Magic wouldn’t be letting it’s lone superstar walk for nothing.
Amare Stoudemire was the first superstar to come to the Knicks when they were bad and trying to recruit free agents, so he gets credit for that but it took 100-million-dollars to get him to New York. The problem has been that Stat has been settling for the jumper and not taking to the rack, where he is most effective. Even last season, Stoudemire averaged 25.3 points per game last season but so far this year he’s down to 17.6 points per game. The thing that sticks out in my mind as a Knicks fan though about last season is that when the Knicks needed him the most, playoffs vs Boston, he was on the bench hurt. Stat is also hurting from the lack of a distributing point guard while the Knicks wait for Baron Davis to get healthy. He’s been bad all year but all signs point to that it’s just a slump. Is he good enough for Orlando to take on his max deal at age 29? Yes, he’s still a star but really the Knicks are going to move forward with Carmelo Anthony and Howard is a dominant big man who doesn’t need the ball all the time unlike Stat.
Tyson Chandler is both under rated and over paid at the same time. I didn’t even think that was possible but Chandler is set to make 60 million dollars over the next four years in New York. He’s giving the Knicks 9.9 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game, great defender and shot blocker standing at 7-1 who doesn’t give you a lot of offense. Chandler has performed well as a Knick, shooting 67% from the field because when he does shoot it’s mostly a dunk or around the basket. He’s a championship center who was a major part in winning a ring for the Mavs.
As good as Stat and Chandler are, Dwight Howard is basically both of them combined into one player. He will give you the 17 points per game that Stat is giving the Knicks right now. Howard’s 16 rebounds per game are only two less than Stoudemire and Chandler combined and he scores 20 points per game. The Knicks should be praying to the basketball gods that Orlando gets stir crazy and wants to pull the trigger on a trade with them.
Howard is dominant in the paint and getting him would open up the floor for Anthony. I don’t know if this is the best deal for the Magic but it’s probably the best thing out there for them because they could still get Stoudemire out of it. It also might allow them to shed the ridiculous contract of Hedo Turkoglu if they can get a third team involved.
It would leave a huge hole at the power forward position and the Knicks would likely try to get Glen Davis or more likely end up with Hedo holding down the spot. Either way when you have a chance to get a player that is going to be the most dominant force in the paint every time he steps on the court, you do it.
I don’t want to get myself too amped up for this. I would love for it to go down but something tells me taking Chandler’s contract will be a deal buster but then again, everyone overpays for size. Despite the bad play so far, I like the team that the Knicks have right now. There’s no need to panic because Stoudemire will get it together. He’s been too good for too long to let a slump break his career. So make the trade and I’m ecstatic or don’t make the trade and I’m happy.
The Magic scored 53 points last night so I think if they wanted to pull the trigger now then it actually would have happened today. Orlando is 11-5 and could possibly make a run to the finals if Howard stays in town but then what? They would be left with nothing after he bolts in free agency in the off-season. So it’s better to end up with two quality guys like Stat and Chandler than get LeBron’d like the city of Cleveland.
The Knicks have made it clear that they want to win by spending money and getting stars to come to New York so it only makes sense to keep making moves if the players you bring in don’t perform and if better value presents itself like in this situation, make a move.
