Team USA’s march towards the 2010 FIBA World Championships have officially begun as the squad has already assembled in Vegas. Riddled with young players who are hardly stars in the league, this team could use all of the veteran leadership it could get. That objective took a blow as New York Knick, Amar’e Stoudemire is not in Vegas and will not compete this summer. If nothing else, Knicks fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
Amar’e is not participating due to problems insuring his contract. The Knicks asked Amar’e to remove himself from the roster, although he was surprisingly looking forward to playing. The reason for all of this is because the insurance policy surrounding Stoudemire’s contract with the Suns is still in place, but it does not include his surgically repaired left knee. The process to obtain insurance on this new deal is already underway by the Knicks, but it is still ongoing. Without adequate insurance, NBA teams can prevent players from participating in summer events that do not benefit the team. The Knicks have chosen to exercise that. Amar’e still, however, may play for the U.S. during the 2012 Olympic games.
Along with Kevin Durant, Stoudemire was supposed to be the other go-to-guy on this team. Now the team must look elsewhere for a legit running mate for Durant this summer. But that’s the last thing that Knicks fans are concerned with. They couldn’t care less. Because of Stoudemire’s microfracture surgery a few years ago, most Knicks fans would actually like to see him rested, healthy and ready to go when the season starts. In fact, recently departed fan favorite David Lee reportedly dislocated the middle finger on his right hand about 30 minutes into scrimmage for Team USA. Unfortunately, Lee is no longer with the team so it’s not as much of a concern anymore, but can you image if Amar’e was dealt a serious injury this summer?
Maybe it’s me, but the Amar’e signing is reminiscent of the Antonio McDyess acquisition from nearly a decade ago. Amar’e and Antonio are similar in build, athletic gifts (at the time they were each acquired by the Knicks), they play the same position, both were 27 when the Knicks took a chance on them and both had serious injuries to their left knee. Granted Stoudemire’s biggest injury came prior to him joining the Knicks and McDyess’ came while he was a member of the Knicks (A preseason loss, in his first year with the club, to the Suns – ironically, Stoudemire’s former team), so things aren’t exactly identical. However, for some odd reason, it has a similar feel.
Despite that, I have all the confidence in the world that the Amar’e movie will end differently than Antonio’s, and him not playing in Turkey this summer for Team USA is a good start.
If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then go somewhere else, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe too for free on iTunes.
