New York Knicks president Phil Jackson is officially committed to doing the improbable: finding new homes for Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire.
We at The Hoop Doctors really need to get a mind-blown emoticon, if only so I can insert it right here. That’s what this is—mind-blowing. It’s not mind-melting because Jackson actually wants to do it; it’s that he’s actually trying to do it.
The Knicks Blog’s Moke Hamilton has the details of Jackson’s latest, insane-est, implausibly greatest venture:
Anyone who thought that Phil Jackson came to New York City to sit around and wait until July 2015 may be mistaken. According to a league source, his grandiose vision of building a contender may begin sooner than anyone — even Carmelo Anthony — thought possible.
On the heels of a Monday morning account from ESPN that states the Knicks have engaged the Philadelphia 76ers on a salary-dumping Amar’e Stoudemire trade, a league front office source tells SNY.tv and TheKnicksBlog that the Knicks have also been shopping Andrea Bargnani. Jackson, according to the source, recently rebuffed a trade offer that would have seen Bargnani and Tim Hardaway Jr. sent out in a similar cap-clearing maneuver.
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According to the source, Jackson believes that he can find a taker for Bargnani and his salary without sacrificing Hardaway Jr., despite the fact that Bargnani has appeared in just 118 games over the past three seasons. Bargnani has one year and $11.5 million remaining on his current contract.
I call HOLY FREAKING CRAP on this one.
Unloading STAT’s and Bargs’ deals would solidify Jackson as one of the Knicks’ best front-office executives ever. Hands down, no exceptions.
These are two horrific contracts he would be moving. They’re so bad, they’re considered near-immovable even though they’re expiring. That’s really something.
Actually moving them, of course, is a trying endeavor. There aren’t teams out there willing to just absorb STAT’s $23.4 million salary, or even Bargs’ $11.5 million payday. The Knicks will have to send buffers.
Hamilton names the Philadelphia 76ers as a potential landing spot for STAT, provided the Knicks are willing to send them Iman Shumpert as well. A long shot? Yes, but a sensible one. The Sixers need a shooting guard and Shumpert has two-way promise. Paying STAT for one year wouldn’t be the end of the world either. He’s productive when he’s healthy and if the Sixers are serious about pairing Nerlens Noel with Joel Embiid, the former can adjust his game to STAT’s in similar fashion while the latter is recovering from foot surgery.
Moving Bargs could prove to be more complicated if the Knicks wind up pawning Stoudemire off on the Sixers. Jackson is already unwilling to use Tim Hardaway Jr. as a buffer, and with Shump gone at that point, what do you do? The Knicks aren’t flush with future first-rounders, nor does Jackson appear to be in the business of giving those away like they’re candy. Is some club willing to just take the hit for a year in hopes he can contribute? Doubtful.
This is a situation to monitor, because if the Knicks move both without taking any salaries back in return, they suddenly become free-agency players who are able to re-sign Carmelo Anthony and chase another star like, you know, LeBron James.
Pipe dreaming never felt so right.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
