New York Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire could consider foreign option – NBA Update
Amar’e Stoudemire has revealed that he would have to consider the overseas option if the current situation of the NBA labour dispute persists.
The NBA locked out its players on July 1st after the expiry of the old Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the lockout hasn’t shown any signs of ending since then.
Over the course of the last two months, the league and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have met extensively to try and find a compromise so that the lockout can end, but to no avail. The NBA earlier cancelled
training camps and the preseason, while 100 NBA games were wiped out on Monday.
In light of the situation, Stoudemire believes he would serve no purpose by sitting idle in the United States while there was competitive basketball being played elsewhere. The power forward therefore said the option of playing
in another league was open, but he also wanted to give the NBA and NBPA one more chance to sort things out.
"I think it definitely should be considered; it could be an option," he said according to comments on ESPN. "I think the next meeting is not scheduled yet, but I think after that next meeting then we can figure out where we really
stand with this whole thing."
Stoudemire won’t be the first player to move if he does decide to leave the States for a job abroad. Quite a few NBA players have already taken up that option since the lockout began. First star player to go was New Jersey Nets
super star Deron Williams. The point guard signed a year long contract with Turkish club Besiktas, although he does have an escape clause in case the lockout ends.
Still there have been players who have committed for a whole year, even without the escape clause. Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith, both Denver Nuggets players with contract running out in summer, have signed deals to represent Chinese
sides next season. The Chinese league does not accept NBA players with escape clause and the duo will have to fulfil their Chinese commitment even if the Lockout ends.
That route, however, still remains a last option for the New York Knicks star. Stoudemire admits he would be much happier if the lockout was to end so that he could return to his franchise in earnest. With Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey
Billups also aboard, the Knicks will be aiming to embark on a quest for the NBA World Championship.
"We have a pretty solid team; we're pretty confident with the guys we have now," he said. "I think the moves we made this past season, bringing in Carmelo (Anthony) and Chauncey (Billups), definitely helped us get to that championship
level."
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