by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
The Miami Heat had barely finished putting the New York Knicks out of their mysery for the season, and Amar’e Stoudemire was already beginning his recruitement of prized free agents.
Most Knicks fans made themselves feel better last night by dreaming of a full season with a healthy Jeremy Lin next year, but Stoudemire had other, grander ideas.
STAT told the media that he’d like to team up with Steve Nash again.
Reports the NY Daily News:
Amar’e Stoudemire issued a public plea to Steve Nash, his former Phoenix Suns teammate who will be a free agent on July 1, to join him in New York. “Everyone knows that Steve loves New York and that New York loves Steve,” Stoudemire said. “I love Steve. It would be great to have him here next year.” Ideally, the Knicks would have Nash as their starting point guard next season with Jeremy Lin serving as the understudy.
Nash, who spends part of his summer in Manhattan, has always been enamored with the idea of playing at Madison Square Garden. However, close friends say that if Nash were to sign for the veteran minimum, he will go only to a contending team, which is why Miami is suddenly emerging as a strong candidate. “Why would he want to do that,” Stoudemire said, laughing. “This is a terrible, terrible situation here, right?” In other words, Stoudemire understands that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Pat Riley and South Beach are very attractive to Nash.
Steve Nash will be one of the biggest names on the free agent market this summer, and the prevailing belief around the League is that his days in Phoenix are likely over.
And even though his former coach Mike D’Antoni is no longer employed by the Knicks, it would be fascinating to watch Nash play on Broadway.
