Sources: Rivals think Mavericks destined to sign Amar'e Stoudemire
Los Angeles Clippers president Doc Rivers plans to recruit Amar'e Stoudemire to sign for the rest of the season, but most NBA executives monitoring Stoudemire's availability believe his contract buyout is destined to deliver him to the Dallas Mavericks, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Several teams, including the Clippers, are hopeful of telephone conversations with Stoudemire as soon as Monday, sources said.
Stoudemire and the Knicks reached a formal buyout on Monday, paving the way for him to become a free agent upon clearing waivers on Wednesday. Several teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, are registering preliminary interest, league sources said.
Dallas owner Mark Cuban and coach Rick Carlisle have strong relationships with Stoudemire's representatives at Relativity Sports and that has further strengthened the belief Stoudemire will sign a deal to bolster the Mavericks' bench for the rest of the season, sources said.
Stoudemire was in the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract in New York, but knee surgeries have diminished his talents and left him a player with a periodic ability to impact games. Nevertheless, Stoudemire can still be an effective offensive contributor in limited minutes and teams see him as capable of helping a contender.
After averaging 25 points in his first season in New York in 2010-11, Stoudemire played only 177 games over the next four years with the Knicks with diminished productivity.
More NBA coverage:
