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Sources: Knicks’ Stoudemire Planning Second-Round Return

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                                                               STAT to return?

By Tommy Rothman

Knicks’ Power Forward Amar’e Stoudemire plans on returning if the Knicks make it to the second round of the playoffs. Stoudemire missed the first 2 months of the season before returning in January. After a slow start, Amar’e got his confidence and explosiveness back and started being a force inside for the Knicks. But injury struck again, and Stoudemire has been out since early March. It has been 6 weeks since his surgery… his timetable was 4-6 weeks.

If everything goes great [with rehabilitation], then I’m willing to play. Sooner than later, hopefully, if everything continues to improve…. Everything’s on schedule for the most part. I’ve got to continue to get stronger, got to get back on the court, start moving around at full speed…. And if I can handle that, then we go up a notch, that’s great. Then I’m looking [forward to] hopefully playing soon. We’ll see… If we continue to win, then that gives me more time to really heal up 100 percent. So that’s kind of the blessing that we have right now.

— Amar’e Stoudemire

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JR Smith Wants to Retire as a Knick

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(From ESPN)

 J.R. Smith recently said that if the Knicks win the championship, he will get a Knicks tattoo. 

So should fans read anything into the permanency of that potential blue and orange addition? 

Well, during a “SportsCenter” segment on Monday discussing his Sixth Man Award, Smith said that New York is where he wants to finish his career. 

Smith
J.R. Smith walked away with the NBA’s Sixth Man Award on Monday.

“Without a doubt,” Smith said. “I was born in New Jersey, born and raised. I would love to retire a Knick.” 

This offseason, Smith could be tempted to leave financially. The Knicks can only pay him up to $5 million based on his Early Bird Rights — 175 percent of his salary this season. But another team with significant cap space can offer Smith a higher amount, and the Knicks would be powerless to stop him from leaving. And since he’s not restricted, meaning the Knicks have no control over his free agency, they won’t be able to match any offer sheets to retain him. 

In favor of the Knicks keeping Smith is his close relationship with Carmelo Anthony and Mike Woodson, who helped push the 27-year-old into one of the best shooting guards in the NBA down the stretch this season. In addition, Smith loves New York City beyond the court, from being close to home to the nightlife. He’s also seen a recent spike in his sponsorship deals (for example, SK Energy). 

— ESPN