"Amar'e is a start but not enough!!!!!" by Ronald Carthen

Amar'e Stoudimire to Knicks might have been the best news that Knicks fans have heard in years. The fans know this won't be enough to get back to being one of the best teams in the league but it's a start.  Let's be honest you wouldn't turn down a 5-year/$100 million deal no matter how good or bad the team is.

Stoudimire says he will do everything to recruit LeBron James to come to New York. He also said that Carmelo Anthony and Tony Parker, who'll both be free agents next season, would love to play for them at Madison Square Garden as well. Don't forget Dwyane Wade would be another possibility as well, but I personally don't see that happening. I didn't think LeBron was heading to Knicks but now you have to consider them back in the free agent picture. I don't expect Carmelo to be traded this year, but he will sign with the Knicks if heopts out of his deal with the Nuggets after next season. I don't think Tony Parker will be with him either this season with the lack of talent on the Knicks roster already.

If LeBron doesn't sign with the Knicks, it's a possibility it will be miserable 2010-11 season for Stoudimire. You already know that the Suns was Steve Nash's team and I don't see him as a franchise player. What I mean by franchise player is someone who is a vocal leader and can carry his team to championships for many years. I don't see him as a guy that will speak up and tell his teammates what to do to get better like Kobe Bryant. I hope someone will join him this season or next season or else this deal was an absolute joke.   

The Knicks haven't been back in the playoffs since 2003-04 season, when they were swept by the New Jersey Nets, and haven't won a playoff series since the 1999-00 season. I'm not a Knicks fan, but it's time for the Garden to be a great place to watch a basketball game again. These fans have put up with enough garbage and they deserve more.

I'm happy for Stoudimire, but the Knicks have more work to do. At least you have a decent chance of being a playoff team next year.