A number of high priced players have early termination options that they could exercise this summer to become unrestricted free agents. Many have focused on the ‘Big 3’ in Miami, all of whom could opt out, and Carmelo Anthony, who will test free agency this summer.
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Anthony’s teammate, Amar’e Stoudemire, also has the option to opt out this year, but unlike Anthony, Stoudemire will decline his early termination option and remain with the Knicks for one more season according CSNNW.com:
As most suspected, New York Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire has declined to exercise his early termination option and will return to the Knicks for the 2014-15 season to finish out the final year of his five-year, $100 million deal, a league source informed CSNNW.com.
The move comes as little surprise to most. Stoudemire is set to make $23.4 million next season, a number he wouldn’t come close to approaching in free agency. But with Carmelo possibly leaving the Knicks this summer, there was a possibility that Stoudemire would exit as well.
Stoudemire could have been an interesting option for the Lakers in free agency had he become available. The Lakers lack depth in the front court and while Stoudemire is no longer the force he once was, he can still be very effective at times, in limited minutes.
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Last season, Stoudemire averaged 12 points and five rebounds, shooting nearly 56 percent from the field, while mainly coming off the bench.
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