Stoudemire should provide sizable upgrade, Mavericks say
After Amar’e Stoudemire officially became a member of the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday afternoon, one of his former and current teammates didn’t waste time revealing what contributions the center/forward can provide.
“I’m excited for what he can bring,” said center Tyson Chandler, who knows Stoudemire from their days playing together with the New York Knicks. “I feel like he can really flourish because his minutes won’t be really high.
“He’ll be asked to do what he’s great at doing — finishing and scoring in the paint. It’s going to be an incredible addition for us.”
Stoudemire signed a prorated contract with the Mavericks worth $485,670 for the remainder of his season, two days after he reached a buyout with the Knicks. The Mavericks believe the 6-foot-10, 245-pounder is still a quality player who they will lean on to provide valuable backup minutes behind Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler.
To make room for Stoudemire, the Mavericks waived second-year guard Ricky Ledo, who spent the balance of his pro career playing for the Texas Legends in the D-League.
Stoudemire is overjoyed that he was able to sever ties with a Knicks team that had the worst record in the NBA at 10-43 and join a Mavericks team that he believes has a championship pedigree.
“I’m excited to be a part of a first-class organization,” Stoudemire said. “To play alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and other great players, I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for me to compete for a championship.”
Stoudemire will go through a shootaround with the Mavericks on Thursday morning, and he will be in uniform, wearing No. 1, when Dallas faces the Oklahoma City Thunder that night in a nationally televised game on TNT.
Chandler and Stoudemire were with the Knicks the past three seasons.
“Great guy, positive dude, works extremely hard,” Chandler said. “I think he’ll fit right in to this bunch. He’s an incredible finisher at the rim and one of the best pick-and-roll players we have in the game, still.”
The pick-and-roll is one of the Mavericks’ bread-and-butter plays.
“Amar’e made a living off it [the pick and roll] for a long, long time in this league,” Nowitzki said. “I think he’s obviously a great upgrade to our front line, especially our thin bench.”
In 36 games with the Knicks this season, Stoudemire averaged 12 points and 6.8 rebounds in 24 minutes a game. Now 32and in his 13th season, Stoudemire has career averages of 20 points and 8.2 rebounds a game.
Chandler, who missed last Wednesday’s game against Utah with a sprained left ankle, expects to play alongside Stoudemire.
“Because of the style offense that we play, as far as flowing up and down the court, he’ll be able to pick that up fast,” Chandler said. “The sets, that kind of stuff will take a little while, but we’ll be able to incorporate him sooner than later.”
Rondo update
Point guard Rajon Rondo wore protective goggles during Wednesday’s full-contact practice, but it’s unknown whether he will wear them Thursday.
“Maybe he’ll wear them, maybe he won’t,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “He ... has been asking for more contact in segments of practice.”
Rondo went through his first practice Tuesday since suffering an orbital fracture to his left eye and a nasal fracture when he collided with teammate Richard Jefferson on Jan. 31 in Orlando.
Dwain Price, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published February 18, 2015 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Stoudemire should provide sizable upgrade, Mavericks say."