Amar'e Stoudemire is planning to buy out of his contract with the New York Knicks, leaving him to sign with a contender for second half of the 2014-15 NBA season.
ESPN reports that the Dallas Mavericks will be the frontrunners to land the veteran power forward if he goes through with leaving the Big Apple.
The Mavs also plan to sign Jermaine O'Neal, too.
The Mavericks remain keen to sign Stoudemire's fellow former All-Star big man Jermaine O'Neal, sources said, and are prepared to make the needed roster room to accommodate both O'Neal and Stoudemire should they become available.
In the short term, sources said, Dallas is actively searching for a big man worthy of a 10-day contract to bolster its frontcourt while O'Neal continues to try to get himself NBA-ready via private workouts in the Dallas suburb of Southlake. ESPN.com reported last month that the Mavericks were confident they would ultimately fend off interest from the Portland Trail Blazers and other contending teams and win the race to sign O'Neal, but adding the 18-year veteran -- once he fully commits to coming back -- is now expected after the All-Star break.
