NEW YORKCHICAGOATLANTA — The Knicks have lost long enough. Amar’e Stoudemire is ready for what he calls the “start of a new era.”
Stoudemire joined the Knicks on Thursday, coming to a team that has not had a winning season since he entered the league out of high school in 2002.
“It’s about challenges, and this is definitely the ultimate challenge for myself, to eventually bring the Knicks back to where they rightfully belong,” Stoudemire said.
The Knicks have suffered through a franchise-worst nine straight losing seasons.
“This is a very big addition to our team and the future of our team,” Knicks president Donnie Walsh said. “Up until now, our plan has been to save money in the cap, and now it’s about winning, trying to put together a team that can win.”
Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, said the Knicks and Suns will complete a sign- and-trade arrangement. The five-time all-star still will get a five-year contract, but will take a little less than the maximum allowed in the first year to provide the Knicks with additional salary cap space.
By signing with the Suns first, he is entitled to larger raises, but the total value of the deal still will be about $100 million.
• The agent for David Lee said the all-star forward is heading from the Knicks to the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal and will get a six-year, $80 million contract. The Knicks will get forwards Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf.
Boozer is officially a Bull Two-time all-star Carlos Boozer is going to the Bulls in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz, giving Chicago the dominant big man it has craved for years.
“I feel we have the talent here to begin competing for a title, and I cannot wait to get started,” Boozer said.
Johnson stays with HawksJoe Johnson, a four-time all-star, said after re-signing with Atlanta that playing with the Hawks gives him the best chance to win today and in the future.
Johnson’s six-year deal will pay him an average of more than $20 million a year.
Footnotes. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge confirmed the team has agreements in place with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen that would keep Boston’s Big Three intact for a run at a third NBA Finals in four years, and he expects to sign free- agent center Jermaine O’Neal to fill in while center Kendrick Perkins recovers from knee surgery.
• The Thunder formally signed forward Kevin Durant to a multiyear contract extension but didn’t disclose any terms. The team also acquired the draft rights to Cole Aldrich and veteran forward Mo Peterson from the Hornets in exchange for the rights to Craig Brackins and Quincy Pondexter.
• Mel Turpin, a former NBA player and All-America center at Kentucky, committed suicide in his North Lexington, Ky., home, authorities said. He was 49.
• Center Brendan Haywood agreed to a six-year deal with the Mavericks.
• Guard Steve Blake signed a four-year deal with the Lakers.
• The Nets reached an agreement in principle with free-agent forward Travis Outlaw.
• Forward Rudy Gay signed a multiyear contract to stay with the Grizzlies that he agreed to last week.
• The Suns locked up one of their top offseason priorities, signing center Channing Frye to a five-year deal.
