NBA Rumors: Amar'e Stoudemire Trade Talks Are Unnecessary Distraction for Knicks

New York Knicks center Amar'e Stoudemire can't seem to shake trade rumors despite being one of the NBA's premier big men. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports the All-Star is being linked to the Orlando Magic in a potential deal for Dwight Howard.

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Amar'e Stoudemire used to lead the Knicks in scoring. Now he leads them in most intriguing trade scenarios.

Stoudemire, whose name surfaced last month in reports involving Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets, is also being mentioned as a possible partner in a trade to Orlando for Dwight Howard.

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Stoudemire is averaging 21 points and nine rebounds in the early going of his second season in New York. It's surprising that the Knicks front office wouldn't put an end to the distraction by denying these reports, which leads you to believe there might be something to them.

The Knicks are off to a sluggish start at 5-4 and the last thing they need is trade speculation to surround one of their stars all season. Stoudemire should be one of the franchise building blocks, not somebody who's offered in every deal for a fellow superstar.

While acquiring Howard seems to be atop every contenders' wish list, moving Stoudemire and more to get him doesn't seem like anything more than a lateral move for the Knicks.

It doesn't help that the Magic appear to be standing firm on the Howard issue. Even though he has a player option which could allow him to become a free agent next summer, Orlando doesn't appear to be in any rush to trade him to another Eastern Conference power.

Since no deal is imminent, the only thing rumors like this can do is hurt Stoudemire's moral. He said in the report that he doesn't let things like this bother him, but it's hard to ignore all of the discussion when you're the person involved.

He arrived in New York under the assumption that he'd help return the Knicks to their former glory and instead he's constantly being linked to trades after less than two years. It's a situation that has the potential to get ugly if the front office doesn't diffuse it soon.

When the Knicks are completely healthy they have enough weapons to make some noise in the East. There's no reason to allow speculation, true or not, to circulate concerning one of the team's best players and risk upsetting the locker room chemistry.

If the rumors are true the Knicks need to get something resolved quickly and move on. If they are false, they need to say exactly that to the public to keep Stoudemire happy.

What the team can't do is allow his name to keep floating out there like a meaningless piece to their championship puzzle.