Knicks Rumors: Amar'e Stoudemire for Dwight Howard Wouldn't Make Sense

Let's make one thing clear right off the bat: The New York Knicks are not going to trade for Dwight Howard.

In case you're just now joining us, the idea was out there. Somebody noticed that Amar'e Stoudemire's cap number matches up with Howard's, which apparently makes them sensible candidates for a one-for-one swap.

Except the swap doesn't make any sense at all. Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld was kind enough to point that out on Tuesday, saying that the Orlando Magic have absolutely no interest in Stoudemire and that his contract is actually rather untradeable. He's owed a lot of money in coming seasons, and his contract is uninsured thanks to his history of knee problems.

It doesn't help that Stoudemire is always battling a bad back or some other such nagging injury. He's just one of those guys.

To boot, players who are traded are not eligible for amnesty under the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement.

For all the complicated explanations as to why a Stoudemire-for-Howard trade is an impossibility, there is a very simple explanation that hasn't been noticed.

Here it is: The Knicks already have a pretty good center.

In December, the Knicks acquired Tyson Chandler from the Dallas Mavericks on a sign-and-trade, inking him to a four-year, $56 million contract.

It's pretty easy to have Stoudemire and Chandler on the floor at the same time, as Stoudemire can make plays away from the basket and Chandler can pick up the slack for him defensively. 

By comparison, it would be pretty much impossible to have Howard and Chandler out on the floor at the same time. Both of them are true centers, but Chandler would be rendered useless because there's nothing he can do that Howard can't.

If the Knicks were to trade Stoudemire for Howard, they would likely have to find a way to get rid of Chandler. One headache transaction would beget another headache transaction.

So let's all do ourselves one big favor and stop talking about the possibility of Dwight Howard being traded to the Knicks for Amar'e Stoudemire. It's a move that would be too risky for the Magic, and it's a move that really wouldn't make sense for the Knicks.

If the Knicks are going to do anything in the coming months, it will be to make a trade for a guard. Given their limited flexibility, even doing that will be enough of a headache.