National Basketball Association

Knicks offered Stoudemire for Paul?

Published Dec. 9, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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The Knicks offered to deal Amar'e Stoudemire in an attempt to land Chris Paul, the New York Post reported Friday, citing a Hornets source.

New York bosses were known to be keen pursuers of the Hornets guard before admitting defeat in the race, which briefly was won by the Lakers until NBA commissioner David Stern stepped in to veto a proposed three-team deal Thursday.

But the level of the commitment from the Knicks to try to get Paul was underlined by the willingness to part with one of the team's treasured assets.

A Hornets source disclosed the Stoudemire-for-Paul offer, adding that it was swiftly rejected.

The fact that Stoudemire's remaining four-year, $84 million contract is uninsurable could have ruined discussions from the outset.

New Orleans may simply have considered the potential deal with the Lakers and Rockets to have been a better offer.

The Knicks were close to offering Stoudemire a sizable tonic for his likely bruised ego Friday, with Dallas' Tyson Chandler set to join the roster to relieve him of the responsibility of guarding centers.