Report: Suns a front-runner if Stoudemire bought out by Knicks

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The Sun Tzu nickname could be making a return.

With Amar'e Stoudemire set to decide over the All-Star Break whether he'll ask the New York Knicks for a buyout, potential suitors for the would-be free agent have begun materializing. Stoudemire's former team, the Phoenix Suns, are said to be chief among them.

The Suns are thought to be a front-runner due to Stoudemire's familiarity and the team's internal concern about their frontcourt depth with Alex Len's ankle banged up, according to Jordan Schultz of NBC Sports Radio. Earlier reports have the Dallas Mavericks interested as well, though their primary focus may be on Jermaine O'Neal.

It's not a certainty that Stoudemire will get bought out of what remains of his $23.4-million salary for this season. Carmelo Anthony, for one, wants Stoudemire to stay in Gotham, and even when discussing his future, Stoudemire has declared loyalty to New York.

At age 32 and with potential contenders interested, there's strong incentive for Stoudemire to remove himself from the Knicks' race for the bottom of the standings. In 35 games played around a sometimes-troublesome knee, Stoudemire has averaged 12.2 points and 6.9 rebounds, shooting 54.9 percent from the floor and looking more like his old self on the offensive end than he has in several years.

The Suns drafted Stoudemire with the No. 9 pick out of high school in 2002, and he spent eight seasons there, making five All-Star teams, playing in 52 playoff games and averaging 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds. Phoenix would need to clear a roster spot to make room for him, something they could look to do through trade since they have no non-guaranteed contracts.