Amar'e Stoudemire will practice with D-League team to rehab injury

The New York Knicks have assigned forward Amar'e Stoudemire to their D-League affiliate, the Erie Bayhawks. Stoudemire is still working his way back from a knee injury, but he has been cleared to practice. It's likely he only works with the Bayhawks in practice, and does not see game action. Knicks head coach Mike Woodson is known for not running the most rigorous practice sessions during off days, so the assignment is just another step in Stoudemire's eventual return to the Knicks' roster.

Sekou Smith writes that Stoudemire will go to the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh. The power forward has missed the entire season after a knee debridement procedure at the end of October. As Smith notes, Stoudemire will be the most high-profile player ever assigned to a D-League roster.

Al Iannazzone of Newsday tweeted that Stoudemire will only be with the Bayhawks for a couple days of practice, along with Chris Copeland and James White, who were also assigned to the D-League club. Seth at Poasting & Toasting presumes those two will match up with Stoudemire for a couple days of full practice, with both the Bayhawks and Knicks working out at the team's facility.

There has been much debate about how Stoudemire will fit into a team that, in his absence, has raced out to the best record in the Eastern Conference. There is a strong argument that the best use of the six-time All-Star is off the bench. With Stoudemire progressing in his rehab, the Knicks and Woodson will apparently face that decision soon.