A number of the NBA's best players are in the process of finalizing a two-week exhibition tour across three continents, and New York Knicks stars Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony are expected to participate, according to an ESPN report.
The final details are still being worked out, but the exhibition tour would reportedly begin Oct. 30 and end Nov. 9, taking place during the two weeks which were supposed to hold the first NBA regular season games . The tour would consist of six games in Puerto Rico, London, Macau, and Australia, all organized by Atlanta business mogul Calvin Darden.
Stoudemire, Anthony, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Rajon Rondo, Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, Carlos Boozer, Paul Pierce and Kevin Love are all expected to participate. Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnett could also join the tour.
Wade, Bosh, Griffin, Rondo and Pierce have reportedly signed contracts already, and the rest of the arrangements, including insurance requirements, could be completed over the next few days.
The players would be paid for the tour, with salaries expected to range from six figures to $1 million. Some of the tour's proceeds would go to charity.
If the tour does take place, it would be the biggest lockout event ever played by NBA players. But talks have not been finalized and there is a chance the whole trip could fall apart.
For more Knicks coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Posting and Toasting.