Stoudemire retires after 14 seasons, signs final contract with New York

Amare Stoudemire has retired from the NBA after 14 seasons, signing his final contract with the New York Knicks.

Stoudemire’s greatest team success came in Phoenix as Steve Nash’s pick-androll partner, but he chose to leave the NBA as a member of the Knicks, the team that had a lengthy playoff drought that ended after he signed there in 2010.

Stoudemire was a six-time All-Star, but battled knee injuries after his sensational first season in New York, when he became the first Knicks player to be voted an All-Star starter since Patrick Ewing in 1997.

Still just 33 years old but with knees that hadn’t been healthy in years, the 6-foot10 forward asked team president Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills to add another signing to the ones they hope will lead to the first playoff berth since Stoudemire left.

TRAIL BLAZERS — Portland has agreed to a four-year deal with restricted free agent Maurice Harkless. He confirmed his $40 million deal on Twitter.

The Blazers acquired Harkless in a trade with the Orlando Magic and he averaged 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 78 games overall last season.

He filled a key role late in the regular season, averaging 12 points and 6.5 rebounds over the final 11 games.

HAWKS — Atlanta has signed undrafted rookie free agent center Matt Costello of Michigan State.

The 6-foot-9, 245-pound Costello averaged 5.7 points and 5 rebounds on the Hawks’ summer league team in Las Vegas.

Costello averaged 10.7 points and 8.2 rebounds as a senior at Michigan State. He holds the school’s career record with 146 blocked shots.