GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Amare Stoudemire will go into next season with $45 million left on his contract and no guarantee of a starting job. He also could remain a reserve who plays restricted minutes. Searching for ways to improve next season, the New York Knicks could use a reliable second scorer and dependable low-post option. They have no way of knowing if Stoudemire can provide either because of his knees. "Hes a heck of a player and I think we all know that. The question is his health and how much he can play," general manager Glen Grunwald said Tuesday. "So weve got our medical staff and training staff working with him to design an off-season program that will get him to full health, and we hope hell be able to play significant minutes for us next year. How much that will be, we dont know at this time." Stoudemire was limited to just 29 games in the regular season and four brief appearances in the post-season because of a pair of knee surgeries. Following a 54-28 finish and their first playoff series victory since 2000, improvement wont be easy for the Knicks. Their options will be limited by salary cap rules, and its unclear if they even want to make many changes. Grunwald agreed with players that the best strategy might be giving this seasons roster more time together. "Our focus is to continue to build this core team," Grunwald said in a rare meeting with reporters. "I think some continuity, some familiarization, further growth as individual and as a team, I think thats what we have to do." That could mean re-signing sixth man J.R. Smith if he becomes a free agent, though Grunwald wouldnt comment on specific plans. He also said 40-year-old Jason Kidd, who has two years left on his deal, gave no indication during his exit meeting that he planned to retire after a dismal post-season. Grunwald said the Knicks wont be allowed to acquire players in sign-and-trade deals and have only the exception for taxpaying teams, starting at about $3.2 million next season. They wont get much top talent for that, but they would if Stoudemire could come back and play at anywhere near his former All-Star level. He has to show the Knicks he can be healthy before showing them he deserves to start again. "I havent made that decision. Ill have the summer to kind of evaluate where I go with that, but I think first things first, hes got to come back healthy," coach Mike Woodson said. "I mean, that is the major part of this. Our struggles in terms of where we wanted to go this season was the fact that we had the injury with STAT. STAT was ready I thought when he came in, but he got hurt. "A lot is going to depend on where he is once he steps foot in vet camp in terms of where he is health-wise and minute restrictions, that may be the case. All of thats going to play a major role in STAT in terms of where we go with our ballclub and him playing, because I just dont know at this point." Stoudemire worked hard last summer following an injury-plagued 2011-12 season, training with Hakeem Olajuwon to add low-post moves. But he had surgery to clean up and remove tissue from his left knee in training camp and was sidelined until New Years Day. He was playing well in March but then ended up needing the same procedure, called a debridement, on the other knee. He returned for the second round but was clearly rusty and played just 33 minutes, Woodson hardly using him in the final two games. The Knicks didnt get nearly enough scoring in the paint against Indiana, something a healthy Stoudemire could have changed. "I think STAT ... couldve really helped us in that area because we had developed him over the summer to give us some low scoring, and the fact that he just wasnt, I dont think, where we needed him based on his injuries, that kind of hurt us a little bit," Woodson said, acknowledging the Knicks were a jump-shooting team this season and may have to look at adding someone with a low-post game. The Knicks gave Stoudemire a five-year deal worth nearly $100 million in 2010, but hes been unable to remain healthy. He and Carmelo Anthony havent played enough to be comfortable and productive together, and when Stoudemire was sidelined to start the season, Woodson moved Anthony to Stoudemires power forward spot. Anthony ended up winning his first scoring title and the Knicks their first division title since 1994. Once Stoudemire returned, he was limited at first to about 20 minutes a game, which was gradually increased to 30 before he was hurt again. Woodson never seemed to consider starting him, even when frontcourt injuries left few other options, and will have to hope Stoudemire can be healthy enough to give him something to think about next season. "Thatll be for us to determine where our roster winds up next year and where everyone else is," Grunwald said. "I thought he had a great role in terms of where Woody put him in to be successful, in terms of coming off the bench as Woody said, and whether that continues next year or not will be determined. But theres no grand plan per se that hell start or not start. Itll be determined on what Woody decides is best for the team that will give us the best chance to win." Custom Thunder Jerseys .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Custom Thunder T-shirts . 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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The 49ers placed center Daniel Kilgore on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday.Kilgore injured a knee in the first half of the 49ers overtime loss to the New York Jets on Sunday after starting the first 13 games of the season. The news comes a day after the team lost Vance McDonald for the remaining three games with a shoulder injury.Taking Kilgores place in the starting lineup will be 2014 third-round pick Marcus Martin.Kilgore missed 14 games over the previous two seasons after suffering a fractured ankle midway through 2014, his first year as the starter. He appeared in the final five games last season after a lengthy recovery and started during the final three weeks.Coach Chip Kelly was forced to play reserves at three positions along the offensive line for most of the game Sunday.Left guard Zane Beadles slid to left tackle in place of Joe Staley, who was out with a hamstring injury. Andrew Tiller played left guard and Martin went from left guard, where he started thhe game, to center after Kilgore went down.dddddddddddd.The 49ers had a season-high 248 yards rushing, with 193 coming from Carlos Hyde, against New York. The Jets came into the game with the NFLs fourth-ranked run defense.There were a little bit of communication issues at times just because Danny has such a command in terms of what we do, Kelly said. But, overall, I thought those guys for the amount of time that they had to practice there did a good job.Taking Kilgores spot on the roster is former practice squad member Alex Balducci, who was brought in as an undrafted free agent in the spring from Oregon. Balducci is learning to play center and both guard positions.The 49ers (1-12) next travel to play the Falcons (8-5) and will try to snap their franchise-record 12-game losing streak.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
