We’re just a couple days away until signings become official, but there have been a couple more big names accepting offers in the last two days. Here’s a look at what has been stirring since NBAtoday’s last update on Sunday!

That’s Amar’e in New York

One of the big name free agents has changed addresses, and his name is Amare Stoudemire.

The New York Knicks have not given up on nabbing LeBron James or Dwyane Wade as well, but they did strike a five year, $99.7 million deal with Stoudemire on Monday evening. I guess that meeting on Sunday went well with former (and now current) coach Mike D’Antoni. Stoudemire says he loves New York, although I’m sure he’d love some company there too.

So what company is most likely? Like I said, LBJ and D-Wade aren’t off the Knicks radar, and they feel having Amare locked up could actually attract one of them – specifically LeBron, who wanted Amare to join him in Cleveland before last season’s trade deadline. Then again, Amare could easily play center in the East, so maybe settling for Bosh or keeping David Lee could work too. Also, the team could try and trade Eddy Curry’s expiring contract and bring in a totally different, non-FA shooting guard. We’ll have to see what LeBron decides (when he’s ready).

One last note on this signing – It appears this could start a trend of teams not waiting for LeBron to decide before making moves. I’m sure Amare was happy to be loved without having to wait for LBJ; however, I’m sure the money was a pretty big deal too.

Welcome (Back) to Atlanta

The Atlanta Hawks and Joe Johnson, as expected, have come to a contract agreement of the maximum allowed, six years/$119 million. Johnson has hardly discussed anything with any other teams, but those other teams could not give JJ any more money than Atlanta could – which remains the difference.

I don’t like this signing for Atlanta because this team needs a change. They cannot go any further than playing in the second round of the playoffs with the current roster, so something has to give. Oh wait, there’s one other move they may make, and it’s the only move that could make this team worse. The Hawks and free agent Shaquille O’Neal have mutual interest in a one or two year deal to come down to the ATL.

I REALLY don’t like this idea because Shaq is a distraction more than anything at this point in his career. Also, he likely will only want to start. Al Horford is an all-star center and moving him to power forward will change the dynamic of this team. Now, I did say they need to change the roster, but I meant the players not the positions.

This move is not final, and is only being discussed; but I really thought Shaq would go to New Jersey to play in his hometown of Newark with the Nets.

Tidbits:

• The Denver Nuggets have offered Carmelo Anthony (who can be a free agent next year) a 3 year, $65 million contract extension which would end up keeping him there until 2015. No word on whether Melo will sign, but the Nuggets also said they would not consider trading him even if he isn’t willing to sign. I don’t blame the Nuggets for trying to get him to make a move, but who knows what’s going through Melo’s head right now.
• Now that the Nets have an opening for their general manager job, there were rumors floating around that Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars would be interested in replacing Rod Thorn. He said he focused on the Pistons and not interested in joining the Nets.
• Dwyane Wade is back in Miami after meetings in Chicago over the weekend. The team tried to leek his travel plans to welcome him at the airport, but apparently they had the wrong terminal. D’OH!
• New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, after hearing about the signing of Amare Stoudemire: “LeBron James is going to be a Knick.” Just another reason to hate the Yankees.

-Shooter