Amar'e Stoudemire is cleared for practice, will practice with BayHawks Tuesday.

Excellent news! During pre-game availability this evening, Mike Woodson announced that Amar'e Stoudemire, out since his knee surgery in October, has been cleared to practice in full, and will be ready to play as soon as he's logged some practice hours. Al Iannazzone:

Amare will practice Thursday too either with D-League team or Knicks. Has to make it thru practices before he can play.

Initially, I was all like "uhh...why ship his ass to Erie? Don't they have a basketball team that plays in New York? Doesn't Woodson himself coach it?". The answer:

Reason Amare is practicing with D-League team because Knicks may not have full practice tomorrow.

Not wasting any time. Excellent. After Stoudemire gets some practice in (including some with his actual teammates) he could potentially return as soon as this weekend. No word yet on what his role/allotment of minutes would be upon returning, but I imagine Woodson will work him back gradually.

Cool. Terrific. Can't wait to have you back, Amar'e.