And Carmelo Anthony is a New York Knick. What everyone expected happened, but the Knicks were left with a question: did they give up too much to have Melo?
No.
New York gave up Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Timofey Mozgov to get Melo and Chauncey Billups.
Did they really gut their rotation?
No.
Raymond Felton was signed to a two year contract. Knicks got Chauncey in return. yes, Chauncey is in the tail-end of his career, but he is an excellent floor general. Felton was never the point guard the Knicks wanted. Not in the long run.
Yes, Felton is having and amazing season, 16.9 points per game, 9 assists per game, but look at his numbers before: 13.7 ppg and 6.8 apg. Nothing much. And, you should expect him to go back to his regular performances next year. laws of probability says that you should expect his average, not his exceptional season.
Wilson Chandler would not be coming back to the Knicks next season. Simple as that. New York was going to use his cap space, Chandler is in a contract year, to get Melo. This way, they were going to lose Wilson anyway. No harm, no foul.
Danilo Gallinari is a big hole in the offensive and defensive rotation. He can’t guard his shadow – OK, Anthony is not the greatest defender, but he more than makes up for it by being the best scorer in the game – and he usually likes to hang around the 3 point line.
Gallo really isn’t the type of player that you cry over losing. he is a dime a dozen. Skinny european with a nice outside shot. Walk around Spain, you’ll bump into one.
So, we reach the lynchpin of this trade, Timofey Mozgov. A 24 year old center with great *gulp* potential.The four letter word of sports world. Mozgov was out of the rotation until Summer League.
Should be easy to replace Felton with another out of luck point guard. Maybe Knicks fans can even dream with Chris Paul or Deron Williams.
Replacements for Chandler and Mozgov shouldn’t be hard to fin too. And, Knicks got a few more players in return: Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman and Anthony Carter. A buy-out or trade may help the Knicks get a few more pieces next season.
"So, should we call CP3 or Deron?"
With Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks may attract other superstars. Failing to sign Anthony, New York reputation would suffer, scaring people away.
With two moves, NYK went from lottery to contenders. One more move will make them the team to beat.
Welcome back new yorkers, basketball world surely missed (and needed) you guys.
Well, you CALLED IT over a year ago… Carmelo Anthony would be a New York Knick. You know your stuff, babe.
You made me LOL when you said Gallo was a “skinny european with a nice outside shot” that pretty much came a dime a dozen. :p