Knicks Rumors: Why Carmelo Anthony and Front Office Are Both to Blame for Mess

Earlier today, Marc Berman of the New York Post reported that Carmelo Anthony had grown frustrated with the New York Knicks, along with head coach Mike D'Antoni, and had told a "confidant" that he wanted to be traded. 

Such a request would sort of make sense, as Anthony has pretty much refused to adapt to D'Antoni's system and came to New York to win.

However, shortly after that story broke, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reported that Anthony himself had refuted any story's trade demands and that he had his coach's back.  Thus, the finger-pointing went back to D'Antoni and Anthony.

However, D'Antoni should not be at fault at all.  He has a system he's trying to enforce on the court, and Anthony is disregarding it.  Thus, there are two parties at fault: Anthony for acting like a child and the Knicks front office for giving up way too much for the former Syracuse star.

Look at it this way.  Prior to acquiring Anthony last year, the Knicks were making a statement in the Eastern Conference on the back of Amar'e Stoudemire.  Even though they had a superstar in the lineup, Raymond Felton was doing a fine job at the point and both Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler were putting up good numbers as well. 

Even second-round pick Landry Fields was wowing everyone with his clutch shooting and surprising defense.  The team was young and kind of one-sided, but still very competitive.

In fact, that very team defeated Anthony and the Denver Nuggets on December 12 of last season by a score of 129-125.  Nine Knicks players took the floor that afternoon and six finished in double figures.  Felton had 19 points to go with an incredible 17 assists and virtually shut down Denver point man Chauncey Billups, holding him to four points on 1-of-7 shooting.

Sure enough, after the game, Anthony immediately asked to be traded to the Knicks.  Two months later, he got his wish.

Shortly after the NBA All-Star Game, the Knicks sent Felton, Gallinari, Chandler and center Timofey Mozgov to the Nuggets for Anthony, Billups, Renaldo Balkman and Anthony Carter.  Looking back on the trade now, the Knicks gave up way too much and tried to fix something that wasn't even broken.

The facts are simple.  Team owner James Dolan is to blame for being greedy and absolutely desperate to snag Anthony before he hit free agency (or before the Nets traded for him), and thus overhauled his roster.

Sure enough, Billups ended up being amnestied so that the Knicks could sign Tyson Chandler this offseason, and without a true, experienced point guard, the Knicks faltered, as did Anthony.

Throw in the fact that Anthony wouldn't do what he was supposed to do in D'Antoni's offense, and you now have one Grade A mess.  Thus, I think we know which parties to blame for this one.