New York Knicks' Dream Scenario: Another Big Three

After the courting of LeBron failed miserably, Donnie Walsh went on to Plan B and landed young talents of Raymond Felton, Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf, Kelenna Azubuike, Timofey Mozgov, along with signed Amar'e Stoudemire.

It's a young, athletic core suited to D'Antoni's style and other than Amare's, all have flexible contracts to work. Best of all, Knicks can offer max money to Carmelo Anthony in 2011 FA market (Eddy Curry plus coming off), and Chris Paul in 2012 (Raymond Felton plus coming off). It's great maneuvering by Walsh in the midst of failing expectations. 

Then, Paul supposedly have come out demanding a trade. This obviously ruins another Walsh plan. Walsh is a good basketball man, but unless he is Hannibal Smith, plans don't always come together and he has to work on another plan B.

Plan A would need two more years to have the Big Three of Amare, Carmelo, and Chris playing in Madison Square Garden. Plan B could make that happen as early as this December.

Plan A would have us to observe the growth of youngsters in the current roster to see who stays, and who gets dropped. Plan B means they are all getting shipped, including Gallo, Randolph, and Douglas.

Plan B only works when we assume that Amare, Carmelo, and Chris have been colluding to play together since Amare signed or Anthony's wedding.

First step of this plan is the trade demand from Paul.

Teams like Orlando, Dallas, and Portland's roster may look more appealing, but if you take away their untouchables and bad contracts, you are left with role players.

Unless a third team in involved, the Knicks and the Blazers are the only team that can offer a package that suites the Hornets' needs (financial flexibility and usable pieces). Also, with the sole advantage of being under the cap, the Knicks are a real player in this thing.

Of course the Hornets can trade him to any other teams, but they will not offer better deals to Hornets unless they can get commitment from Paul that he will not be a two-year lease, and walk when the contract expires. If so, Paul may be unhappy being ignored of his wishes.

If the Knicks do pull off the trade for Paul, it's almost certain that they would trade away Curry, which means they will not have money to offer Carmelo in 2011.

The second step is Anthony forcing a trade to the Knicks, or to have a sign-and-trade in the summer of 2011.

We will know soon enough, but if Knicks do get Paul and Carmelo does not sign that extension, beware.

Carmelo is in his last year of his contract, so he has more leverage of picking where he can go to. Assuming that those three players are talking and really want to form their own Big Three in New York, the Knicks getting Paul is more urgent, hence the sudden trade demand.

It can happen as early as this December, or in the next free-agent market. The Knicks will not have much left after trading all their assets including draft picks, but they will have their own Big Three.