Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Knicks Should Wait Til the Offseason for Melo
Carmelo Anthony will not sign the extension the Denver Nuggets have offered him unless he's traded to the New York Knicks. At least that's what ESPN's Chris Sheridan is telling us.
Sheridan has posted multiple tweets in defense of his own reporting, telling us that this "info is 100 percent correct."
My first reaction to the story was excitement over the prospect of Anthony joining one of the hottest teams in the league. After thinking about it for a couple days, it makes a lot more sense to me, to just wait til this offseason to acquire Melo as a free agent.
It may seem more logical to try to acquire Anthony as soon as possible, and lock him down before anyone else possibly could. However, I'll give some reasons why the Knicks would be wise to wait.
Danilo Gallinari
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If the Knicks start putting together a package for Carmelo Anthony now, the Nuggets will likely insist on Danilo Gallinari being included in the deal.
In just his third season, the 6'10" Gallinari is averaging over 15 points per game, while shooting 40 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range.
He and Amare Stoudemire combine to make one of the most versatile and athletic front courts in the NBA.
Giving all that up, in addition to a couple other players and a yet to be acquired draft pick, is a lot to ask.
One of the biggest things to consider with Gallinari is his age. He's just 22 years old. He's at least five or six years away from his prime, and he should develop as a player during each season on his way to that point.
Another reason for the Knicks to be worried about losing their young, budding star, is the fact that he's quickly become a fan favorite in New York
Landry Fields
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Landry Fields wasn't selected until ninth pick of the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft. Outside of New York, people weren't expecting much from Fields for this season.
But here we are, just over a quarter of the way into this season, and Fields has distinguished himself as one of the top three to five rookies in the league.
He's averaging double figures in scoring and is second on the Knicks in rebounding behind Amare Stoudemire. He's also shooting over 50 percent from the field.
The 39th overall pick in 2010 may end up being known as the biggest steal of that year's draft. It certainly looks that way now.
Fields is another solid, young player that the Nuggets may want included in a deal for Carmelo Anthony. While I don't see the Knicks having to give up both Fields and Gallinari, if they make a trade, they'll likely have to give up one of them.
A Draft Pick
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Right now, the Knicks don't have the draft pick they'll likely need to acquire Melo through a trade. However, there may be some teams interested in New York's Anthony Randolph, who could be moved in exchange for a pick.
If the Knicks do make such a deal, Denver would absolutely require that pick in a trade for Anthony.
First round picks are valuable, and current New York general manager Donnie Walsh has proven he knows how to use them.
The Current Team's Chemistry
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The New York Knicks are playing as well as they have in about a decade. Mike D'Antoni finally has a few people that fit perfectly in his system and the team is leading the NBA in points per game.
Raymond Felton has been electrifying, Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari have been solid, Landry Fields has been a pleasant surprise, and Amare Stoudemire has clearly been the best player from the 2010 free agent class.
Breaking up this unit in the midst of a hot streak would be a big risk.
Carmelo Anthony is an elite player, but picking him up in exchange for three or four guys could do a lot to hurt, not help chemistry.
If The Sheridan Report Is True
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Chris Sheridan's report is a big one, and he seems willing to stake his reputation on its veracity. If Melo truly refuses to sign his contract extension after being traded to anyone but the Knicks, he'll likely opt out of his current contract following this season.
The only team besides New York that still seems to be in the running for Anthony, is the New Jersey Nets. If he goes there through a trade, 2010-11 would likely be the only season we'd see Melo in a Nets jersey.
Knicks Will Have The Cap Space in The Summer of 2011
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If the Knicks trade for Carmelo Anthony this season, they'll have to use Eddy Curry's big, expiring contract to make salaries match with what Denver would be sending.
If they don't make a trade, Curry's contract expires at the end of the season anyway. And he's not the only player on the roster who's on the last year of his deal.
The Knicks have six such players, and once they're off the books, New York will have over 20 million dollars in cap space (assuming the cap stays at least close to where it is now, following upcoming negotiations between the league and the player's union).
That is more than enough room to offer Carmelo Anthony the kind of contract he deserves.
How The Knicks Would Look After Signing Melo
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If the Knicks wait patiently, and sign Carmelo in the summer of 2011, they could have one of the strongest starting lineups in the league.
New York's offense is explosive now, but imagine the kind of points they could pour in with a lineup of Felton, Fields, Anthony, Gallinari and Stoudemire.
All five of those players would still be under the age of 30, and the trio of Felton, Anthony and Stoudemire could rival the likes of Boston and Miami's triumvirates.
Your Thoughts?
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What do you think? Should the Knicks look to acquire Carmelo Anthony now? What is he worth giving up? Or, should they wait? Let me know what you think.
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