Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire: Could They Coexist on the N.Y. Knicks?

If you're reading this, maybe you've been following the Carmelo Anthony saga for a while. So you've read all the ins and outs of who's on the table in two- or three-team trades, and you've pondered the possibilities up and down.

Maybe you haven't. Maybe you're just a Knicks fan, looking (grasping) for anything right now to stop the bleeding, or at least another game against the Cavaliers (on second thought...).

Probably, though, it is both, and if you've been on the fence about a Melo move to New York, you're probably just about ready to take that leap over to the side where the believers are chanting, "We Want Melo!"

I am. But I wasn't at first. The circumstances are hard to ignore, though.

The addition of Anthony would unquestionably be an upgrade, even with the loss of say Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. Fields has gained some traction in New York, and trade whispers have been silent on him lately. But, Chandler, once a darling, is seen more and more by fans, and the organization, as expendable.

Why?

Because the writing's on the wall.

With their heads bobbing just over the .500 mark at 27-26, the Knicks need a (playoff-) life preserver. For all the chest-thumping by players and fans alike early in the season, the Knicks have subtly resorted to their old selves. Remember that tear when Stoudemire went off and New York went 13 for 14? They're 11-17 since. I haven't heard that "MVP" chant lately.

The seventh and eighth teams in the East, Philadelphia and Indiana, are now just 1.5 and 2.5 games behind New York. The Charlotte Bobcats, with their big win over the Lakers Monday night, have moved just a game-and-a-half out of the playoff picture, and just four behind the Knicks.

Nothing is for certain as the team stands now, not even a playoff berth. Carmelo Anthony would be the instant remedy.

If you follow the "We Want Melo!" argument, then there's something that needs to be looked at, too: Would it actually work?

That depends on one factor more than any other: the successful meshing of two superstars who wield super talents, super egos and super marketability.

Would the transition to the Stoudemire-Anthony one-two punch (or is it Anthony-Stoudemire?) be seamless? Would their chemistry grow over the season, peaking in time for the playoffs? Or would it be a mixture of oil and water, a disaster that speeds New York's descent into postseason irrelevancy once again?

Can Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire coexist in New York? There are two milieus to look at: on the court and off the court.

On the Court

The Knicks are already scoring over 106 points per game. Realistically, how much would this improve with a Carmelo-Amar'e tandem? Well, a little actually.  It's Anthony's Denver Nuggets that lead the league in scoring, averaging a hair under 108 PPG.

In fact, Anthony and the Nuggets have averaged more than 100 points per game the last five years in a row, including 110.7 in 2007-08 and 106.5 last year.

Don't forget though, that New York will be losing either Danilo Gallinari's or Wilson Chandler's 16 PPG apiece, or both. But does that matter so much with Anthony averaging 31 in his last 10, for example?

Also, Anthony plays offensively well with others, with guards at least. He's been involved in numerous offenses where he and another (Iverson, Billups) each score near 20 a game or more.

And Raymond Felton is more than sufficient to get him the ball.

What about Stoudemire? The similarities are remarkable.

The last five years Stoudemire played for the Suns, they never averaged fewer than 109 points per game, four of those years over 110.

He's averaging 27 points in his last 10 games.

Stoudemire, too, can coexist with other prolific, though not huge scorers, from Stephon Marbury and forward Shawn Marion to of course Steve Nash.

And Raymond Felton is more than sufficient to get him the ball, obviously.

Defenses would have to contend with two of the most potent scorers from two of the most potent scoring teams of the past decade, at the same time. Opponents would have to radically change their current defensive schemes against the Knicks.

The Knicks would benefit when both players are not on the floor at the same time, as well. Now when Amar'e rests, Carmelo can still be a danger, and vice-versa.

Combine all that with a dash of D'Antoni offense and the Knicks can up their scoring average to near 110 points. Who wouldn't take that in the Eastern Conference?

But offense isn't the Knicks big problem. How would the Amar'e-Carmelo tandem contribute to desperately-needed defensive improvement?

Not so much directly, but perhaps collaterally. Ronny Turiaf and Timofey Mozgov would see more time, upping the Knicks' size for one thing.

It's still up in the air as to whether Stoudemire and Anthony can improve each other's, and the team's defense. Frankly, defense is not their bag baby, but Stoudemire has improved considerably this year on that side of the ball. Maybe he'd be able to focus a little more on defending once Anthony relieves some of the pressure on him to score.

Off The Court

It has been repeatedly reported that Carmelo Anthony wants to play in New York, though there's nary a quote to be found from the Nuggets forward in the press. With the inability to make any other deal happen, especially the Nets breakdown, let's assume this is true.

It has also been reported that Stoudemire has been attempting to recruit Anthony (and Chris Paul). As early as July 2010, he said: "I've talked to Carmelo Anthony and [told him] that he needs to come here."

Does that sound like two players who would get along? Absolutely.

Also, neither player has a history of strained relationships with fellow players. Anthony was teamed with the difficult Allen Iverson for years with little, if any, controversy.  Stoudemire's record is pretty clean in this department, too.  His relationship with Knicks teammates, the fans and New York media is a model to be emulated. He also had no problem playing second fiddle to back-to-back MVP Steve Nash over in Phoenix.

Amare and Carmelo have exhibited a professionalism beyond their years (both are technically veterans with at least eight seasons in the NBA). They've handled the months of trade talk very well. This isn't Blake Griffin and Mario Chalmers being forced on each other.

Still, any friendship or good working relationship might become strained when the spotlight and millions of dollars in the hocking of wares are at stake. New York, though, is a big enough pie to feed them both.

It might take a little sacrifice, in attention and profit, if Stoudemire and Anthony want to hoist their first Maurice Podoloff trophy one June. It seems they're willing.

Look at how the arch-rival Miami Heat's LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh are melding.  This just might inspire Anthony and Stoudemire to make it work.

Dare I say the Amar'e Stoudemire-Carmelo Anthony combination is perfect?

That's too far. It would surely guarantee a playoff spot, but it's not enough to take the Knicks all the way. One more piece would make them serious contenders for at least the East. A strong defender would be nice.

Still, I'm sold. Originally one of the nay-sayers, now I say, "I Want Melo!" but I also say, "I want an additional player to put the Knicks over the top!"

Bleacher Report has been the leader in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes reporting.  For the latest, check out Bleacher Report's dedicated Carmelo Anthony site.