Carmelo Anthony: 10 Reasons Knicks' Donnie Walsh Should Make Melo Deal Happen
According to a report, Carmelo Anthony could have been a New York Knick on Monday. It claims that Knicks team president Donnie Walsh turned down a deal proposed by the Denver Nuggets.
That deal would have sent Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the Knicks in exchange for Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, the expiring contract of Eddy Curry and a first round draft pick. That's a pretty large deal, but it's going to take a lot to get Carmelo Anthony.
Walsh should have made the deal and ended the Carmelo trade sweepstakes. He's trying to wait until the last minute and hope nobody else offers anything. That way he can get Carmelo to sign with the Knicks once the season is over. Waiting could end up hurting Walsh, or it could be an excellent move. Only time will tell.
But why play the waiting game? Here are 10 reasons Walsh should make the trade for Carmelo Anthony right now.
10. New York Has a Losing Record in the Past Month
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The Knicks are 5-14 in the last month. There was a stretch when they were on a six-game losing streak. The only impressive win in the last month came when they beat the Miami Heat on January 27th.
It's obvious that this team needs help. Bringing in Carmelo Anthony gives them a scoring machine to help win games.
The Knicks have a lot of work to do to get back to their winning ways. Adding Carmelo to the roster will give them a better chance to win games.
9. Rebounding
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The Knicks' leading rebounder is Amar'e Stoudemire, and he averages eight boards a game. The next highest rebounder on the team is Landry Fields, who plays the guard position. A guard should not be your team's second best rebounder.
New York ranks 18th in the league in rebounding. Carmelo Anthony is the best rebounding small forward in the game. Check the stats—he leads all small forwards in rebounds with 7.6 a game.
Adding Carmelo to the team gives the Knicks another player that will crash the boards. Carmelo works hard throughout the game, and that will take pressure off Amar'e to always grab the rebound.
8. The Playoff Race
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New York is currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. There are four teams easily within reach of taking their spot. Philadelphia, Indiana, Charlotte and Milwaukee are six or less games back from New York.
If the Knicks don't start winning more, they could find themselves slipping out of the playoff race. Trading for Carmelo Anthony gives them a player who will help them win. He'll team up with Amar'e, and together they will dominate games.
7. The Knicks Can Easily Replace the Players They Trade
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If I were New York, I would say take whoever you want except for Amar'e. Every other guy on the team can be replaced.
Trading Gallinari, Felton, Fields or Chandler will of course hurt the Knicks, but they are all interchangeable. Carmelo Anthony is far better than all these players. In fact, Carmelo scores the same amount, sometimes more, as Gallinari and Fields combined.
Trading away some of those guys means the younger players on the Knicks roster, like Toney Douglas and Bill Walker, will have to step up. Once the offseason rolls around, sign some players to replace those that you traded away.
6. Time Is Running Out
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The NBA trade deadline is less than eight days away. Time is running out for Donnie Walsh to make a move.
He knows Carmelo Anthony will make his team better. It's time to pull the trigger, Donnie. Waiting until free agency is too risky—make the deal happen now.
5. New York Can’t Survive Without Carmelo Anthony
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As I said before, the Knicks are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Even if they don't trade for Carmelo, they should still be one of the eight teams to make the playoffs.
However, they will be knocked out in the first round. If the season ended today, the Knicks would have to face Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls in the first round. That is a series they would not win.
New York may have beaten the Bulls twice this season, but all bets are off in the playoffs. Besides, one of those games Joakim Noah was out, and the other Toney Douglas hit five three-pointers and dropped 30 points. That will not happen in a playoff game.
Without Carmelo the Knicks would not be able to hang with the elite teams of the Eastern Conference.
4. Denver Is Ready to Deal
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Denver has been listening to offers for months now. They know teams are interested in their star player, but they also know it will take a lot to trade him away.
Although Carmelo said he would think long and hard about re-signing with Denver, I just don't see that happening. Carmelo hasn't gotten very far with the Nuggets, and he wants to go to a team that will surround him with other stars.
Donnie Walsh, Denver is ready to deal. Are you? Well, you should be. I will laugh so hard if at the last minute the Lakers, the Bulls or heck, even the Nets swoop in and make the trade for Carmelo.
3. New York Needs a Superstar
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It's the Big Apple. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.
The New York Knicks need to have a superstar. They went out and signed Amar'e Stoudemire, but he isn't quite a superstar.
A superstar can take over any team. He instantly makes them better just by stepping onto the court. A superstar has the ability to rule the court and control the game.
Carmelo Anthony is a superstar.
2. Knicks Fans Want to Win
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New York Knicks fans want a title. They want the NBA Finals to be played at Madison Square Garden. The fans want to win.
They know that trading for Carmelo Anthony gives them the best chance at winning. Fans know that other big-time players will want to come play in the best city in the world and play basketball with Carmelo.
You heard the fans the other night. They were chanting, "We want Melo!" Well, Donnie Walsh, give the fans what they want. After all, they're the ones that fill the seats.
1. It's Carmelo Anthony
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It's Carmelo Anthony! Do I need to say anything else?
Carmelo Anthony is one of the best players in the NBA today. He doesn't want to play for Denver much longer.
Donnie Walsh needs to make this deal happen now.
