Carmelo Anthony to Knicks: Nuggets and Timberwolves Help New York End Trade Saga

The Carmelo Anthony trade saga is officially over.

Denver Nuggets forwards Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman, and Shelden Williams and guards Chauncey Billups and Anthony Carter have been traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mosgov, and Wilson Chandler, in addition to a 2014 first round pick, two second round draft picks, and $3 million.

As the third team involved in the trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves will receive Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph from the Knicks. Corey Brewer, a Minnesota shooting guard, will head to New York.

This trade makes three sets of superstar teammates in the Eastern Conference: the Miami Heat's LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh; Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics; and now the newly established Carmelo Anthony-Amare Stoudemire tandem in New York.

As far as what this trade does for the Nuggets and Knicks, it could make the Denver Nuggets regulars in the Western Conference Semifinals and the New York Knicks strong contenders for an Eastern Conference Finals berth this very season.

However, I wouldn't be surprised to see New York get eliminated before they get that far. Any basketball team needs a plethora of role players to be successful in the late stages of the NBA playoffs.

If the Knicks acquire a few decent role players via the draft and free agency, they could be competing for championships for many seasons to come.