Are We Done Yet? Why The Knicks Trade Isn't About A Title This Year

In a huge three-team 12-player trade, the Knicks give up their whole roster to get the Denver Nuggets’ Anthony.  It’s what he and Knicks fans wanted, and it’s probably what the NBA wanted.

The Knicks are now finally there with two superstars in their lineup.  Load it up with Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, and Anthony Carter…it’s not a bad trade.  For the Nuggets, the Nets deal was better, but there was no guarantee that Anthony would have signed a contract extension.  Look at that team right now.  He’s not going to bring in enough excitement himself, not at this point in his career.  Yes, he’s still young, but the Nets need to go a different direction.

Lots of people that just want to focus on how the Knicks won’t have any defense.  Coach Mike D’Antoni doesn’t do defense anyway, so what does it matter?  I hate to break it to Knicks fans, but with him at the helm you aren’t getting a championship soon.  You aren’t beating Boston, you aren’t beating Orlando, you’re not beating Miami, and you’re not beating Chicago.  What this trade does is bring even more interest and relevance into the franchise, and that’s good for the NBA.

Amare Stoudemire was a good move, but the Knicks fans wanted more.  With the addition of Anthony, it doesn’t matter who’s around them right now.  All these players the Knicks are giving up have not been developed into the system yet.  Get rid of them, fill them up with others, and set something up.  Be a contender.  That’s all the Knicks need to worry about right now.  The Eastern Conference is too top heavy to worry about any form of a title, especially this year.

It’s not going to happen in a seven game series against any of these division leading teams.  Not this year.  But the first thing that needs to be done is regenerate excitement, and that’s what makes this trade work.