Carmelo Anthony Trade: Which Pieces Do The New York Knicks Still Need to Add?
By agreeing on a trade that would bring them Carmelo Anthony, the New York Knicks finally acquired the second superstar that they coveted to play alongside Amar'e Stoudemire and gave the organization and it's fanbase something to be excited about for years to come.
However, in trading for Anthony, the team had to trade away three starters in Raymond Felton, Danillo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, as well as Timofey Mozgov, who finally seemed to be coming into his own.
While the argument that this was a bad deal for the Knicks is ludicrous, the fact remains that this team still has some needs to address, both this year and in the future.
From the Knicks standpoint, this trade wasn't so much about this year, but more about the future. They couldn't let 'Melo slip away, especially after losing LeBron James to Miami.
That being said, the Knicks aren't about to throw in the towel this season either. This team can now play with anyone, and none of the top four seeds in the East will want to see them come playoff time.
Let's now examine some moves the Knicks will need to make, both now and in the future, that will allow them to become a truly elite team. The following is a list of needs and players that could fulfill those needs.
Starting Center
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Ronny Turiaf has a lot of great qualities about him: he plays with heart, always hustles, has great character, is a very good defensively and possesses good leadership skills.
However, one thing he is not is a starting center in this league.
At 6'10", Turiaf doesn't have the ideal size of a center. His lack of size and quickness makes him susceptible to foul trouble, although he is a very good help defender and shot blocker.
Turiaf also struggles with durability, missing 11 games already this season. His style of play allows him to bring a lot of energy to the court, but also leads him to sustain minor injuries constantly. He is a great role player, but can't handle the heavy minutes that go along with being a starter.
Since the Knicks traded project center Timofey Mozgov as part of the package for Anthony, they will need to look outside of the organization for help along the front line.
Possible Available Players:
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Joel Przybilla
Although injury-prone himself, Przybilla has ideal size for a center at 7'1", and is an excellent shot blocker and defender. He has a very similar game to Turiaf's, but isn't as much of a liability offensively. Przybilla wouldn't be that much of an upgrade, but would provide depth and could split the minutes with Turiaf. According to numerous sources, Przybilla is very much available and the Trail Blazers are actively trying to trade him.
Troy Murphy
Murphy is an excellent rebounder and can also shoot from the outside, which would complement Stoudemire's game very nicely. For all of the good things Stoudemire has done this year, he has struggle to rebound at times, and that is one of Murphy's strengths.
However, at 6'11", Murphy doesn't play as big as his height would suggest, and is a below average interior defender. The Nets will almost certainly trade Murphy by the deadline, as he was never really given a chance in New Jersey and is not a part of the future with them.
Nick Collison
Collison is a little of the radar, but could be had for the right price, as his minutes have been sporadic at best in Oklahoma City. He is only owed $3.3 million next year and would provide a big body and skilled offensive game to the Knicks lineup
Backup Point Guard
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Upon completeing the trade for Anthony, the Knicks promised Chauncey Billups that they would pick up his $14.2 million team option for next season. So at the very least, Billups will remain with the Knicks for the next year and a half.
However, the Knicks are rather thin behind him. Toney Douglas is more of a natural scorer, and struggles when he is responsible for running the offense. After Douglas, the Knicks don't have any other potential point guards on the roster.
At age 34, Billups is beginning to slow down, and won't be able to handle as many minutes as he once did. The Knicks will need to find someone who can run the offense for 18-20 minutes per game.
Possible Available Players
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Ramon Sessions
Cleveland is willing to deal Sessions, who has two years and $9 million left on his contract after this year. He is a very skilled offensive player who can put up points in a hurry. However, with money likely to be tight in New York going forward, Sessions' contract is likely to be to rich for the Knicks blood.
TJ Ford
Ford's contract is up at the end of this season, which is an added bonus. Ford is an excellent passer, and can also create his own shot when called upon. He would be an ideal backup to Billups, but it remains to be seen if Indiana will make him available.
Depth at The Forward Position
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While Bill Walker and Shawne Williams have played well at times, overall they are far to inconsistent. The Knicks will need to improve their bench this year if they want to have any hope of going deep in the playoffs.
Possible Available Players
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Grant Hill
Hill's name hasn't surfaced on the trade front yet, but that could change soon. He has an expiring contract and the Suns are quickly falling out of the playoff race. The Suns could choose to deal the veteran to a contending team, which would be a great way to end a storied career.
Shane Battier and Jared Jeffries
Both players have been made available by the Rockets. Jeffries could help out at both power forward and center, although he would be somewhat undersized at the center position. He is a very skilled defender, which he showed in his previous stint with the Knicks.
Battier is regarded as one of the best defenders in the league, and can can also step out and knock down shots from beyond-the-arc.
Both players' contracts are up at the end of this season.
A Third Star
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It seems as though in today's NBA, you need multiple star players to win a championship.
First it was Paul Pierce teaming up with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The trio won the 2008 championship in their first year together.
This season, LeBron James teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and now they are looking like one of the best teams in the league. They will also be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Amar'e and 'Melo are a good start, but the Knicks will likely need to add one more star player to truly compete with Miami and others on a yearly basis.
Possible Available Players
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Chris Paul and Deron Williams
Both players are eligible to become free agents in the summer of 2012, should they choose to decline their player options. Simply put, they are two of the best point guards in the league, and both of them are entering the prime of their careers.
Dwight Howard
Howard has a similar situation to both Paul and Williams, with the only exception being that he isn't a point guard. He is the clear-cut best center in the game today, dominating the game on both ends of the floor.
