Knicks Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Costs New York the NBA Title and Chris Paul

Carmelo Anthony has cost New York the chance at Chris Paul, and probably a chance at an NBA title. I know this isn't a statement that is going to endear me to the New York Knicks community, so allow me to explain first about me. 

I have been a basketball fan since I was 11 years old. That makes it 33 years now that I've been watching the game. While I am a Bulls fan that's second place to my being a fan of the NBA. I watched the NBA finals last year in spite of the way that the Heat broke my heart. 

I list both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James among my favorite players. Patrick Ewing would be in the top five of most underrated players in the history of the game. As much as I love my Bulls, the game takes precedence over the Bulls. 

There are no players or teams that I "hate," though some annoy me with their resistance to playing defense—and Carmelo Anthony is among them. Only those who "can" and "don't" get on my nerves, and that's true with Anthony, Monta Ellis and Carlos Boozer. It has nothing to do with what team they play for.  

But in my opinion, Carmelo Anthony has cost New York the chance at Chris Paul, and probably a chance at an NBA title.

There are two big reasons that I say this. First, Carmelo Anthony forced a trade, and second, he signed a max contract once he did. 

The Knicks, once upon a time, had a ton of assets and a ton of cash. All of that went wayward when the Denver Nuggets traded Anthony to the Knicks. All those assets they had went in the deal. Young players and first round draft choices alike went away. 

What if he hadn't forced a trade? What if he had just decided to wait patiently and play out the year with the Nuggets, and then came to the Knicks this year via free agency? What if he did things the "old-fashioned way," the way players did before he went and changed the rule book?

The Knicks would have Raymond Felton, a promising young point guard with years on his contract, their first round draft picks, players like Timofy Mozgov, DAinilo Gallinari and Al Harrington on their roster and money to spend. 

How much easier would it be to acquire Chris Paul right now if they had both trade assets and money?

Additionally, how much benefit would there be if Carmelo Anthony didn't have that monster contract right now, but were willing to wait until Paul came and they split the difference? What if signing with the Knicks was only going to cost Paul $20-25 million and not $40-50 million?

Don't blame the messenger here. It's not my fault that the message is what it is. The reality is that Anthony is the one who threw the wrench in the works.