Yes, it’s actually possible for the New York Knicks to strike a deal before the NBA trade deadline. We look at the 5 most intriguing possibilities.
By Chip Murphy
Head coach Derek Fisher was fired and the media and fans are speculating about potential changes before Feb. 18’s 3 P.M. trade deadline.
Unless you live under a rock, you know that a majority of the trade rumors surrounding the Knicks concern Carmelo Anthony. No matter what he does he’s going to be attached to other teams. Outside of Anthony, Jose Calderon — who has long drawn the ire of Knicks’ fans — and underachieving free agent Kyle O’Quinn that have been mentioned in trade reports, via ESPN.com.
For all the Knicks’ fans that are dreaming for a Jeff Teague deadline miracle, forget it (unless you want to give up Anthony, that is). The most likely deadline result for these Knicks is that they will stand pat, but it doesn’t hurt to consider the options.
These are five potential deals that the New York Knicks can make before the trade deadline.
Carmelo Anthony To The Miami Heat
A potential blockbuster deal involving Anthony and Jose Calderon being shipped to the rival Heat for Goran Dragic, Luol Deng, and Justise Winslow sounds feasible. Heat boss Pat Riley is always in win-now mode, looking for the best superstar available and he knows that his team’s championship window is closing.
Bringing in Carmelo Anthony, superstar scorer and close friend of Dwyane Wade, would alleviate some of the uncertainty about the team’s future success due to Chris Bosh’s health issues and their dependence on signing Kevin Durant.
Dragic hasn’t been what the Heat hoped he would be in Miami, only scoring 12.2 points per game, and looks out of place on his new team. A change could be in order and the Knicks would be more than willing to welcome Dragic as their new point guard.
The one thing that could hold this deal up is Winslow. The Heat may not want to part with one of the league’s best young defenders. Winslow has already drawn comparisons to all-time greats like Ron Artest, but the Knicks should demand Winslow in any deal. Keep in mind, the Heat don’t have a 2016 first round pick and can’t trade their 2017 pick.
Three Team Blockbuster With The Cavs And Celtics
Frank Isola of the NY Daily News reported a potential three team trade including Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love as the centerpieces.
The Knicks send Anthony and Kyle O’Quinn to the Cavs and Lance Thomas to the Celtics, the Cavs send Kevin Love to the Celtics and Timofey Mozgov to the Knicks, and the Celtics send Jae Crowder, David Lee, and a pick to the Knicks.
If the Knicks were to move Anthony, the Heat trade is obviously more likely but Isola’s report gives the potential for two huge stars to change teams. Anthony would be playing with close friend LeBron James, and Love would finally be a Celtic.
New York would get back one of the best all-around players in the league in Jae Crowder, and the Celtics have a number of first round picks for the rebuilding Knicks to choose from. Losing Thomas hurts of course, but you have to give something to get a return. Although Mozgov has struggled this year in Cleveland, a change of scenery might do him some good.
Carmelo Anthony To The Bulls
Melo admitted that when he was a free agent, the only team he considered outside of the Knicks were the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are in desperate need of an offensive jumpstart, and Anthony could give it to them.
The potential deal would send Anthony and Lou Amundson to the Bulls for Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Tony Snell, and pick(s).
This is easily the riskiest of the three trades for New York and could backfire catastrophically. Rose has been disappointing yet again this season, and a change of scenery may not be enough to save his fledgling career. Gibson has been linked to trade rumors seemingly since his career began and Snell has been “blessed” with the p word: Potential.
Jose Calderon For Ricky Rubio
These two point guards aren’t even in the same ball park in terms of skill. That’s why the Knicks would need to make a sacrifice in terms of getting this deal done. Even with that, it would be a long shot.
New York would send Calderon, Arron Afflalo, and Jerian Grant to Minnesota for Ricky Rubio and Kevin Martin.
After five years in the league, it’s been proven that Rubio will never be a shooter but he’s one of the best passers and defenders in the league. For the Knicks to get the 25-year-old they would likely have to take on Martin’s terrible salary that Minnesota has been trying to move all season.
Jose Calderon To The Jazz
The Utah Jazz have a need for a veteran point guard and have recently been linked to Ty Lawson of the Houston Rockets. A safer option would be to take on Calderon, given Lawson’s issues off the court. Utah would deal Trevor Brooker to the Knicks for Calderon and Kyle O’Quinn.
This trade would prove how far out of favor O’Quinn has fallen. The Jazz may be willing to take a chance on him, but it looks like his days in New York are numbered.
if the knicks dolan and melo would have signed lin this past offseason .. problem would have been solved and they would have been 4th seed right now .. stupid