Durant = Rachel Alexandra
LeBron = Perfect Drift

Who do the knicks guard anyway? Like I said i dont believe in the coach. Billups expires at 15 mil so why wouldnt they have the room to get Paul with Billups up?

I'll clarify the Durant comparison...

He's already having knee trouble. It's not like he's carrying any weight right now. Don't see Oklahoma City winning and he's the type to re-sign with them.

So the new coach is going to bring a defensive mindset to team that features Amare and Carmelo? LOL yeah that would be a winner. They are expected to resign Billups and his contract will expire after the new agreement is signed with a lower or harder cap. Do you seriously think NO will let Paul walk? You seriously think Paul wont want max money? You realize that they need 7-8 players to play right? Paul isn't exactly healthy

He is already signed long term.

If they could pry Howard out of Orlando they would be a scary team. Have no bad contracts, strong role players, young team, top scorer, very good point guard, good defensively. With a defensive force like Howard with his new found post game they would be very tough to handle. But Howards ego is probably too big for Ok City. He would be perfect for Chicago if they can dump Boozer.

I'd take Lebron hands down and then I would probably take Dwight Howard.

They are a low post scorer away from being a contender in the west. They could probably use another shooter as well but that isn't nearly as important as a low post threat.

I watched Chicago play the other night against the spurs when Rose went off for 40. I didn't see any holes on that team except maybe a perimeter player besides Rose that can get his shot in a halfcourt set. That team is young, athletic and deep. They are double figure odds right now to win it all. I don't see a compelling reason why they can't.

Dwight Howard is garbage. You can have that soft b.itch.

LeBron is clinically insane and chokes when it matters. You can have him too.

I dont know they need more shooting. They have under utilized Cook off the bench but he is more of a playoff type asset and he can only shoot. They have a problem with LA because they dont have enough size to counter both of the Lakers big men.

John Hollinger
New York: D+

You can't evaluate this as you would a normal trade. This deal was made at gunpoint, and that colors the entire assessment.

Anthony became the first player in memory to issue a trade demand and then list one team that he'd accept a trade to. And then somehow, the Knicks decided to start bidding against themselves and repeatedly agreed to up the ante in the final hours.

New York could have had Anthony this summer while losing only Chandler (a restricted free agent they would have had to renounce). Their primary risk to that outcome was a "franchise tag" in the new collective bargaining agreement that would have allowed Denver to keep Anthony. But even then plenty of alternatives were available for the Knicks, as three better players -- Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Dwight Howard -- all seemed anxious to get to the Big Apple via power plays of their own, and one of the three (or another marquee star) may have wriggled free regardless of what new restrictions the next CBA imposes.

This isn't Indiana or Memphis, and this saga laid that reality bare. Even with a franchise tag rule, New York had so many advantages that it was only a matter of time before a second star showed up, especially given the salary cap space the Knicks had carved out.

To get a player like Anthony in those circumstances, it was worth paying something above just Chandler to convert a likely outcome to a certainty.

But in this case the premium New York paid was as follows, beyond Chandler:

• Gallinari
• Mozgov
• Their 2014 first-round draft pick
• Golden State's second-round picks in 2012 and 2013 (owned by the Knicks)
• $6 million in cash ($3 million each to Minnesota and Denver)
• Swallowing two dead-money years at the end of Balkman's contract
• Trading Anthony Randolph for Corey Brewer
• Trading Felton for Billups, making New York eight years older at the point guard spot with a player who makes nearly twice in salary next season. Remind me again why they needed to commit to all eight of these additional considerations for a player they were likely to get anyway?

The worst part, of course, is that this deal proves that no matter how many advantages New York gains from its magnetic appeal to potential free agents, owner James Dolan will screw them up. Leaning on the genius of Isiah Thomas -- because it worked out so well for the first time -- he fell hook, line and sinker for every bluff thrown his way by the Nuggets and Melo's people. (Yes, Melo's people participated -- Anthony needed to make sure he got a lucrative contract extension under the current salary rules before being traded.)

New York still gets its Melo-Stoudemire nucleus, but now lacks the supporting pieces to do anything important with that core. And by extending Melo now, they agree to lock him up at such an expensive price that, in concert with Stoudemire's deal, it likely precludes making a run at Chris Paul, Deron Williams or Dwight Howard in 2012.

Rubbish complete and utter trash. Billups is a terriffic player and in season and a half his contract becomes a positive not a negative, so for that matter does balkmans. There is nothing to buy next year in the free agent market and the draft looks horrendous

Billups is getting torched tonight by bums. He is a fading player. Balkman's contract is just wasted space. Face it they gave up way too much. The idea that Anthony was going elsewhere was a complete fabrication.

Exactly. The Nets owner played the Knicks like a fiddle. I don't like the trade for the Knicks at all. As you said, he would have come in the summer anyway and they would have kept all of the players. There was no need for them to give up all that they did. Last I checked, Anthony still doesn't play defense. Pairing him with another matador defender like Stoudamire is asking for trouble. Anthony is strictly box office in NY. He'll provide some offense but offense wasn't their problem since they are second on the league in scoring anyway. I also don't think that Billups is that good of a fit in that style of play. They gave up a ton and didn't get enough back and what is it going to do for them this year? Nothing. They still aren't better than Boston, Miami, Chicago, or Orlando. This MAY put them past Atlanta. So they perhaps are in a position to win a playoff series. I think they would have been better off without getting Anthony and trying to lure Dwight Howard next year when he would have been in the final year of his own contract.

There's only one answer. It's the same one every gm in the world would give. LBJ.

Why would you need Chandler when Anthony is on the court. Gallo is not exact Nowitski, nor will he ever be, losing Felton on the Cheap playing well sucked but they have 7 years of selling out the Gardern and in the playoff locked up with this deal. If they get over the hump is guess work. It will all come down to finding another diamond like Fields in the draft or billups leaving and them getting a point guard..how about Baron Davis he just got banished to Siberia

Yeah if you have zero imagination and absolutely no idea how to judge heart.

He's a great athlete and a horrible person. It's not going to happen. Anything less than 3 championships and his career is a failure. And in my eyes he'll be lucky to get one 'ship.

He's a b.itch and should never be compared to the greats.

It isn't that they needed Chandler or Galinardi is an all star. It is that they gave up valuable pieces that worked cheap when they didn't have to. I am not a big Felton guy but he is a lot more palatable at 7 million playing 38 minutes a game than Billups at 14 million playing 32. Plus he is a tradable commodity at that salary while Billups is an anchor. Denver was desperate to get rid of Billups and while you might hear some bs about his playoff experience the fact is that the Nuggets had no leverage yet still got players, picks and dumped an unwanted salary.

The Knicks don't have issues selling seats even in tough times. The idea that another Landry will be unearthed by the Knick is very unlikely. In fact they actually took Andy Rautins before they took Fields.

So you want to add Baron Davis to this mix? Why not dust off World B Free and get Doug Moe out of retirement?

Knicks had immense trouble selling tix until this year.

Valueable chips to get who they just landed Melo how much better is ever available? the point is they used the chips to get a world class player with enormous star appeal.

The Knicks were judged to be the most valuable franchise in the NBA despite not having put a team on the floor in a decade prior to this year that wasn't a joke. Just because the seats are not filled doesn't mean they arent sold.

Melo is 6 time first round and out guy with better teams than the one he is on. He is good for 25-10 a game. But that is really all he is good for.

The point is they could have had it all and they hit the panic button.

Now they face an uncertain labor agreement that the entire melo drama has probably pushed into harsher standards for big market teams meaning they have to try to fill in the considerable holes on the roster with very little to work with.

Just look at the guys moved today. A lot of good players that fit roles and needs for a team like NY were traded for players like the ones the Knicks gave up. Who does NY have that they can move for anyone? They have 4 quality NBA players on the roster. Douglas is ok. What else is there?

That was a nice call on the Marshmellow trade,Nick.












No it wasn't!!!!

The Washington Generals play better defense than these guys do. There's no point in Anthony and Stoudamire scoring 60 if they are going to give up 55 to the guys they are guarding. They were pounded on the boards. This may end up worse than I thought.

!!



And a foul out to boot.

He's not known as Marshmellow for nothing...don't ya know.

Utah won last night. Does that mean that trade might end up BETTER than you thought?

Surely you aren't using last night's game as any type of barometer as to whether or not that was a good trade.

I thought it was a good and necessary trade for Utah. Their result, however, has nothing to do with the Knicks and their lack of defense and their selfishness on offense. Amare left Phoenix because he wanted to be "The Man" and NY is a huge stage for that. Carmelo was already in that role in Denver and is not going to relinquish it to Stoudamire. Unlike James and Wade, these are two selfish players. James and Wade struggled early as each was trying to be too accomodating. Melo and Stoudamire played like they were having an internal contest to see who could shoot most. Also, it might have been only one game and only the second together but their defensive attitudes aren't going to change with more games. What I was looking for was a sign that once they get some cohesion, it might get better. What I saw was "this is what you are gonna get, we'll give you 60 and try to outscore everyone."

You shouldn't come to conclusions after 1 or 2 games but giving up 115 to Cleveland under any circumstances is troubling. Having to actually play Balkman, having Shawne Williams and Bill Walker combine for 35 minutes, Ronny Turiaf 26 minutes is going to be bad most nights. Those guys were 6-25 last night in 92 minutes of playing time.

"giving up 115 to Cleveland under any circumstances is troubling"



AND...they lost.

You left out that little fun part.

They need to add a player or two...will watch and see how things work out. Way too early to evaluate this trade.

This trade, you could devaluate the day it was announced.

If the Cavs go for 115 on you, you have lost

They need more than that. They only have 5 players that are NBA worthy to play real minutes and with the system that they run you will need depth. They will need to replace Billups after next season and they desperately need frontcourt help which is hard to find. This years draft is terrible and it is a real stretch to think they can get a impact player there. OKC just gave up a 16 pts a game guy, a starting center and decent number 1 pick to get a solid defensive center who cant shoot with a bum knee that is a FA after the season. Jermain O'Neal is actually collecting a paycheck. Shaq is still getting 2 year contracts. That should tell you all you need to know about how easy it is to find quality big men. Add in the Knicks have nothing of value to trade and you just wonder where these other players are going to come from. Azubuike ?

Agree with every point but look at how the league has changed just this year. I hesitate to say a team can't make major changes, the NBA is better off when major market teams are strong...shifting sands!

February 23d....scored 119 vs. Houston, and lost.



Wrong again.

The Cavs don't win games, other teams lose them.

^^^^ His band aid attempt on a mortal wound.




Perhaps he should stick to dressage.

I'd pay money to see Clyde vs. Cannon Shell in a game of H-O-R-S-E

First tell him what a horse is.

Clyde's first shot for H-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xyvOCNCXdU

I think the " O-R-S-E" become irrelevant if he "drills" the H....

That was some defense to end the half.

Is it me, or does Amare seem to be uncomfortable on the offensive side since the trade?

That was some nice defense. 50 points in three quarters allowed to a pretty nice offensive team.

The knicks aren't contenders yet but they are relevant. They weren't a week ago.