Let's Hear it for New York!!!!

The deed is finally done and the Knicks have pulled the blockbuster to get the slightly disgruntled Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets.  The Minnesota Timberwolves were pulled into the deal at the last moment to facilitate. Here are the particulars:

New York Knicks
Get: Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, and Corey Brewer

Denver Nuggets
Get: Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks 1st round pick (2014), the Warriors 2nd round pick (2012 and 2013), and $3M in cash.


Minnesota Timberwolves
Get: Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry

My take on the Knicks:  On the surface, this was a lot to give up.  I'm with Charles Barkley on this one, Melo ain't Jordan, why would you give that many players up?  We know that the Knicks HAD to do this deal to get Melo because if it would have gone down that the Knicks lost out on this because they didn't want to part with Mozgov (a piece the Nuggets wanted) they would have revolted in the streets.They finally got their guy, but it also seems as though they'll lose Walsh and gain Zeke (once again).  I'm not sure that everyone should be excited about that end of the deal.  Billups and Anthony make this team a little dangerous right now.  They are going to have to gel, but until the wheels fall off or they're able to convince a PG to come to New York, the Knicks will be alright.  

My take on the Nuggets:  Well, I have to admit that the Nets deal was a better deal, but with the uncertainty that Melo would have signed an extension with the Nets, they had to do this.  Chandler is a restricted free agent and may end up being a fall back if the Nuggets chose not to re-sign the mercurial J.R. Smith.  Raymond Felton makes George Karl a collector of former UNC point guards, and Felton can be 'the guy'.  He's a bigger version of Ty Lawson.  Gallinari can step in and provide some scoring, but I'm not sure how much of a 'player' he'll ever be.  I actually like Mozgov and when given time in D'Antoni's system he's actually played well.  You can't teach height.

My take on the Timberwolves:  They were the facilitator and got a good talent in Anthony Randolph and they got Eddy Curry's expiring contract.  Randolph has not yet been put in a position to succeed in the NBA, but maybe the Timberwolves can find a way.  Plus the cap relief for the Timberwolves will be big since they are going to have to overpay for someone to actually want to come there and play. 


Who got the best of this trade?  Is Carmelo worth it?  Can they win if they aren't able to get anyone else because of the new collective bargaining agreement?  Why did this thing drag out like this? 

NBA Roundup 8-12-09

Lots going on in the NBA, so let's take a look:

Linas Kleiza - Leaves the Denver Nuggets and signs with Olympiakos for 2 years $12.2M. Not a bad deal for Kleiza. Sucks for the Nuggets who dearly need some bench support, but going to Greece for two years and playing for that type of money,......baby pack the bags we're heading for Europe.

Von Wafer - Leaves the Houston Rockets and signs with Olympiakos on a 2 year deal (money not released yet), but probably more than the $800K he was making last year. Does anyone see a trend here? It seems that these mid level players are taking their games overseas. The teams are paying their taxes on their contracts, they get a house and a car as part of the deal. Can anyone say cake up?!?!?

Kurt Rambis - He of the old looking glasses and hard nosed play has decided that he wasn't in line to get the Lakers gig after Phil retires, so he went for the Timberwolves coaching vacancy. It's a 4 year deal and he basically has the keys to the kingdom. The Wolves still have Al Jefferson and Kevin Love (don't they play the same position?), Ricky Rubio (if he ever comes over), Johnny Flynn (I like this kid), Corey Brewer (anyone beside me see a version of Pippen in this guy?), and a lot of cold weather. I actually think that Rambis can make this work and I guess we'll all get a chance to see.

Pau Gasol - While practicing with the Spanish National team, Gasol broke his finger and had surgery. I'm not too excited about this yet. He'll be out of commission for 3 weeks, which may be a good thing since he'll be working on his conditioning and nothing else. Or maybe even taking a break to get ready for what looks to be a long upcoming NBA season.

Glen Davis and Shelden Williams - Both of these guys were signed by the Celtics. This helps develop the bench for the Celtics and it makes them younger. Now they just need someone on the wing and someone to play point off the bench and we're good to go. The sad part for the Duke haters is that Williams is going to shine in this role with these vets around him. Maybe they can get a two for one for Williams and sign his wife, Candace Parker?

Rasual Butler - Traded to West Hell, the Clippers, for basically a ham sandwich (a 2nd round pick) in a salary dump deal. First Posey, now Butler, maybe I need to be in the gym working on my 3 ball for the Hornets.

Ben Wallace - Proving that you can always go home again, Wallace signs with the Detroit Pistons. Now he gets two checks this year, one from the Suns (buyout) and more money from Joe Dumars.

Leon Powe - A small coup? The Cavs snuck in and signed Powe to a 2 year deal for $1.77M. Powe had been one of the best reserves on the Celtics over the last few years but has had a terrible history with knee injuries. He's coming off of surgery and if you ever have a guy that you want to root for, he is it. Good luck Leon Powe.