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Huge basketball trade finally gets done,,,,,, THE Knicks finally land Anthony !! (367 hits)

THIS IS BIG NEWS !! WOW !!!

The Denver Nuggets have finally completed their long-awaited trade to send Carmelo Anthony(notes) to the New York Knicks.

The Knicks are sending Danilo Gallinari(notes), Raymond Felton(notes), Wilson Chandler(notes), the Knicks’ 2014 first-round pick, two second-round picks New York acquired from the Golden State Warriors in the David Lee sign-and-trade and $3 million. The Knicks will also trade Anthony Randolph(notes) and Eddy Curry’s(notes) expiring contract to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who will send Corey Brewer(notes) to the Nuggets. The Knicks will receive Anthony, Chauncey Billups(notes), Shelden Williams(notes) and Renaldo Balkman(notes) and Anthony Carter.The Nuggets requested on Saturday that the Knicks also include center Timofey Mozgov(notes) in their trade package and New York complied.

Anthony is expected to sign a three-year, $65 million extension with the Knicks. If all the players involved in the trade report on time and pass physicals, Anthony’s first game with the Knicks is expected to be Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden.

“I’m extremely happy for ‘Melo,” said Anthony’s agent, Leon Rose. “We are very appreciative to the Denver Nuggets organization for their efforts in assisting ‘Melo to get to New York. ‘Melo is excited and looking forward to playing for the Knicks.”

The New Jersey Nets had interest in trying to acquire Felton and maybe Mozgov from the Nuggets for draft picks, but Denver general manager Masai Ujiri said the team will keep all the players it acquired in the deal.

“We are excited about the young guys we’re getting,” Ujiri said. “But we are losing a great player in Carmelo and a fantastic player in Chauncey Billups, a professional and the leader of our team.”

Ujiri has reason to want to keep Mozgov: He’s close with the young center’s agent, Bouna Ndiaye.

Another Ndiaye client, Portland’s Nicolas Batum, had been one of Ujiri’s primary targets in previous trade proposals, but the Blazers have been reluctant to part with the young forward.

“We got a few young, good players and we’re excited,” Ujiri said. “All four players are key pieces. All of them. We are going to enjoy all four of them.

“They all play hard. They are all very skilled. I think they will fit well in George’s. We traded for all of them to be Denver Nuggets.”

Anthony didn’t attend the Nuggets’ practice on Monday, staying behind in Los Angeles after the All-Star Game to appear on Conan O’Brien’s talk show. In an interview at the studio an hour before the trade was completed, Anthony told Yahoo! Sports he still didn’t know where he would be traded.

[Related: Kobe acts as Anthony’s spokesman]

Nuggets president Josh Kroenke and Ujiri had initially preferred the Nets’ offer for Anthony, which was built around rookie forward Derrick Derrick Favors(notes) and four first-round draft picks, but Anthony was unwilling to commit to signing a contract extension with the Nets.

Nuggets coach George Karl had pushed team officials to make the deal with the Knicks over a straight trade with the Nets because it would better position the Nuggets to contend for the playoffs this season, a source with knowledge of Denver’s plans said.

The Denver Post first reported the trade’s completion.

Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 at 1:17AM
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I know it's fashionable on this Blog to trash the Knicks and anything they have to offer. But, we have to remember, Melo is a FREE AGENT in about 30 games, and to get this kind of young talent, with reasonable contracts, and a pick, it has be considered a win for the Nuggets. It's not a dollar for dollar win - - the Nuggs were never going to get that. But, if the Knicks deal goes through, with Felton, Gallo, Chandler, Curry and a First going to Denver, Kroenke and Ujiri have to be viewed as having done about as well as possible for the franchise in the wake of Melo's free agency. Ask the fans in Cleveland how great this trade is for Denver. And, I for one was not thrilled with the idea of Favors being a conerstone of the Nuggs future. He is looking more and more like the Shelden WIlliams of this past draft. With this trade:

1) The Nuggs don't have to decide on Billups team option next season. No way were they going to pay Billups 14 million next year, and this way the Knicks have to make that call on the local sports legend. I still think it is possible Billups is a Free Agent this summer and comes back to Denver on 2 year deal at a reasonable rate.

2) Gallo is a Poor Man's Melo - Gallo is a scorer, like Melo, and has the ability to get to the line, like Melo. In terms of replacing Melo's scoring ability, that was not going to happen with any trade, but I predict Gallo becomes a fan favorite in Denver with his hustle and scoring ability. The kid works hard and wants to win. (GALLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! will be echoing through The Can.) Gallo has a ton of upside - he still is very young - and it says something that Walsh and Dantoni did not want to include him in this deal. (Thank you James Dolan) .

3) Wilson Chandler Gives the Nuggs Legitimate Talent at Small or Power Forward - Chandler can really play and will make a great 6th man, who can play multiple positions. He is what we need off the bench - - NOT Al "Big Bust" Harrington. Nuggets and WC can decide over the next 30 games whether there is a long-term fit in Denver or not. If he wants out, a sign and trade after the CBA is likely, with more picks/players coming to Denver. Too bad Harrington is not tradeable at this point (unless included in a package with Nene).

4) Felton gives the Nuggets a legitimate starting PG who will instantly click with Karl and Lawson and the rest of his new teammates. The guy has really stepped up his game this year, and is just a solid, if unspectacular, floor leader. He will be able to get the ball to Nene, JR, AAA, and Kmart in the right spots. The Carolina Combo at PG will be one of the better 1-2 PG combos in the League. He has an excellent contract which will allow the Nuggs to decide whether Ty is the PG of the Future or not, and have a decent back-up plan with Felton. Karl is going to fall in love with this guy.

5) Curry - simply a throw-in for salary cap reasons, but the Knicks have been raving about the weight he has lost and how is looking in practice. If nothing else, this gives the Nuggs another big body that when healthy, does have decent skills in the post. I suspect he will be better than Ely and maybe Bird. He is not likely to stick after this year, but he will give the Nuggets great cap flexibility when his contract expires in 30 games.

6) Pick - The pick will give Denver a decent selection in the next draft, which is admitttedly weak. It will be good to see what Ujiri can do with a couple of 1st Rounders - - talent evaluation is supposed to be his specialty. This means the Nuggets bring in a couple of young prospects from the draft, or have a first to include in a future trade.

All in all, this deal gives the Nuggs quality, if unspectacular, assets for a player that wants out anyway. And, thought we will be called the "Knick-ets" for a while this trade reminds me a bit of the Kiki trade with Portland in the 80's where Denver received solid, if unspectacular assets for one of the League's best scorers. With its new found depth, and chemestry, the Nuggs zoomed to the Western Conference Finals after the trade. It will be fun to watch how Karl makes these pieces work without the Melo distraction looming over the team. There is no doubt the Nuggs are going to be a deeper and less selfish team after this deal. Let's get this done!

Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 at 2:42AM
DAVID JOHNSON

Yeah its about time Knicks got it together. Now we in the contingency. Just wish we could have kept Gallo. But its all good. Haven't seen this good a team since I worked there in the 90's and Pat. Dang those were the good old days!
GOOD LUCK TO THE KNICKS!
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 at 7:51AM
anita moore

Yes, Anita--I was a HUGE Knick fan back in the 90's during the Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Anthony Mason, Oak and Derek Harper era. They were tough as nails and fun to watch.

Stoudemire is AWESOME--the first Knick to start as an All-Star since Patrick.

But...it takes more than two All-STars to bring home a championship. BAsektball is a TEAM game. MJ's focus all those years in Chicago was to make his teammates better. He valued his role players and got each one to perform beyond their potential.

One day, this will be a playoff team. NO doubt about it. But will they ever make it past the first round? This team needs so much more.

Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 at 10:37AM
Richard Kigel