Surely by now this is getting to be old news with seemingly a different rumor floating around every day but it is being reported that the Denver Nuggets’ latest trade proposal that would send, not only Carmelo Anthony, but 5 time All Star Chauncey Billups to the NY Knicks for 3 players, plus the expiring contract of Eddy Curry has been turned down by Knicks GM Donnie Walsh, citing that Denver is flat out asking too much.
Here’s the details of the latest Melo to New York trade proposal:
Knicks Get: Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups
Denver Gets: Danilo Gallinari, Ray Felton, 3rd Unnamed Starter (Landry Fields?), Eddy Curry’s Expiring Contract, Future 1st Round Pick
Do you blame the Knicks management for vetoing this deal? I don’t, especially considering they can probably get him as a free agent this Summer. After all, it’s a foregone conclusion that Anthony wants to play in New York. If not, wouldn’t he have already signed the Nuggets extension offer of 3 years – $65 million?
When it comes to the swapping of point guards, it really doesn’t make much sense either since Felton is arguably having an All Star caliber season and is also 8 years younger than Billups. Also, Billups is way more expensive considering that his $14 million owed for the ’11-’12 season is a team option and can be bought out for $4 million, leaving the Knicks point guard situation once again in limbo going forward.
In my opinion, asking for Landry Fields alone is asking too much considering he ranks as one of the 3 best rookies behind Blake Griffin and John Wall this season. If it is Wilson Chandler the Nuggets are after, he has proven invaluable to the Knicks over the past few seasons as one of the more underrated players in all of the league.
We haven’t even gotten around to talking about just how good Danilo Galinari has become. In just his 3rd season in the Association, “The Rooster” has steadily increased his offensive numbers to averaging 16 ppg, nearly 5 rebounds, and has at times been deadly from behind the arc. Of course, Galinari would probably be the most affected by a Melo trade when considering that they both play the same SF position. Danilo can play the PF position at times but is much better suited at the 3 position.
Of course, Eddy Curry’s expiring $11-12 million deal is of most value since the Nuggets could either let the deal expire or immediately trade him in hopes of getting back one or more building blocks for the future. Denver has Ty Lawson to run the point but not much else if you believe the rumors that JR Smith and Hilario Nene are also on the trading block.
With a little less than a week remaining prior to the NBA’s February 24th Trade Deadline, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not Carmelo will become a rent-a-player for the remainder of this season or wait until this Summer to join Chris Paul and Deron Williams as this off-season’s most sought after free agents.
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
