Broadway Bound: Anthony to Knicks
It took a good several months, and it really started not too long after LeBron's "Decision"
The long in-"Decision" of Carmelo Anthony finally had it's ending, with the now former Denver Nuggets' superstar forward getting traded to the New York Knicks as part of a 12-player, three team deal that was initially reported by the Denver Post, then confirmed on major news outlets. Since the NBA league office was closed for President's Day, the trade will be reviewed and approved, and if all parties pass their physicals, the trade will be complete.
The deal goes as follows: along with Anthony, the Nuggets are sending guards Chauncey Billups and Anthony Carter, forward Renaldo Balkman, and center Shelden Williams. There were early reports that Billups would seek a buyout and retire being that he wanted to finish his career in his hometown of Denver, but the Knicks plan to keep him instead of buying his contract for $3.7M, Balkman returns to the team he was drafted to, and Williams joins his sixth NBA team since being drafted in the 2006 NBA draft as the fifth overall pick. But the centerpiece of the deal, 'Melo, most importantly gets to go back to his native New York City, and play in Madison Square Garden, where he averaged 30.4 points per game in eight visits as a Denver Nugget.
The Knicks lose a lot, but feel like they are on solid ground for the future, as they parted ways with guard Raymond Felton, forwards Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, and center Timofey Mozgov. Denver also receives New York's second round picks from the David Lee sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors, and New York's 2014 first round pick, and $3M in cash. The Knicks also acquired Corey Brewer from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Anthony Randolph and the expiring contract of center Eddy Curry. While the Knicks lose their second, third, and fourth leading scorers behind Amar'e Stoudemire, it sets up the chance to get a third free agent in 2012 when the top three free agents, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams become free agents. Williams emphatically denied a report saying that he would like to be a Knick in 2012. If New York can land a third big name, they are expected to compete with the Miami Heat in the future for championships in the Eastern Conference.
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