Knicks post Melo trade

[jdpapa3]

New Knicks depth

Chauncey/Toney Douglas
Fields/Walker
Melo/Walker
Amare/Balkman
Turiaf/Shelden

That 5 is very strong, even with Turiaf. I think Turiaf's interior D is underrated. East got stronger, imo. One of those starters gets a nick and the team is gonna fail miserably. But you can say that about a lot of teams.

Definitely expect Felton to be moved on. Surprised they gave up Mozgov when they were pretty much the leaders of the pack by a mile. Seems like Donnie Walsh got pushed out of the driver's seat in the middle of this process. Bizarre.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Regarding the Knicks holding on to Mozgov..

Basically at the end of the day, the Knicks are trading Gallinari and Mozgov and a 1st for Melo and Billups.

They will pull the trigger..they might fuss a little bit about Mozgov because allegedly the Nuggets keep coming back demanding more (which sounds familiar), but if that's the final asking price, they'll pull the trigger.

I can say here in New York, the mood amongst the diehard Knicks fans that I know is tempered.

Most everyone takes the stance that you do, that ultimately New York still won this trade on balance. But there's also the impression the front office once again bid against itself (which has been the rule from Allan Houston on...). And its helped in no small part by Walsh's ongoing contract situation and Dolan and Isiah's return to the headlines.

The coming off-season will be crucial.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Billups will play in New York for sure. It was the Nets he wanted to seek a buy out from.

yeah, i don't know about that. he's from Colorado. and he's stated that he wants to finish his career in Denver. i was under the impression that he was going to seek a buyout wherever he got traded to, contender or not.

He may, but what leverage does he have?  I suppose he can retire, but that's about it.

That was the veiled threat back in January when the Nets emerged as front runners. Not sure if the brighter lights and bigger city hold greater appeal for Chauncey.

"I've been in constant contact with Masai Ujiri and made it clear that Chauncey's desire is to remain a Nugget for the rest of his playing career and thereafter," Billups' agent, Andy Miller, said by phone Saturday. "If any of these rumors were to come to fruition, Chauncey and I would definitely want to maintain our flexibility and explore our free agency as soon as possible."

[GaBerkowitz]

Knicks gave up a lot here to get Melo.  And their depth is pretty much non-existent.  Not sure it makes a difference for them this year as I am not sure how they are any better than the 5/6 seed in the east.  however in the long run you gotta think players will take less to go to NY, and they will be able to fill in their roster that way.

However their lack of draft picks b/t the McGrady trade last year and this trade is going to make building through the draft nearly impossible.   Interesting to say the least.

[heitingas]

billups/douglas
fields/walker
melo/jeffries/williams
amare/balkman/shelden
turiaf
leftovers: carter,mason,rautins


this team is awkward, as I predicted they are playing at .500 level, 3-3 since the trade and including lost 2 games against the cavs. They aren't going to be a good team in the close future.

[heitingas]

double post

[jdz101]

They definitely aren't any stronger than they were, which presumably was the aim of the exercise. 

The scoring is just more focused on 3 guys rather than spread between Amare and the talent thats mostly at Denver right now.

If I was a Knicks fan I would be pretty underwhelmed right now.

[Eeyore III]

They're much worse to watch since the trade.  The team before had its weaknesses, but they played a fun style of ball.

Now, the scoring is unbalanced, the defense is worse, and the ball stops in the hands of The Divine Melo, who pounds, pounds, pounds the ball until the shot clock is about to expire.

How many times will the odious James "Thanksdad" Dolan let Isaiah ruin the team?  Those two creeps should be banned from the league.

[droponov]

Melo's unwillingness to put $20M-$30M of earnings during his prime in jeopardy (and rightly so) was the main leverage the Nuggets had, not exactly the Nets. The Knicks knew the chances of Melo not signing an extension till the end of the season (with Denver, New Jersey or whoever) were small so they needed to offer Denver a good enough deal.

The Knicks need some size to become a respectable team. D'Antoni said he's willing to slow down the pace - smart decision, much better for Billups and Melo - so he should be able to field a defensive/rebounding big next to Stoudemire.

[heitingas]

knicks are going to be 7th seed and face either the bulls or celtics, i'm hoping we have the 1st seed throughout the eastern playoffs, I also wouldn't be surprised if the knicks will look at the seeding a little bit, they would probably try to avoid the heat, the sixers will finish 6th.