Muller: 'Wait And See' Approach Would Be Appropriate For Knicks Fans
By Shawn Muller--
Attention New York Knicks fans: if you are wondering when you are going to win your first NBA Championship since 1973…I will let you in on a little secret, okay?
The New York Knicks are no closer to winning an NBA title with the addition of Carmelo Anthony than they were before the blockbuster deal earlier today. Now, I will be the first one to say that I think—at least offensively, anyway--that Carmelo Anthony is easily one of the top 5 players in the NBA right now (Bryant, James, Wade, and Durant being the others). But this deal is not going to automatically vault New York to the forefront of the title picture.
This is the New York Knicks, remember? Everything they touch turns to mush (I am trying to keep it G-Rated, but you know what I mean).
This is the franchise that is not known for its stellar play on the court. It is known for bonehead transactions and knee jerk reactions in an effort to make themselves relevant in a league that pretty much views them as a laughing stock. This is a franchise that wants to win so badly, that it will over pay for marginal talent. Carmelo Anthony is not a marginal talent, but he and Amar'e Stoudemire alone will not make the Knicks title contenders. We need to see what the Knicks do to put a supporting cast around these guys before they can be taken seriously…but therein lies the problem:
No NBA franchise has made more "questionable" moves over the past ten years than the Knickerbockers, so why should I, or anyone else, tremble at the thought of Anthony in New York?
This is the franchise that traded Tim Thomas (actually, not a bad move) and two first-round draft picks in 2006 and 2007 for Chicago-native (and complete NBA bust) Eddie Curry. Yes, apparently Eddie Curry was worth Tim Thomas and two first-round picks (that would end up being the #2 and #9 picks, respectively) for a guy that has spent more time on the disabled list than the Titanic has at the bottom of the Atlantic. Did I mention that the Knicks also had to pay Curry roughly $35,000,000 to sit on the bench?
Or lest we forget the most recent dealing with the Denver Nuggets prior to the Carmelo Anthony deal. The Knicks traded Nene Hilario, Marcus Camby, and Mark Jackson for Antonio McDyess, Frank Williams (yeah…that Frank Williams), and Maciej Lampe (who??). Hilario and Camby—along with Billups, Anthony, and Kenyon Martin—helped to turn the hapless Denver Nuggets franchise into one of the best teams in the Western Conference for the past 5 seasons. Antonio McDyess, while a good player prior a knee injury, never made an impact in New York. Frank Williams was a complete washout, and the last I had heard, Maciej Lampe is still trying to figure out exactly how to pronounce his name.
How did that Stephon Marbury deal work out? Are you still glad that you traded Channing Frye and Steve Francis for a talented Zach Randolph? The Randolph deal would have actually been viewed as a pretty solid trade; IF Randolph would have stuck around. He never meshed well with Isaiah Thomas (actually…who ever has), and Randolph was gone from Gotham almost as quickly as he had arrived.
Maybe the Carmelo Anthony deal will end up being a homerun…that we will have to wait and see about, I suppose. But looking at what the team gave up in order to get 'Melo, and I can easily see this deal falling in line with all the other boneheaded moves made by a front office that just can't seem to understand the concept of trade "value." Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, and a 2014 1st-round pick (plus cash and additional future picks)…For Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey "Past My Prime" Billups, Shelden "I Haven't Mattered Since Duke" Williams, Anthony "Non-Difference Maker" Carter, and Renaldo "Oh no…Not New York Again" Balkman?
If I am a Denver Nuggets fan, I would be pretty excited about this deal. You get some young talent and a first-round pick in exchange for an aging point guard and a disgruntled superstar? Sounds good to me. If I am a Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Magic, or Hawks fan…I am not the least bit worried.
This is the New York Knicks we are talking about, remember? Pardon me while I wait to see this deal implode like the previous Knickerbocker deals over the past decade.
Do you agree with Shawn? Post your comments below.
Shawn Muller has lived in the great city of Chicago for 7 years. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in October of 2010, Shawn received his certificate in radio broadcasting. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser" every Thursday night at 8:30 P.M., at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24.
