Knicks fans across the country just got renewed confidence that Carmelo Anthony will be donning the orange and blue this summer, when he becomes a free agent. With the Nets’ owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s recent statement that the Nets will no longer be pursuing Carmelo, the main trade suitor for the Nuggets has fallen by the wayside. Knicks fans have been salivating over ‘Melo joining the Knicks since he declined to sign a contract extension with the Nuggets last summer. Knicks fans could be seen all over the country boasting #15 Anthony jerseys. For Donnie Walsh and the Knicks upper management, there couldn’t be a more perfect scenario than the possibility of landing ‘Melo as a free agent, without having to give up key players and draft picks to trade for him. With the impending lockout and the presumed lowering of maximum salaries, the Knicks will likely be able to land Anthony at a discounted rate.
After a decade-long period as the laughingstock of the NBA, things finally seem to be back on track for the New York Knickerbockers. After missing out on the three biggest name stars last summer in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Knicks were left with the combination of Amar’e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton. While Amar’e was a big name, he was not seen as one of the ultimate prizes of the off-season, thought to be a product of the greatness of Steve Nash. However, this season has proven that Stoudemire was not just a product of one of the best pure point guards in recent memory, but a truly dominant player in his own right. Looking at how Amar’e is thriving in New York with Felton distributing the ball and running the pick and roll, in addition to the Suns’ collapse in the absence of Stoudemire, you can’t help but wonder if it was actually Nash who was making Amar’e better or Amar’e who was helping show off Nash’s talents. This season has proven that the combination was at the very least mutually beneficial. As all of this has played out, ‘Melo has been stuck playing with a floundering Denver Nuggets team, watching from afar as Amar’e reenergizes the Knicks. This season has been a proving ground to ‘Melo that with his addition the Knicks would once again be a championship contender. This season’s successes are doing what the Knicks had hoped to do last year while trying to woo LeBron to come to New York. Showing superstars that you are a playoff team without them in the mix is a surefire way to prove to them that with their addition, things can only get better.
‘Melo has said all along that New York is one of the few places he would be willing to play next year. Anthony’s wife is an aspiring actress who would like to move to a city like New York or Los Angeles where it would be easier to ply her trade. Anthony has a base of fans in New York from his National Championship days as a member of the Syracuse Orange, and would be welcomed with open arms if he decided to become a member of the Knicks.
Adding ‘Melo, who has averaged 24.7 points per game throughout his career to the current Knicks roster would give them two superstars who can score from anywhere on the court. Virtually every victorious NBA Championship team in the history of the NBA has had at least two stars. Pairing Amar’e and ‘Melo, who are both in the primes of their careers, would give the Knicks the offensive firepower necessary to compete for a title for years to come. With two big-time scorers in Anthony and Stoudemire, a competent point guard in Felton, along with scrappy players like Wilson Chandler, Landry Fields, and Ronny Turiaf and a drop-dead shooter in Danilo Gallinari, you have the makings of a very good team. The only missing piece would be a defensive-minded center to help out alongside the more offensive-minded Stoudemire. With a solid core, the Knicks will have no problem finding a veteran of that mold who would accept a veteran’s minimum contract in order to make a run at a title. Anthony would likely thrive in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense. Can you imagine how scary a fast break you would have with Amar’e and ‘Melo running up the wings? Something D’Antoni’s offense thrives on.
The only question that remains is does this team have enough defense to be a championship team? ‘Melo and Amar’e are not known for their defensive prowess on the court. Guys like Toney Douglas, Wilson Chandler and Landry Fields will have to do most of the heavy lifting on defense. Only time will tell if this team can muster up enough stops in crucial situations in order to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy.
A competitive showing in the first round of the playoffs should be all the Knicks need to do this season to prove to ‘Melo that New York is the place for him. As Knicks fans, if we can just wait out the rest of the season until ‘Melo arrives in New York we will be set up for some of the most exhilarating basketball to grace the floor of Madison Square Garden in a long time. It might even be exciting enough to make up for ten years of futility. Well, I wouldn’t go that far, only a championship or two could do that.