Was Signing Carmelo Anthony Melodic or Melo-Dramatic?

So we’re only 24 hours {post} the Knick trade and all everyone is talking about is how Carmelo Anthony is a Knick. But what does a trade like this mean for the future of the NBA? Did the Knicks give up too much? Will they be any better? All of this will be addressed in the following article.

As a Knick fan, writing this blog has to be the most difficult thing for me to do, because as a writer, I have to remain objective. For my own personal reasons, I believe the trade was a success! However, to my disappointment many feel otherwise. Understandable because on the surface, the Knicks appeared to have given up too much. So looking at this thing {from the outside in} I will analyze the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony.

A NEW ERA OF THE NBA

As upsetting as this may be to some people, the birth of the SUPER TEAM started a few years ago. The NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers started off with their big 3 {Bryant, Gasol, Odam} who were all leaders on their own teams at one point. Boston soon followed when Danny Angie acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen right as Paul Pierce was ready to get the hell out of dodge!

As a result, The Los Angeles Lakers ended up winning back to back championships in 2009 & 2010 with Boston winning in 2008 and a trip to the finals last year. What does that tell us? The face of the NBA has changed! The days of Michael Jordan and “his supporting cast” is over. Teams are stocking up on All-Stars just to keep up with some of the NBA’s Elite!

There’s a fear brewing in the NBA and that fear is small market teams will lose their stars to big cities such as Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. Then there’s the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The league wants to implement a “hard cap” on franchises. What this means is, it will limit the amount of All-Stars a team can sign. The GOOD is, it will allow small market teams to maintain some of their superstars. The BAD is, players will have less say in contract negotiations.

THE SIGNING OF CARMELO ANTHONY

Getting back to Carmelo, depending on the results of this summer’s collective bargaining agreement. It could affect future moves in the Knicks organization. A “hard cap” could prevent the signing of Chris Paul or Deron Williams. But what the Knicks did when signing Carmelo Anthony was show they were serious in the pursuit of a championship. Sure they gave up 4 starters and 3 draft picks. But let’s look at that closely.

The current team the Knicks had of (Amare, Galinari, Felton, Chandler, Moskov) was a .500 team that could not compete with the SUPER TEAMS of the league. So you gave up Galinari and Felton? BIG DEAL! It’s better to replace a supporting cast than to wait another 10 years for an All-Star to come along. The Knicks had to strike while the iron was hot, and that’s just what they did.

Let’s not forget that they were able to retain Landry Fields who would be “Rookie of the Year” if not for Blake Griffin. For the next two seasons The New York Knicks CANNOT BE JUDGED. Why? Because they weren’t expected to win a championship with the team they had Pre-Melo! As two of the NBA’s top teams (Boston & LA) will be breaking down within the next 2-3 years, the Knicks will be rebuilding and getting better.

Let’s not forget that Phil Jackson has already confirmed he will not be returning to LA. Boston is getting old, so this is a 2-3 year project for the Knicks. ESPN analysis Stephen A. Smith quoted best when he stated “The New York Knicks need to capture the pulse of the city.” Had the Knicks lost Melo to their Brooklyn neighbors they would’ve never lived it down and everyone would’ve reminded them of it. So why not strike while the iron is hot?

Fact is, The Knicks just gave this city something to talk about. We’re a basketball town once again, and our 10 year absence of mediocrity will soon be a distant memory!

Source: ESPN

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