First off, let me start by saying that I was all in for the Knicks to GO all in for Carmelo Anthony from day 1. As the season progressed and we started to hear that Carmelo only wanted to be a Knick I began to preach patience and wait until the offseason despite CBA uncertainty. I firmly believed at the time that if he wants to play with us, he'll take less money. If he wanted CP3 with us, he would take less money so we could afford the tandem of 3. But as New Jersey began to start forking over first round draft picks one after the other and Melo clearly being uncertain about losing the money (despite easily making up for it through endorsements in the Media capital of the World), I turned back to my original belief that it was now or never, don't let anything hold you back.
Then the world of the Knicks blew up in our faces. It appeared inevitable that the Knicks, with days to go, would acquire Carmelo Anthony, and then Frank Isola of the NY Daily News dropped the bombshell that Isiah Thomas was working from the outside to get the deal done. Quite frankly, I don't necessarily buy into it. I feel he influenced James Dolan to give up a little more, but overall Donnie gave in as well and they were all on board. If Frank had kept his mouth shut, we would have given up a ton and would be blaming/praising Donnie Walsh instead of criticizing Dolan & Zeke.
As for the team, yeah, it's tough to part with Danilo Gallinari & Raymond Felton, but quite frankly they are both replaceable as long as you draft smart. Normally I don't agree with what Mike Francesa says but he made 100% sense today -- when you have the opportunity to either bring a superstar to NY or send him off to NJ, you gotta bring him in. Danilo Gallinari should not be in the way; Raymond Felton should never be in the way; and of course Timofey Mozgov who wasnt in the rotation 1 month ago, almost certainly shouldn't be the breaking point. When a player of Carmelo's ability can drop 27 ppg in 16 playoff games in 1 postseason, you HAVE to get him if he's out there. If he WANTS to be on your team, you HAVE to get him! There is no "This is a bad trade" or "they gave up too much". Because Felton was a 2-year contract and nothing more was expected. Gallinari would have been on the bench getting 20 mpg behind Carmelo and Wilson Chandler was not going to play 8 mpg behind Melo & Gallo. He was going to be a Free Agent, no doubt. Anthony Randolph was in D'Antoni's doghouse and you never get out of the doghouse unless there are injuries, and Eddy Curry will never step on a court unless he drops 30 lbs. This was a deal they HAD to get done.
This is not a trade to set us up for now, or even next year. It's one more step in the right direction for 2012-2013 Season. We want Chris Paul. He wants to be here. Deron Williams has hinted he wants to be here. If the big-shot owners get what they want in the new CBA then I guarantee the Knicks WILL get him. However, what worries me is not whether or not we can get a new PG. It is not whether or not we can build around the stars, and get a sizeable, defensive, rebounding Center. It is whether or not this was all for nothing, and the reason for that is we have absolutely no idea whether or not Mike D'Antoni's system can bring a Championship. I mean holy smokes he had so much talent in Phoenix for so many years but could never lift that team all the way because he preaches 0 defense. He does not focus on it at all, and for years it has been proven that you MUST have defense to win a championship.... but there's always a first time for everything, correct? Francesa spoke the truest statement of all -- In the 70s, nobody believed Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe could coexist on the Knicks for even one game... and what they did was defy all the doubters, create some of the most beautiful teamwork the NBA has seen, and brought the Knicks their 2nd and last NBA Championship.
Maybe D'Antoni will prove us wrong, but until he does I will always have this doubt in my head as to whether or not all the contracts being moved and acquiring 2 or 3 superstars was all for nothing. And I guarantee you if in 8 years we sit here and discuss how D'Antoni failed to bring the Knicks a Championship, we'll all sit here and say "2005.... Phil Jackson was turned away..." Because even though it's doubtful, if Phil had been the coach, who knows if he'd be the coach still and be looking to NOT retire from the NBA. Because with Melo & Amar'e, give him a decent center and a formidable bench and he WILL deliver the championship. Not to take anything away from D'Antoni, but no matter who is on the roster over the next 2 years I will have what I like to call "limited optimism". Donnie Walsh & James Dolan did what they had to do. If the Knicks hold onto Walsh for one more year, I believe he can put the right pieces around Carmelo & Amar'e. Veterans will take minimum to play with these two, that's for sure. If Walsh can do his part next, then it's all up to Mike D'Antoni to prove it once and for all that his system can work. Because a 1-2-3 of Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire might be the best offensive threesome possible in the NBA today. It can be faster and equal or better to Miami... but D'Antoni has to man up to his words and make it happen. I give him 3 more years. If he can't deliver by then and somebody else is out there who they feel CAN and HAS delivered, then drop his ass and bring home the Gold.
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