Monday’s blockbuster trade didn’t catch anyone off guard. If you’ve been following the NBA for the last nine months you’ve most likely heard a thing or two (or seventy-five-thousand) about Anthony’s desire to be traded to the New York Knicks. Denver tried to bait NY into adding every asset they could bear to offer for the larger-than-life Melo. To be fair to the man, Melo never demanded anything. He planned his future accordingly to what he believed would be best for him, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. He kept quiet when asked about possible trade destinations (like the incredibly bad New Jersey Nets, where the future looks to remain in the realms of the horrible). He refused to answer questions about his possible contract extension and the millions of dollars that he’d lose through free agency. He told reporters repeatedly that he was going to become an unrestricted free agent, and that was all there was to it. In this day and age, NBA superstars get what they want, and it’s best for them to keep quiet about it until what they want comes true (because it always does). Speculation isn’t credible, yet it’s all we ever read about anymore with the NBA. There’s nothing newsworthy or legitimate about Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, or Chris Paul free agency speculation. They’re going to be free agents in a few years. It happens. Speculating about the outcome of their free agency, however, is totally bogus, because nobody knows for sure what’s going to happen; we’re talking sixteen months from now! I do enjoy reading the rumor mill of certain NBA websites, but it seems that speculation is all we get anymore. Don’t these guys play basketball now? Aren’t all three fighting to make noise in the playoffs? Is there really nothing worth talking about other than eventual superstar relocation? Hey, what’s happening in Toronto? Amir Johnson’s living up to that contract, am I right? Wait, what?! Deron Williams just got traded to the New Jersey Nets!?!?! Okay, okay, I see why we talk about this stuff... Let’s just take a look at the three team trade. More to come on Williams in the near future.
Denver got a bounty of young talent- Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Tomofey Mozgov, a future 1st round pick, and a few future 2nd rounders. They unloaded the face of Denver sports ever since John Elway retired (I’d personally go with Todd Helton, but that’s just me), the Denver lover Chauncey Billups, and a bunch of spares (Renaldo Balkman (big Knick reunion!), Anthony Carter, and rebounding type person Sheldon “Sorry Ladies, He’s Married” Williams. Also in the trade, NY traded Anthony “One of the Worst Team Guys in the League” Randolph and Eddy Curry’s wardrobe to the Minnesota Timberpups for Corey Brewer.
I think Denver got a gigantic bunch of solidness for a guy who was going to lead them to a first round loss in this season’s playoffs and then jump ship. As we all learned with LeBron James’ ship jumping experience from last summer, these guys don’t care about a few extra million at the end of the year. They want to play where they want to play, and Denver knew that the contract extension bargaining chip was meaningless to a player who could make those millions in a heartbeat endorsing hamburgers in the Big Apple. They knew that Ty Lawson was their guy at the point for the future, so losing Chauncey Billups made sense. They waited, they clawed, they bluffed, they smoked near mirrors, and finally, with a little help from the sad Jersey team (who thinks for some reason that they’re a real desirable team to play for, when in fact, they’re the complete opposite. “Come play for me alongside Brick Slowpez! Just don’t ask the Dallas Mavericks for a reference,” I imagine Avery Johnson saying to LeBron James last summer, and to Carmelo Anthony last week. I mean, who are the Nets kidding!? Denver’s not making any noise this season in the playoffs (despite a very solid first post-trade game against Memphis), and in fact, they’ll probably finish in the lottery now, which is probably exactly where they want to finish. They wheeling and dealing might not be finished in Denver either, as management seems to prefer draft picks to some of their Knick imports. It’s pretty clear that Denver doesn’t belong in the top 8 teams in the West. Memphis is coming up fast, and the Western Conference playoff bracket isn’t big enough for everyone (the Hornets and Jazz are also be playing crappy basketball at the moment, and heck, maybe there’s also room for Phoenix and Golden State)! Adios winning era of Nugget of basketball that we’ve all grown accustomed to. The sunset in Denver is beautiful, so let’s all enjoy an eyeful as Nugget title contention (or maybe fake contention) rides off into it.
The Knicks are trade winners. I think more so than most are giving them credit for. Carmelo Anthony is a complete player, and his completeness is that of the superstar variety. Who doesn’t win with that? He and Amare will create an incredible offensive tandem, scoring at will. Both attack the hoop with intense strength and quickness, and both have deadly jumpers. Defenders will have to pick a poison, and poison never tastes good. Trust me. I’ve been poisoned. But that’s a story for a different blog. But the most intriguing part of this blockbuster trade in my eyes, is the man who was always a part of the rumors, but who nobody ever really cared to take a close look at. It’s Chauncey! A lot of people have been calling Billups “Over the hill” and “stupid” and “just plain blind and with bad toe hygiene,” but I’m here to tell you that those judgments of Chauncey Billups are simply not accurate. Sure, 34 isn’t a cute little puppy type age, but Billups is a true warrior. His body is a temple, and he takes that temple to the temple store all the time, and buys his temple all the best temple products to make sure his temple is up to his own personal temple requirements, metaphorically. Billups is playing much like he always does, and I think he’s the kind of dude who will continue to do so for another two or three good seasons.
Let’s look at the Knicks lineup. Billups and Landry Fields at the guard spots (first thing comes to my mind is toughness), with Carmelo, Amare, and a revolving door of centers on the front line (maybe somebody gets bought out and finds their way to NY’s starting five at the center position, or maybe Isiah Thomas comes back and brings back Eddy Curry in a second blockbuster trade. We all know Isiah loves Curry). Off the bench they have Toney Douglas and Bill Walker who have played significant roles very recently, and as reserves that matter, they’ll be motivated but won’t have any burden of carrying too much pressure. This team suddenly can beat others who they probably couldn’t beat before the trade. They can probably beat the Orlando Magic. They can probably beat the Atlanta Hawks. They might even have the veteran savvy to beat the Chicago Bulls (yes, I’m going to go out on a tree limb, or a person’s arm, and say that the Knicks can go seven against the Bulls, but will come up just short of besting them). Billups is a leader. He’s an NBA Finals MVP. I suddenly like the Knicks’ chances a lot, and it’s because this trade doesn’t just give them the two superstar lineup that everyone’s talking about with Melo and Amare, it’s because the trade gives the Knicks a THREE SUPERSTAR LINEUP. Billups is a game changer. He shoots threes with ice water in his body. He dishes the ball. Coach Mike will be raving about Billups within a week. Watch for it. Knicks noise will be there this post season. Now if only we can get a few superstars on the Indiana Pacers…
And finally, a short thought on the only real loser in this trade, the Minnesota Timberpups. Sure, Corey Brewer was a bust (but who isn’t in Minnesota other than Kevin Love. Good luck with Rubio yall. His 6 points per game with bad shooting in Europe will transfer well to the NBA game). But to trade for Anthony Randolph…. I mean seriously, did the Timberwolves brass not watch any tape of Randolph before making this trade? He’s easily one of the most selfish and stupid offensive players I’ve ever seen. He takes a pass, holds the ball for 4 to 8 seconds, jab-stepping or ball faking in one place, before going to his small arsenal of one-on-one moves. He’s got talent, but far greater than his talent, he’s got a huge amount of stupidity and bad attitude. He’ll most likely disrupt the small amount of team chemistry that Minnesota has (enough to find themselves losing tons of close games). I’m just glad that the Timberpups didn’t give away a draft pick for the terrible Randolph. Now David Kahn will be able to draft somebody else who stinks.
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