Getting Carmelo to NY

I honestly believe that for Carmelo Anthony to leave Denver and end up in New York a third team seeking low financial risk with high to moderate potential reward players back will have to be included. I've used New Orleans as an example of what I think an Anthony trade to the Knicks will look like.

Now keep in mind that I have intentionally not included draft picks. I think everyone can agree that if and when Anthony is traded picks will be included. That said, contracts matching and getting reasonable talent returns are more important right now.

In this mock transaction, the Knicks give up Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Anthony Randolph, and Eddy Curry to get Anthony. Their post trade depth chart:

Raymond Felton - Toney Douglas
Landry Fields - Roger Mason Jr. - Andy Rautins - Kelenna Azubuike (IR)
Anthony - Bill Walker - Shawne Williams
Amar'e Stoudemire
Timofey Mozgov - Ronny Turiaf

Not a championship contender but certainly a step in the right direction. Should leave just enough salary cap room for the Knicks to make a run at Tony Parker or Marc Gasol if they see fit.

Denver says goodbye to Carmelo Anthony and welcomes Randoplh and Gallinari from New York plus Peja Stojakovic from New Orleans. The post trade Nuggets:

Chauncey Billups - Ty Lawson - Anthony Carter
Arron Afflalo - J.R. Smith - Gary Forbes
Gallinari - Stojakovic - Renaldo Balkman
Kenyon Martin - Al Harrington - Randolph - Shelden Williams
Nenê - Chris Andersen - Melvin Ely

Not as impressive but still a playoff team more than likely. Denver should also like that Gallinari and Randolph (to some people) both have mega potential but have a moderate deals that pay them each less $5 million per season for three seasons; while Stojakovic is an expiring contract which opens the team to be a major player in free agency when figured in with the expiring deals and player/team options already on the team.

New Orleans uses Stojakovic expiring deal to get the expring deal of Curry, and a young quality but relatively cheap player in Chandler. The new look Hornets:

Chris Paul - Jerryd Bayless
Marcus Thornton - Marco Belinelli - Willie Green - Quincy Pondexter
Trevor Ariza - Chandler - Joe Alexander
David West - Jason Smith - Pops Mensah-Bonsu
Emeka Okafor - Curry - Aaron Gray - Didier Ilunga-Mbenga

Not spectacular but nice additions for Hornets. Deal could be a great one for Hornets if they can get Curry to resemble his 2006-2007 form. If Curry doesn't then they let his deal expire, if he does they look for a sign and trade partner. Chandler gives them a quality backup at both SG and SF that can be re-signed to a reasonable deal in the summer of 2012.