The Knicks Fans Await The Final Piece Of The Puzzle

When Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul made the announcement that they would join Amar'e "STAT" Stoudemire on the New York Knicks squad at Carmelo’s wedding, I was happier than a kid with a bag full of Halloween candy. Albeit fiction at the time, just the thought of it had me salivating, as a Knicks fan. Well, we found a way to get Carmelo traded and signed, but we haven’t been as fortunate in our pursuit of CP3. It didn’t even seem likely that it would happen any time soon, as talks were never stirred up between the New Orleans Hornets and the New York Knicks.

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Word is now circulating throughout the blogosphere that Paul has instructed his agent and the Hornets to get a deal done sending him to New York. No one is happier than I am that Chris Paul wants to be a part of the Knicks family. As a lifelong Knicks fan, I am excited about the possibility of this happening. The only real problem with getting this deal done is that we really don’t have anything to give the Hornets in return. We mortgaged our team to get the Carmelo deal done, and there isn’t really anything left to offer but picks and expiring contracts.

Now that two-thirds of the deal is done, I have to wonder if the third leg of the deal will ever get to be finalized. I suspect owners are going to try to make it harder for players to leave one team and handcuff them in the trade process, especially after what happened with Carmelo and Lebron last season. That leaves Chris Paul in limbo. If you really think about it though, he is in the last year of his contract and the Hornets don’t want to lose him for nothing at all, so a deal may just get done. No other team will trade for Paul if they know he is not going to sign an extension to stay more than the remainder of this season so, in that aspect, the Knicks may have a little leverage.

The new CBA makes this deal even tougher for the Knicks to pull off. The only way Paul can be adequately compensated is through an extend-and-trade deal. The extend-and-trades in the new CBA are also not as appealing, because it calls for only a three-year extension, not a four-year extension. Paul can sign for four years in the summer and, if the Hornets and Knicks can work out a sign-and-trade in July, five years.

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The Knicks’ greatest fear is if Paul gets traded before free agency to a club he may have interest in, such as the Lakers, who reportedly may make an offer for Paul even if he doesn't sign an extension.

All I can do now is just sit and wait. I will enjoy Melo and STAT but I will be awaiting the arrival of my homie, Chris Paul, to my long-loved Knicks. It's been a long time since we have had more than one person to cheer for on our roster. Now we have two guys who can go for 30 plus on any given night. If we get the third piece of the puzzle, the game changes drastically. If this works out like I think it can, there will be no one on this earth happier than myself. Well, maybe STAT and Melo, because their life will get easier.

Stay Breezy ~ I’m Out!

6 Replies to The Knicks Fans Await The Final Piece Of The Puzzle

1. Inquisitve Mind says:

   02/12/2011 at 11:07 pm

   Paul may end up on the other LA team because the Clips have the young pieces and the unprotected 1st round pick from the Timberwolves (I think) for next year.
   Paul can come as a free agent to NY but he loses approximatley $28M over a 5 year period. If the Knicks get him, I think they are more dangerous than the Heat because Paul will get Melo and Stat the ball where they need it. Right now Melo dominates the rock too much. D'Antoni can't spell defense, so getting him a defensive minded assistant coach is much needed.
   Lakers will probably go after Dwight Howard.

2. marclife says:

   02/12/2011 at 4:59 pm

   The 3rd piece to the puzzle is DEFENSE. So long as Amare and Melo are the team leaders that puzzle piece we be forever lost.

   86-ing Mr. Dantoni might help in that area as well

3. JAG says:

   02/12/2011 at 1:20 pm

   Two studs are enough to develop a championship team if the front office makes savvy moves to get the right mix of complimentary players. Sitting back and waiting for CP3 is a cop out. You've taken Spike and everybody else's money long enough. Stop playing for the future and start trying to win now.

   What do GM's and scouts get paid to do? Conclude that CP3 would look nice in a Knick uniform? My mother knows that. Grant, Cartwright and Paxton aren't getting anywhere near the Hall, but they were a perfect mix for Scottie and MJ.

   Like Joe said, they got their two targets, they have nothing to offer to get CP3, so forget him for now and put in some work. Plenty of free agents out there who might work out. Aaron, Brooks, Jamal Crawford, Tyson Chandler, hell, take a flyer on Greg Oden maybe. There are going to be plenty of open shots on the perimeter. An average guard suddenly looks good when he's playing with two all star forwards.

   Knick fans - don't fall for the "we're still one superstar short" routine. Demand that they get it together, do their homework and construct a viable team for Christmas.

4. Reverend Paul Revere says:

   02/12/2011 at 12:51 pm

   As a Sixers fan, I hope this last third of the equation never happens for the Knicks … but as a basketball fan, I can't help but salivate over Paul throwing lobs to Amare and getting the ball to Melo in the best position to score, making him an even more lethal scorer.

   • E. Maisonet, III says:

     02/12/2011 at 2:17 pm

     Rev, do the Sixers have any thoughts on making moves this year? They keep talking about doing something with Iguodala...Brand's not going to get amnesty'd....what's their plan, man?

     • Reverend Paul Revere says:

       02/12/2011 at 2:41 pm

       I have absolutely no idea what their plan is. I think the new owners would entertain offers for Iguodala, but in the abbreviated season that culminated with a surprisingly exciting playoff series with the Heat, I think they may just ride it out and try to build on success from last year. But the next season, Iggy almost has to be gone. He's redundant, albeit it superior, with Evan Turner, and this team can't compete for a title.

       I'm interested to see what they do, but I really have no idea. My guess is absolutely nothing this year, beyond signing a few guys to round out the roster, maybe even a real center, but I don't see them shaking up the roster much. Maybe I'm wrong, but Collins loves his players, and the new owners probably want a little stability in year 1.