TRUEFAN NY KNICKS CARMELO ANTHONY OKC THUNDER TRADE ANALYSIS AND GRADE

TRUEFAN CARMELO ANTHONY TRADE REACTION

Written By Kyle Crabbe

Twitter:@KthetruestKnick

After much speculation and deliberation the New York Knicks have traded their in-house superstar of the past 7 seasons in Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a blockbuster trade that will have great effect on the upcoming NBA season, let's take a look at how this trade works out for the New York Knicks.

Trade Details

-Oklahoma City Thunder Recieve

SF Carmelo Anthony

-New York Knicks Recieve

C Enes Kanter

SF Doug McDermott

2018 Chicago Bulls 2^nd Round Pick

TrueFan Full Trade Analysis

This trade sends a future hall of famer and greatest scorer of his generation in Carmelo Anthony to a team that has put together the best backcourt in the NBA earlier this off-season. For OKC this trade completes their roster and makes them a legitimate NBA championship contender for 2017-18 NBA season. It's a great trade for the Thunder because now on paper they are as talented as any team in the NBA including the defending champs in the Golden State Warriors. In my opinion with the addition of Carmelo the Thunder become the 2^nd best team in the Western Conference. The Thunder will now sport a backcourt that can score and guard anybody in the NBA with Russell Westbrook and Paul George, but also now with Carmelo Anthony added to those two, they have 3 players than can score on any night with any team in the NBA now. OKC can now employ a great modern lineup with Carmelo possibly at the 4 and Patrick Peterson at the 5 with Paul George at the 3, defensive star Andre Roberson at the 2 and of course 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook at the 1. OKC's coach Billy Donovan has a tall task of fiting the pieces with the Thunder. However, this trade truly makes the West more competitive.

For the Knicks this is a good but not great trade. The Knicks were able to successfully complete the much needed Carmelo Anthony trade while getting back in return good value. The Knicks were able to satisfy Carmelo's need and ambition and send Carmelo to a team where he could succeed and compete for a Championship immediately. They also were able to bring in pieces to make up for the scoring lost of Carmelo and was able to get a draft pick for the future in this deal. So kudos to New York Knicks General Manager Scott Perry for making the best out of a complicated situation.

TrueFan Knicks Trade Grade and Verdict

To look at this Knicks trade we must first look at the position they are in. The Knicks have now fully embraced a rebuild and we are looking at the new-look Knicks for the next 5 years. For the first time in 30 years the New York Knicks are building their team through the draft and have drafted franchise cornerstones. This fact is due in thanks to former President Phil Jackson for stubbornly building this team's young foundation with selecting Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, and Frank Ntilikina.

Now to the trade; the Knicks received from the OKC Thunder big man Enes Kanter, Swingman Sharpshooter Doug McDermott, and a 2^nd Round Pick. As we speak of Enes Kanter first, in Kanter the Knicks receive arguably the best scoring low-post big man in the NBA. Kanter, 25, a former 3^rd overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft is a known great scoring option. Kanter is also a great rebounder as he was 3^rd in offensive rebound percentage in the NBA last year as well as top 10 in second chance points. Kanter was a early choice for sixth man of the year for this upcoming season and great chances he can be a great option of the bench for the New York Knicks.

In Doug McDermott the Knicks also make up for some of the shooting prowess they lose in SF Carmelo Anthony. McDermott, 25, former 11^th overall selection in the 2014 NBA draft is known for his great long range shooting ability. McDermott, a former college star for Creighton university will be given the opportunity to come in and compete for minutes and also add a great floor spacer for the 2017-18 New York Knicks.

Lastly, the Knicks received a 2^nd round draft pick in this deal from the OKC Thunder. While for a player of Carmelo Anthony's caliber a first round pick would be expected this second round pick is of similar value. The Thunder sent the NY Knicks the Chicago Bulls 2018 2^nd Round pick. It terms of placement the Bulls are expected to have one of the worst records in the upcoming season due to their roster turnover to a full youthful rebuild. Therefore their second round pick will be comparable to a late first round pick in very early start of the second round. For that reason alone, credit Knicks GM Scott Perry for basically got the same value he would of receive with the Thunder's 2018 1^st round pick.

So overall, this is a successful trade for not only the OKC Thunder but also from NY Knicks GM Scott Perry and the new NY Knicks front office regime. While many pundits say the Knicks didn't get equal value for Carmelo Anthony, I disagree. I feel much was overblown by the press over how Phil Jackson handled the entire situation. I believe Phil Jackson did what any great leader should do. He was very honest about the Knicks team and how he felt that the Knicks had to be built to be a championship team. While the rest of us became impatient, I credit Phil for not being impatient in his long view for the NY Knicks future. I don't believe Phil Jackson reduced Carmelo's trade value because we all still viewed what Carmelo Anthony still is on the basketball court. As to where I feel Carmelo's value has declined is much more due to where he is as a player now in his career. At this point in Carmelo's career his reduced athleticism has limited the other areas of the game he can have influence on and be effective in. Carmelo is still a great player and dominant scorer in this league but is no longer overall a top 10 player. But as a top 30 player in the league the Knicks were able to get comparable talent in the trade of Carmelo Anthony. In Enes Kanter the Knicks get a talented big man than can help off the bench greatly scoring and rebounding as well as be a great mentor to Knicks young center Willy Hernangomez. But also in my opinion Kanter gives the Knicks front office great flexibility in the upcoming season. Kanter is on a very friendly contract, with only one year left on his deal with a player option for next season. Teams like the Boston Celtics or the Washington Wizards that might need a good scoring big man next season to bolster their playoff chances might look to trade for Kanter or one of the many big men the Knicks now have. The Knicks also get a good draft pick in the Chicago Bulls pick for virtually a late first round pick in this upcoming draft.

TrueFan Grade: B

As a huge NY Knicks fan I am both happy and sad for this Carmelo trade. I am very happy Carmelo Anthony gets the opportunity to compete for a championship but very sad Carmelo Anthony will no longer don the NY Knicks uniform. I am also very happy the New York Knicks were able to finally eliminate all the negative press around the team and now completely build their foundation for the next decade of Knicks basketball. I'm very excited to see Kristaps Porzingis take the reins of the city and take his talents to the highest levels. I am also holding out a small hope that in maybe 3 or 4 years when Carmelo Anthony has made out in his time with the Thunder, he may return to Knicks, to finish his career as a New York Knickerbocker.

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