This certainly appears to be a blockbuster, and quite expensive for the Knicks, but if you break it down, what actually happened?
If the reports are right, the Knicks gave up three of their top six, plus the big Russian who is just starting to look like he might have an NBA future.
Contracts aside, this is probably more than Melo is worth. But contracts play into this and there was a good chance that Wilson Chandler was not going to be part of the Knicks’ longterm future, because he becomes a restricted free agent (read this over the weekend, but cannot remember where).
Mozgov is nice, but nothing to block a trade. And Felton for Billups — well, Billups remains the better player in the short term, a champion with a proven track record. I like Felton — he is tough — but we may have seen his best ball already this season. And Billups’ contract expires in 2012, like Felton’s, so that is a wash.
Looked at this way, removing Chandler, Billups and Felton, it comes down to Melo and spare parts for Danilo Gallinari, Mozgov, a first-rounder and Anthony Randolph. Who wouldn’t do that?
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