New York Knicks: 5 Best/Worst Trades In Team History
In the storied history of the New York Knicks franchise, the team has never been shy in making blockbuster trades in order to try and return to the pinnacle of the NBA. Some of the most successful and popular Knicks of all-time have joined the team via trade, but the team’s willingness to swing for the fences in trades has also led to some of the darkest times in the team’s history. Let’s take a look at the five best and worst trades in the history of the New York Knicks.
The Best
5. In January 1999, the New York Knicks made a huge acquisition by trading Terry Cummings, Chris Mills and John Starks to Golden State for All-Star swingman Latrell Sprewell. One of the most exciting and popular players in the league at the time, Sprewell had an immediate impact in New York, helping the team reach the ’99 Finals in his first season while he averaged more than 20 points per game throughout the playoffs. Sprewell would remain with the Knicks for an additional four seasons, where he would go on to average 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Sprewell was once again named an All-Star in 2001, this time representing the Knicks, as he averaged 19.4 points per game that season. Despite character concerns when he first arrived in New York, Sprewell’s on-court production was outstanding during his tenure for the Knicks.
4. After a very public trade demand, Carmelo Anthony got his wish. As part of a complex three-way deal in February 2011 between the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, he was traded to New York. The Knicks sent an array of players and draft picks in the deal, most notably Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, however, they were desperate for a superstar player and Carmelo Anthony had made the decision that he only wanted to play in New York. Since his arrival, the Knicks franchise has been revitalized. He has appeared as an All-Star for the team in 2012 and ‘13 but more importantly led the team to a 54-28 record in 2012-13, the best since the ‘96-97 season. He was also the leading scorer in the league this season, averaging 28.7 points per game. Since joining New York he has averaged 26 points and more than six rebounds per game. If he and the team continue this upward trend in coming years he could see a dramatic rise in this list of best trades in Knicks’ history.
Carmelo Anthony was traded to the Knicks in 2011.
Photo Credit: Scott Mecum, Flickr.com
3. In June 1988, the Knicks traded Bill Cartwright to the Chicago Bulls for Charles Oakley and the teams also exchanged first- and third-round selections. Oakley would go on to play 10 seasons for the New York Knicks and right through to the ‘97-98 season the team made the playoffs on every occasion. One of the toughest, most durable players in the league, Oakley would play in all 82 games for the Knicks in four seasons, rarely ever missing a game despite his hard-nosed, aggressive play in the paint. One of the league’s most tenacious rebounders and defenders, Oakley averaged a double-double over his 10 seasons in New York. He would go on to average 10.4 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks and was rewarded with a berth in the 1994 All-Star Game.
2. During the 1968 season, the Knicks traded Walt Bellamy and Howard Komives to the Detroit Pistons for swingman Dave DeBusschere. DeBusschere would go on to have a wonderful, decorated five-season stint with the Knicks as he was named to five straight All-Star games from 1970-74 and was an essential piece to the Knicks championships in 1970 and ’73. Over the course of his five seasons with the Knicks, DeBusschere averaged 16 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
1. In November 1971, the New York Knicks made a trade for the great Earl Monroe when they sent Mike Riordan and Dave Stallworth to the Baltimore Bullets. Monroe joined an already successful Knicks team and helped lead them to back-to-back finals in 1972 and ’73, winning the NBA title in the latter. Monroe would go on to play nine seasons for the Knicks, where he would average 16.2 points, three assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. “The Pearl” was named as an All-Star for the Knicks in the ’75 and ’77 seasons and would go on to finish his career in New York. The Hall of Fame career and the minimal price it cost to acquire him makes the trade for Monroe the best in Knicks’ franchise history.
The Worst
5. Draft day 2002, the New York Knicks sent Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson and the seventh-overall pick for former All-Star forward Antonio McDyess. Due to injuries, McDyess would not play at all in the 2002-03 season and would play just 18 games for the Knicks in total. He averaged just 8.4 points and 6.6 rebounds for New York before being traded to the Suns in 2004.
4. In February 2006, the Knicks traded Trevor Ariza and the expiring contract of Anfernee Hardaway for guard Steve Francis, who had two years remaining on a max contract. Francis was brought in to form a dynamic combination in the back court with Stephon Marbury, but the team failed to gel and Francis appeared uninterested as his skills showed a drastic decline.
The Knicks trade for Steve Francis (left) in 2006 was a disaster. Photo via Flickr user Jon.
3. During the 2004 season, the Knicks traded Antonio McDyess, Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward, Maciej Lampe, the rights to Milos Vujanic and two first-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for Stephon Marbury, Anfernee Hardaway and Cezary Trybanski. With Marbury at the helm, the Knicks twice tied the worst record in franchise history with 23 wins. Marbury’s time in New York was a disaster on-court and provided its fair share of off-court drama, as well.
2. In October 2005 the Knicks traded a bevy of draft picks for a young center by the name of Eddy Curry. Curry, who appeared to have enormous potential, showed great promise in the 2006-07 season, averaging 19.1 points and seven rebounds per game. The team rewarded his play with a huge contract extension but a mix of heart issues, off-court drama and weight problems broke Curry down and he was only able to play 69 games over the next three seasons.
1. In the summer of 2000 the Knicks did the unthinkable and traded franchise cornerstone Patrick Ewing to the Seattle SuperSonics in a four-team deal that landed the Knicks Glen Rice, Luc Longley and Travis Knight. Ewing, who had spent his entire 15-year career up to that point with the Knicks, was in the final stages of his career and instead of allowing him to retire in New York and allow his contract to expire, the Knicks added more than $90 million of salary through to 2004. The move angered fans and set the franchise back for years.[slider_pro id=”20″]