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Trade Deadline: Contenders Deal For Point Guards At Their Own Risk

By Phil Watson

Jan 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks for an opening around Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks for an opening around Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets puts up a shot over Amar’e Stoudemire #1 and Danilo Gallinari #8 of the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center on November 16, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 120-118. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets puts up a shot over Amar’e Stoudemire #1 and Danilo Gallinari #8 of the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center on November 16, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 120-118. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

The Deal: Knicks Go All-In On Melo

Denver Nuggets Get: Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, cash, New York’s second-round picks in 2012 and 2013, New York’s 2014 first-round pick
Minnesota Timberwolves Get: Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph, cash
New York Knicks Get: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Corey Brewer, Renaldo Balkman, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams

Most well-known as the “Carmelo Anthony trade,” the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets also swapped starting point guards in this Feb. 22, 2011, blockbuster, with Raymond Felton going to the Nuggets and Chauncey Billups heading to New York.

The Nuggets were 32-25 at the time they did the deal and actually got better following the trade of Anthony, who had been unhappy in Denver for much of the season. The Nuggets closed the season on an 18-7 spurt but went down in the first round of the playoffs to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games.

Felton, however, did not take over as Denver’s starter at the point; instead, youngster Ty Lawson moved into the starting lineup with Felton playing with the second unit.

The Knicks, meanwhile, were 28-26 before the trade and 14-14 afterward. They were swept by the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

Billups was waived by the Knicks before the delayed 2011-12 season began, while Felton was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers over the summer, so from a point guard standpoint, the trade was a wash.

Next: This One Worked Out