New York Knicks: Examining one of the dumbest trades in team history

The New York Knicks caved in to a weekend trade of Carmelo Anthony and reestablished themselves as one of the worst run franchises in professional sports.

It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the New York Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony and not demand a first round pick be in the deal. However, that is exactly what happened on Saturday when the Knicks sent Melo to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The trade, first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, sends Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second round pick to the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony. Both players are former first round picks who show occasional glimpses of star potential, minus their inability to play defense.

Kanter and McDermott are valuable additions to a team that needs scoring now that Carmelo isn’t stopping the ball anymore. Furthermore, history proves second round picks can produce talent like Carlos Boozer and Willy Hernangomez. The Knicks received solid additions to a team still finding their way.

However, just because the Knicks receive a few decent players and a second round pick does not mean the trade was worth doing. Carmelo only officially added the Thunder to his list on Friday and less than 24 hours later was sent to OKC.

The Wojnarowski report pointed out the two teams had preliminary trade discussions over the last few weeks. Yet, the best deal Steve Mills could find was two underachieving, defensively lazy, former first round picks for Carmelo Anthony?

Not good enough

Apparently, New York Knicks management feared Carmelo’s presence at training camp would be too much of a distraction. Consequently, their irrational fears caused them to accept a trade void of what they really need: first round draft picks.

Over the last few years, Carmelo handled himself with more class than any disgruntled superstar ever has. There is no reason to think he would have been any different at next week’s training camp. So, instead of waiting for a better deal or demanding the Thunder somehow include a first round pick, the Knicks gave in.

It would have likely required a third team to get a first round pick in any deal with the Thunder. But including a third team would mean more moving parts and more time needed to complete. However, Steve Mills collapsed under the pressure and let Sam Presti work his magic once again.

The New York Knicks knew for two years that they would eventually trade Carmelo Anthony. Steve Mills had plenty of time to put together trade scenarios for the day when Melo opened up his trade wish list. Yet, Knicks management made getting rid of Carmelo a higher priority than making their team better.

Indefensible trade

Enes Kanter is a solid, rotational center who has the potential to be Sixth Man of the Year this season. Similarly, Doug McDermott will have countless opportunities to shoot transition threes in the new Jeff Hornacek offense. Both players also share a common trait on defense though: they can’t guard anyone.

The lack of defensive ability for Kanter and McDermott will allow them to fit in with the rest of the team right away. This fact adds more proof that Steve Mills and Scott Perry had no intention to make the Knicks better in any Carmelo trade. Hopefully, come Monday they can defend this trade better than Kanter can defend a pick-and-roll.

It appeared that a bidding war for Carmelo could break out between the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, OKC Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers. After Melo opened up his wish list on Friday, there is no doubt the Knicks finally had trade leverage and options to improve the team. Yet, Steve Mills squandered that opportunity and failed to improve his team or even plan for the future.

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The noise heard emanating from Madison Square Garden on Saturday was the sound of the New York Knicks caving in to one of the dumbest trades in NBA history. By accepting such a trade, the Knicks reestablished themselves as one of the worst run franchises in all of professional sports.