The decision on who is the winner and the loser of the Carmelo trade will not be determined for years to come but don’t bet your mortgage on the Nuggets being the winner of the blockbuster trade.
A franchise player like Anthony is a rare breed in the NBA, players like him do not come every year. Along with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, Anthony is one of the most lethal scorers in the game today with the ability to consistently score from anywhere on the court.
Anthony will also win the Knicks many playoff games due to his ability to come through in the clutch. Due to his offensive arsenal, Melo is the most dangerous closer in the league who doesn’t reside in Los Angeles.
The negatives of Carmelo’s game are also overblown. Anthony has proven to be a good defender in key moments in the past, take his stop on LeBron in the Knicks’ win over Miami for example. Anthony is also not the selfish player that many claim him to be, as he has actually been a willing passer.
Patience will be key for the Knicks and their fans though. We have seen the struggles the Heat are still enduring and that is with a training camp and almost a whole season together. The Knicks haven’t even had many practices together so expecting a playoff splash is too much to ask for. The Knicks will be a tough out in the playoffs but nothing more than a long first round series should be expected of them this year.