TMS wrote:this trade has zero chance of going down... there's no way we can match $30M worth of salary coming back w/o completely gutting the entire roster, something DW has already said he wouldn't do.

Purely mathematically speaking, yes they can.

The factors are pretty simple.

1.) The 1.25% rule.

2.) Minnesota's proposed involvement as a "facilitator".

3.) The fact that Azubuike's and Curry's contract each come with built in savings.

This would be a basis structure that would allow the Knicks, Denver and Minnesota to make a deal work.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4bsphns

In such a deal, Denver would receive a windfall in salary and luxury tax savings (around $21m)

Minnesota, being under the cap, can absorb Curry's contract, and because it's more than 2/3rd's paid already and the Knicks can include $3m, Minnesota would only being adding $1m+ to their bottom line.

And the only rotation players Knicks would lose are Chandler and Felton and to a lesser degree Walker.

Curry, Azubuike and Randolph are all non-factors.

I'm not saying this deal is at all likely, I'm just pointing out the math is possible.

SupremeCommander wrote:

If Carmelo Anthony joins Amar'e Stoudemire with Knicks, Chris Paul sees team as NBA title contender

BY Stefan Bondy
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, February 9th 2011, 2:40 PM

Sipkin/News
Chris Paul (below) touts Carmelo Anthony (l.) as one of the NBA's elite scorers and sees a pairing of Anthony with Amar'e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton as tough to beat.

Chris Paul says he was just "talking, playing and having fun" at Carmelo Anthony's wedding in the summer, when he toasted to the idea of teaming up with Amar'e Stoudemire and Anthony in New York.

But if a deal for Anthony goes through - and if the Knicks are only one player away from making the toast a reality - Paul sees an immediate title contender at Madison Square Garden.

"No question. No question," he said. "You're talking about probably the best scorer in the league (Anthony) going to a team with Amar'e and Raymond Felton."

Paul and Anthony are good friends, sharing the same agent, Leon Rose, and the same Olympic championship squad in 2008.

He is set to become a free agent after the 2012-13 season, with potential suitors including the Knicks and Nets, who are scheduled to open their arena in Brooklyn the following season.

Part of the reason the Nets pushed so hard for Anthony was to attract Paul, who said Wednesday that winning a title drives free-agency decisions - not money - for superstars such as himself, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.

The Knicks already have an All-Star in Stoudemire, who has emerged as an MVP candidate in his first season in New York. Paul's teammate - forward David West - agreed that the addition of Anthony thrusts New York into the Eastern Conference elite, joining Orlando, Miami, Boston and Chicago.

"Oh yeah, they have to be," West said. "Carmelo is probably the most dangerous offensive guys in the league because of his ability to score all over the place. He would make that team very dangerous."

Unless Paul signs an extension with New Orleans - an unlikely scenario considering the Hornets are in flux and without ownership - Paul would endure the same trade rumors next season that surrounded Anthony the last six months.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2011/02/09/2011-02-09_if_carmelo_anthony_joins_amare_stoudemire_with_knicks_chris_paul_sees_team_at_nb.html?r=sports/basketball/knicks&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+nydnrss/sports/basketball/knicks+(Sports/Basketball/Knicks)

i think what this article shows is the clear perception by Melo's peers about the type of impact they think he would make on the Knicks' franchise... obviously adding Melo makes the Knicks a much more attractive option for other veterans to play for down the road.

Knickoftime wrote:

TMS wrote:the math might be possible but it's not going to happen because of the part i bolded.

I don't think you read my post.

Knicks could theoretically bring back Melo, Billups and even an add on like Balkman for Chandler, Randolph, Curry, Azubuike, Felton and Walker.

Melo would be an upgrade over Chandler. Billups would be at least comparable to Felton. Walker is not a consistent rotation player or contributor.

The loss of Curry, Azubuike, and Randolph not only doens't impact your effective depth, but it frees up 3 roster spots where younger or released players physically able to contribute can be added.

I fail to see how the roster is "gutted".

Why would Denver want this deal and all of the players you listed? They'd be giving up a top ten player and their starting PG for dead weight and a bunch of players that haven't played enough to be objectively evaluated. Great deal for NY, but Denver wouldn't bite on this...me thinks.