Enoughs Enough! Get Melo Now!

As the days begin to count down and the rumors continue to circulate, one thing remains consistent---Carmelo Anthony is a Denver Nugget.

Since July, Knicks fans have once again been flirting with the idea of bringing one of the game's biggest stars to the Big Apple. The two year wait for Lebron James ended up bearing no fruit and this extended wait for Carmelo Anthony is threatening to do the same. Granted, the Knicks have brought in one of the game's best players in Amar'e Stoudemire and one of the league's biggest surprises in Raymond Felton, and the team is much better. The energy is back at Madison Square Garden and the team has been largely competitive as we approach the All Star break.

While all these facts are fair and praiseworthy, lets face it, the Knicks are one game over .500 with the Lakers coming to town. They are currently settled into the six seed in the weak Eastern Conference, yet at the same time, they are four games away from being in the nine spot and out of the playoffs completely. In most seasons, a six seed in the postseason would be a positive thing---especially after the trash that the Knicks have been for the last ten years. After a slow start, New York went on a great run that put them seven games over .500. Since then, however, the team has dropped 10 of their last 14 games, losing some head scratchers in the process. Call it a bad stretch or a reality check but either way we all know that the Knicks as currently instituted are not a championship contender. To put it bluntly, the Knicks are one Amar'e Stoudemire injury away from being the New Jersey Nets or Detroit Pistons.

This brings us to today. For weeks the Carmelo to New York rumors have been swirling as much as the cold New York City winds. Carmelo wants to be a Knick, the Knicks want Carmelo to call MSG home, and the Nuggets are finally opening to discussing a trade. What exactly is the hold up?

The Knicks trade pieces have been widely publicized and well known. An expiring Eddy Curry contract, a young player with upside in Anthony Randolph, and three young players with starting ability in Danillo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Landry Fields. The Knichs are desperate to rid themselves of Curry and Randolph and will do so in any deal. The general consensus as to why this trade has not happened yet seems to be that the Knicks are only willing to give up one of the "Big Three" (Gallinari, Chandler, Fields), while the Nuggets want two of the three. If this is true, and I personally believe it is, the Knicks need to reevaluate the thinking in the organization and realize the opportunity in front of them.

All three members of the "Big Three" are nice players but none come close to the level of a Carmelo Anthony. No matter which way you slice it, any combination of the threesome should be available to be traded. In today's NBA, a team cannot win a championship with only one superstar. Adding arguably the game's best offensive player to Mike D'Antoni's system is a way to re energize the fanbase and the team. The Knicks will go from an at best "one and done" playoff team to a possible contender that could absolutely pull off a first round upset.

Contrary to popular belief, the Nuggets are holding some of the cards in this ongoing game of poker. Just recently, Carmelo has stated that he is going to "think long and hard" about signing the three year extension with Denver should he not be traded by the February 24 deadline. He seems to be growing extremely frustrated with the Knicks efforts to bring him to New York and who can blame him? The Knicks are presenting the front that acquiring Carmelo Anthony is not worth trading Wilson Chandler and Danillo Gallinari. Really?

To make matters worse, the Lakers have decided to jump into the mix. As much as I like Chandler, Gallinari, and Fields, none of them can make the impact of a healthy Andrew Bynum. The Carmelo-to-LA rumors have been gaining ground in the last few days and should be taken seriously.

Even if Carmelo is not dealt to Los Angeles, can the Knicks really guarantee that he will sign with them once free agency starts? He will be able to sign with better teams in big markets like the Bulls and the Lakers, and the Knicks less then stellar attempts to trade for him will be on his mind. This time last year, did anyone really expect Lebron James to go to Miami? Carmelo deciding against signing with the Knicks is not out of the question.

Oh and do not forget, the NBA may institute it's own version of a "franchise tag" in their new CBA. Should that happen, Carmelo will be playing at least one more season in Denver.

When examining this situation from all fronts, it appears there are many more threats to Carmelo becoming a Knicks then initially thought. The Nuggets may cave in as the clock approaches 3:00PM on February 24, but they do have options.

Should the Knicks lose out on Carmelo, what light is waiting at the end of the tunnel? Should Knicks fans begin to chant "Summer 2012", hoping that Deron Williams and/or Dwight Howard decide to join Amar'e? No thank you. That strategy is a much bigger risk then simply trading for Carmelo right now. There are not many instances in which a top 10 player is up for grabs. James Dolan, Donnie Walsh, Allan Houston, Walt Frazier, and whoever else, need to get this situation under control and bring Carmelo to the Big Apple before it is too late.