February 21 2011 Last updated at 10:44 PM ET
Carmelo Anthony has finally gotten his wish.The saga that has both interested and tortured NBA fans for the better part of this season appears to finally be over, as multiple reports are now confirming that Anthony has been traded to the New York Knicks.
The Denver Post first reported the deal, a blockbuster which involves nine players, three draft picks and millions in cash exchanging hands.
Anthony will head to New York, along with teammates Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman. In exchange, the Knicks will send Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks' 2014 first-round draft pick, the Warriors' 2012 second-round pick, the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick and $3 million in cash.
After months of dealing with the topic of the long-rumored trade on a daily basis, Nuggets head coach George Karl was understandably relieved to have things resolved.
"I'm glad it's over," Karl said. "I'm glad it's an opportunity to reinvent. I think everybody handled it as classy as you could handle it. There's some sadness to it, there always will be."
A separate deal is reportedly in the works that will send Anthony Randolph and the expiring contract of Eddy Curry to Minnesota, with the Knicks acquiring guard Corey Brewer from the Timberwolves.
Anthony did not attend Denver's practice Monday, but not necessarily because a trade was imminent -- it was an excused absence, as Anthony stayed in Los Angeles following All-Star Weekend to tape an appearance on the Conan O'Brien show.
The price the Knicks paid for Anthony appears initially to be a steep one: in addition to sending three members of its starting lineup out of town, the team gave up three first-round draft picks, which are heavily valued by the league's general managers. On the Denver side, from the very beginning the team was trying to get as much as possible for its departing superstar, in order to make sure it didn't end up in an abysmal state of rebuilding similar to what the Cavaliers are going through this season after the departure of LeBron James over the summer.Along with the draft picks helping along the rebuilding process in the future, the deal as initially reported will have significant financial implications, and will save the club in the neighborhood of $18 million in players' salaries.
When Anthony takes the court for the first time as a member of the Knicks -- possibly as early as Wednesday when the team hosts the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden -- he won't be wearing his iconic No. 15 jersey. The Knicks retired the number in honor of Hall of Famers Earl Monroe and Dick McGuire.
Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/21/report-carmelo-anthony-finally-traded-to-the-knicks/
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