Top 5 Worst Trades This Past Decade
By Phil DeMeo
The New York Knicks these days seem to look like they kinda, sorta know how to run a basketball team. This wasn’t always the case. Before Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, and Amar’e Stoudemire there were the likes of Eddy Curry, Stephon Marbury, and Steve Francis donning the orange and blue. Before Donnie Walsh changed this franchise around I don’t need to give you the laundry list of mistakes Isiah Thomas made. Thank to our friend Seth at poastingandtoasting.com we have a full list of all trades from the post-Ewing era. The Knicks have made a lot of bad trades in the 2000s, these are the top 5 worst. (Note: I did not consider any trades under Donnie Walsh that was part of his plan to free cap space to build the team we have today).
5. 9/20/2000: Knicks acquire Luc Longley, Glen Rice, Travis Knight, Vernon Maxwell, Vladimir Stephania, Lazaro Borrell, a 2001 first-rounder (Jamaal Tinsley), two 2001 second-rounders (Michael Wright and Eric Chenowith, and a 2002 first-rounder (Kareem Rush) in exchange for Patrick Ewing, Chris Dudley, and a 2001 first-rounder (Jason Collins).
To be honest with you, I was 8 when this trade happened and all I knew about basketball back then was the Chicago Bulls bubble jacket my mom bought for me. But when you just look at the no-names the Knicks got in return for trading their franchise player is horrible. I know he was at the end of his career, but there had to be a better deal on the table, right?
4. 2/22/2006: Knicks acquire Steve Francis in exchange for Trevor Ariza and Penny Hardaway.
Ah Stevie Franchise, Knicks great. A bizarre career for Steve who ended up in New York to team up with Stephon Marbury to create the NBA’s most selfish back court. This trade never made sense and the Knicks traded away Ariza who would eventually be a key part to a Lakers championship team.
3. 6/26/2002: Knicks acquire Antonio McDyess, the rights to Frank Williams (who?), and a 2003 second-rounder (Maciej Lampe) in exchange for Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson, and the rights to Nene.
Marcus Camby was one of the more consistent big men in the 2000s and Nene is one of the better overall big men in a league that big men are hard to find. Antonio McDyess played in 18 games for the Knicks. I don’t even know how to say Maciej Lampe, and in 2009 78 grams of marjuana was found in Frank Williams home. Very even trade..
2. 1/5/2004: Knicks acquire Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway, and Cezary Trybanski in exchange for Antonio McDyess, Howard Eisley, Maciej Lampe (headliner), Charlie Ward, the rights to Milos Vujanic, a 2004 first-rounder (KIrk Snyder), a heavily protected first rounder that eventually became Gordan Hayward in 2010, and $3 million.
This trade on paper doesn’t seem that bad. Marbury put up decent numbers and the Knicks didn’t give up any big names besides superstars Maciej Lampe and Milos Vujanic. The trade would blow up in the Knicks’ face. Marbury never got on the same page with Larry Brown and would be the poster child for the Knicks decade of disgrace. Oh and he ate vaseline on YouTube.
1. 10/4/2005: Knicks acquire Eddy Curry, Antonio Davis, and the right to swap 2007 first rounders with the Bulls (Wilson Chandler) in exchange for Tim Thomas, Mike Sweetney, Jermaine Jackson, pick swaps 2006 and 2007 that ened up being LaMarcus Aldridge and Joakim Noah, a 2007 second rounder (Kyrylo Fesenko), and a 2009 second rounder (Jon Brockmon).
I know I just called Marbury the poster child for the Knicks this past decade, so this must mean Eddy Curry is the wallpaper. The Bulls traded him because of his heart problems, but hey we’ll take that on! No work ethic? Sure! Refuses to keep himself in shape? Perfect! Sign him up! He would haunt the Knicks as you can see where they could have had 2 big all star big men, but the way this organization was ran, I’m sure they wouldn’t even have drafted them. They would have either drafted a point guard from Turkey who never played professional ball or Aldridge and Noah would have never panned out. It amazes me how this trade affected the Knicks for 4 years. He also robbed the Knicks for $42 million.
