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New York Knicks: Designing an ideal Carmelo Anthony trade with Houston Rockets

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks in action against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on November 2, 2016 in New York City. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 118-99. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks in action against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on November 2, 2016 in New York City. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 118-99. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 11: Tobias Harris #34 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during a game against the New York Knicks on March 11, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 11: Tobias Harris #34 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during a game against the New York Knicks on March 11, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Trade

The three-team trade with the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks is centered around four players: Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson, and Tobias Harris. Other players would need to be included, but the trade boils down to the following moves.

Anthony heads to Houston, Anderson and Ariza go to Detroit, and Harris comes to New York to join the youth movement.

  • Detroit Gets: Ryan Anderson, PF; Trevor Ariza, SF
  • Houston Gets: Carmelo Anthony, SF; Boban Marjanovic, C
  • New York Gets: Tobias Harris, SF; Shawn Long, PF; Tim Quarterman, SG; Isaiah Taylor, PG; Future first-round draft pick (via Houston)

This deal could get hung up on Ariza being traded, but it’s likely the only way that Detroit would agree to take part in it. Ariza would be the defensive ace Detroit wants on the perimeter, and Anderson played for Van Gundy in Orlando.

With a starting lineup of Reggie Jackson, Avery Bradley, Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson, and Andre Drummond, Detroit would have more than enough talent to make the playoffs.

Houston would lose vital defense from Ariza, but it recently signed defensive specialists Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and P.J. Tucker. If they fill their respective roles, landing Anthony could be enough to create a legitimate contender.

A starting lineup of Chris Paul, James Harden, Carmelo Anthony, Mbah a Moute or Tucker, and Clint Capela would be formidable, especially with Eric Gordon leading the second unit.

For New York, this deal is all about getting a promising young small forward in 25-year-old Tobias Harris. Isaiah Taylor would be of value at point guard, as well, but the selling point here is acquiring Harris.

Harris is a quality wing who offers a 6’9″ frame and a well-rounded skill set that projects to fit Jeff Hornacek’s offense to perfection.

Must Read: Five realistic Carmelo Anthony trade proposals

A starting lineup of Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Tobias Harris, Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez would give the New York Knicks a sustainably solid core for years to come.

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