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New York Knicks: Designing updated Carmelo Anthony trade to Cavaliers

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action against Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 4, 2017 in New York City. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 111-103. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action against Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 4, 2017 in New York City. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 111-103. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 6: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 6, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 6: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 6, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Trade: Option 2

The New York Knicks have an opportunity to acquire a first-round draft pick and a quality young wing, which is the basis for this trade. In order to do so, however, the Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers will need to find a team to take on Kevin Love—if New York isn’t the answer.

The Portland Trail Blazers could be the ideal team to make that happen.

Cleveland Gets: Carmelo Anthony, F; 2018 First-Round Draft Pick (via Portland)
New York Gets: Maurice Harkless, SF; Evan Turner, G/F; 2018 First-Round Draft Pick (via Cleveland)
Portland Gets: Richard Jefferson, SF; Kevin Love, PF; Edy Tavares, C

The Cavaliers would receive Carmelo Anthony and a 2018 first-round draft pick via the Portland Trail Blazers. Anthony would become the incomparably well-rounded scoring threat whom Cleveland needs come playoff time.

With a starting lineup of Isaiah Thomas, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Tristan Thompson, and a stellar sixth man in Jae Crowder, Cleveland would be a legitimate contender.

The Trail Blazers would receive a package that would be centered around power forward Kevin Love. Love, who went to high school in Oregon, is an elite rebounder and offensive dynamo who’s signed to a long-term deal that would enable him to learn and grow with the current core.

Portland would also be shedding Evan Turner’s massive salary, which justifies the first-round draft pick that would be sent to Cleveland.

The Trail Blazers would move forward with a starting lineup of Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Al-Farouq Aminu, Kevin Love, and Jusuf Nurkic.

The Knicks would receive 24-year-old small forward Maurice Harkless—an improving two-way player. The Queens native would be complemented by Turner, whose dreadful contract would be justified by acquiring both Harkless and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round draft pick.

The Knicks would move forward with a starting lineup of Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maurice Harkless, Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez. The bench would become legitimate with Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Courtney Lee, Kyle O’Quinn, and Evan Turner.

That could be a postseason-caliber roster in the depleted Eastern Conference.

If not, the Knicks could end up with two lottery picks, if not Top 10 or Top 5 selections, in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Must Read: Comparing the two-way contract candidates

The question is: Would the New York Knicks consider either of these admittedly polarizing trade scenarios? Or is there another option worth exploring?

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