New York Knicks: When the cap-clearing efforts continued in 2008

This latest New York Knicks Trade History highlights another cap-clearing move from Nov. 21, 2008, with preparation for the 2010 offseason in mind.

Nov. 21, 2008, marked an active day in New York Knicks history. Not one, but two cap-clearing trades were made, with success in the 2010 offseason as the desired outcome. Players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade headlined this historic class.

So, the Knicks moved Jamal Crawford for Al Harrington, whose salary was set to expire in the summer of 2010. It was a straight-up trade, though the Donnie Walsh-led front office made its second deal with more players involved:

What the Knicks traded

Zach Randolph‘s 80 games with the New York Knicks came to a screeching halt, despite Channing Frye, a recent first-round pick, being moved for him fewer than 18 months before.

Under head coach Mike D’Antoni, Randolph had 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. The numbers were tracking well, but clearing cap space came first, which made him expendable.

The Clippers only had this frontcourt star for the rest of the season, and he averaged nearly 21 points and just under 10 rebounds per game. They traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies in the summer of 2009, which contributed to the rise of “grit and grind” for the next eight seasons.

The Knicks sent former first-round pick, Mardy Collins, as the other piece. He never lived up to being selected this high in the draft, while never shooting above 40 percent in his 107 appearances with the blue and orange. Little else changed in his parts of two seasons with the Clippers.

What the Knicks acquired

Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas were acquired just for their expiring contracts after the 2009-10 season. This was almost two full years away, but the Knicks prepared for the legendary free-agent class that redefined the NBA.

Mobley never played for the Knicks, though, due to a heart condition discovered when the trade was made. It became a career-ending condition, and his salary stayed on the payroll through 2010. He, however, now plays in the BIG3.

Thomas returned for his second stint to New York, after previously playing there from 2004-05. This latest go-around only lasted 36 games, as the team traded him to the Chicago Bulls that same season for Larry Hughes.

The endgame became Amar’e Stoudemire, who signed a five-year contract. Acquiring him led to Carmelo Anthony‘s arrival, so the New York Knicks received their superstars. While not James or Wade, they still fulfilled their intentions.