4. What if Carmelo Anthony signed with the Knicks in the offseason instead of being traded?
Similar to the previous scenario, this is quite a mess in itself, as the whole can of worms that would have been opened if this took place is too crazy to think about. However, it’s still worth thinking about, as the Knicks very well could have swung a trade for another star had they not sent the kitchen sink for Carmelo Anthony.
Even if the Knicks didn’t opt to trade the package they sent for Anthony for another player, a core of Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler, alongside the eventual J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Tyson Chandler is much better than it originally was.
In addition to this, the Knicks would retain their picks in 2014 and 2016. While the 2014 first-rounder turned into Dario Saric, who was solid for a couple of years, the 2016 pick they gave up eventually became Jamal Murray, who as we all know is an exceptional player.
This is probably the most team-altering move because there’s really no telling what direction the Knicks would have gone. Knowing how aggressive the team was, we likely would have seen the same package used in the Anthony trade be used in a new trade for another star, however, who would New York have traded for?
Regardless, the early 2010s Knickstape team was incredibly fun to watch, so we can only imagine the thought of adding Chandler and Gallinari to that team while still having picks to re-tool or rebuild in the future.