Sometimes, trades are so obvious that after they happen, you wonder how they didn't happen sooner. Jose Alvarado being traded to the New York Knicks is a perfect example. On Thursday, a few hours before the final buzzer, the Knicks acquired the fiery point guard — and Christ The King alum — from the New Orleans Pelicans for Dalen Terry, two second-round picks, and cash considerations.
There has never been a more obvious fan favorite in NBA history than Jose Alvarado on the Knicks. Even if he wasn't a NYC native, his nonstop energy would endear him to the MSG crowd on its own.
The fact that it's a homecoming for Alvarado, who won TimesLedger Player of the Year in his senior year (the same year he apparently recorded a quadruple-double) of high school, just adds another tier of excitement to this deal.
It's almost cartoonishly perfect. How long until Ben Stiller tweets about how much he loves Alvarado? I give it one game.
Jose Alvarado is coming home and Knicks fans will love him
If a guy can play with this much energy in New Orleans — not known as a basketball-loving city — just imagine the crowd pop at the Garden when he sneaks up behind a point guard in the backcourt and pokes the ball loose, or starts scrapping with an opponent.
Statwise, Alvarado doesn't jump off the page, averaging a little under 8 points per game, along with 3.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds. He's a good enough 3-point shooter (been around 36-37 percent for the past three years) but Alvarado's impact happens between the numbers. You can't quantify a dive, or a "let's go" scream that amplifies the noise in MSG to an ear-splitting level.
Two weeks ago, we were told that a huge move needed to be made to save the Knicks season. Now, amid an 8-game winning streak, the Knicks may have just won the deadline by acquiring a backup point guard. Team fit counts for more than we realize, and man, this is a dream pairing between player and team.
Also, Alvarado busted his butt every night for the Pelicans, and his reward was to be traded to a team with a real chance at winning the NBA title. Sometimes the Basketball Gods are benevolent after all. It's a beautiful sight.
Dalen Terry, Knicks legend, you will never be forgotten. Cash considerations, thank you for your service.