Carmelo, Chancey Billups, and Rip Hamilton to the New Jersey Nets? What does this mean for the Knicks?

News started to come out on Friday, including one from the Bergen Record that stated the New Jersey Nets are close to a 3 team trade involving the Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons. The reports stated that New Jersey would be receiving Carmelo Anthony, Chancey Billups and Richard Hamilton.  The Nuggets would get rookie Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris and two draft picks, while the Pistons who are trying to clear cap space would receive Troy Murphy and his expiring contract. In the Nets acquiring Chancey and Rip Hamilton, New Jersey hopes to persuade Carmelo to sign the extension and stay with the Nets long term.

So what does this mean for the New York Knicks and fans alike? Nothing but good news.  Chancey Billups has already expressed his displeasure with being traded to the Nets and his agent Andy Miller has reportedly told FanHouse that he will seek a buyout if the proposed deal goes through. And as for Rip, he will be 33 this year, so if Carmelo is thinking championship anytime soon, building a champion with two aging guards should not be enticing.  So lets hope The Nets get Carmelo on a 3 month rental, then in July, he can take the Path Train across to 34st. Penn Station, walk into Madison Square Garden, and sign the contract that he solely intends to sign.  Then we can really be the 'city that never sleeps', because it will be pretty hard, for me a least to catch some Z's knowing Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudermire and Raymond Felton are on my Knicks squad and the teams' core is still intact.  We would finally arrive as an elite team.

Click here for the San Francisco Chronicles article on the proposed Carmelo Anthony trade.