The New York Knicks Are Rolling and Could Get Even Better Soon

The New York Knicks are off to a hot start. Well, that is if you consider it a start, but they are winners of 11 of their last 12. 

Fans were worried when New York fell a few games under .500, but the team is hot right now and is ready to face a very tough schedule after they play the Wizards. I'm a Mike D'Antoni hater and still think he could be doing a better job, but it's hard to complain about winning (I still want him to stop putting Douglas and Chandler on the court at the same time).

The Knicks face a tough schedule coming up and they are going to be put to the ultimate test playing against some of the top tier teams of the NBA. With that being said, if they do struggle help is available. 

Carmelo Anthony has his heart set on playing for the Knicks. If the Knicks feel that they're going to have to trade for him to have him next year, Donnie Walsh is going to have to pull the trigger. With the way Felton has emerged as one of the better point guards in the league, a "big three" of STAT, Felton and Melo is very enticing. The inconsistency of Chandler and Gallinari scares me enough where although I'd like to keep them, they would have to go if that was the only way Carmelo would land in the Big Apple. The Nets seem like the main competition for Carmelo, with Orlando and Houston quietly looming. If Carmelo is traded there are alternatives. 

Andre Iguodala is available as well and it seems as though it wouldn't take much to get him from the struggling Sixers. Eddy Curry and Chandler would most likely get the job done as the Sixers would clear a lot of cap space and acquire a young player with a lot of upside. Chandler is expiring as well if the Sixers want to clear that little space more.

Iguodala would instantly improve our defense. Him, Felton and Turiaf on the court at the same time would spell trouble for opposing teams. I don't know quite where he'd fit into the starting lineup, but if need be the stud rookie, Landry Fields, could become the teams sixth man. 

Other options that seem to have just presented themselves would be that the Portland Trailblazers have internally been discussing trading some of their veteran bigs to start a youth movement. I don't know about other Knicks fans, but seeing Marcus Camby back in the Blue and Orange would be like celebrating Kwanzaa early. Camby would probably cost us the same thing with Curry's expiring contract. And although Iguodala and Carmelo are better players than Camby, he fills more of a need than the other two. Camby would step right into the Knicks starting lineup and help Amare by guarding the dominant bigs other teams have. Andrea Bargnani would not have erupted for 40+ on Camby in the Garden. Camby only has two years on his contract which wouldn't be too bad for the Knicks when factoring in his age in a trade.

Players I think they should look into who aren't "on the block" would also include Dalembert and Varejao. Both would bring defensive toughness to New York. 

The glaring needs for the Knicks right now are at the backup point guard position and the starting center position. Turiaf is banged up and is much better suited to come off the bench and bring a spark to the team. Backup point guard is something they've been searching around for supposedly. They've been offering Bill Walker to try to get a serviceable point guard who can give Raymond Felton some rest. Douglas is not that guard. He can score on some nights, but is incapable of running the offense like a pure point should be able to be. And at center, I listed some of the options. Carmelo and Iguodala would make us better just because of their pure abilities. They don't fill needs, but both would undoubtedly make the team better. 

The Knicks have Washington, Denver, Boston, Miami, Oklahoma City, Chicago (with Boozer), Miami again, Orlando and then Indiana in their next 10. These games should be a real test to whether not this team is ready to compete now or if they are a piece or two away from being contenders.  

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