Carmelo Anthony Back In The Orange And Blue

by Sean Keeley on Feb 22, 2011 12:35 PM EST

It's finally over. Carmelo Anthony is a New York Knick and many a Syracuse fan rejoices.

Seriously, do you realize this whole saga lasted 202 days? I tip my hat to Carmelo for tipping his hat to himself for playing well through all of that.

Now what? Well I guess Carmelo better win an NBA Championship in next 2-3 years cause he's about to become the face of David Stern's favorite franchise.

It also opens the door for that once-insane-now-very-possible match-up of LeBron-Wade-Bosh vs. Carmelo-Amare-Paul, assuming Chris Paul follows suit and head to the Knicks.

Not everyone thinks the Knicks did the smart thing here, considering Carmelo probably would have left Denver to play for the Knicks anyway after this season:

What happened with Denver and New York the past six months was essentially a game of chicken, and after stonewalling Denver right up until this past weekend, the Knicks blinked.

That's the part that's kind of insane here. Despite what it looked like, this wasn't a case of mutually assured destruction. New York let themselves get suckered into a game of chicken where the trade deadline loomed with a death blow to their dreams, but only Denver was really at risk of get splattered by all this; if the Nuggets hadn't pulled off a trade, Carmelo would have left for nothing this summer. Left for New York, to be exact.

Whatever the reasoning, Carmelo Anthony is back in New York. Just a stone's throw (according to ESPN) from Syracuse. And you can bet that DOCTOR Daryl Gross is licking his chops at the crossover potential here. The Knicks now have two Syracuse players on their roster (Hi Andy Rautins), play in Madison Square Garden and share the same team colors. Somebody get ~~Donnie Walsh~~ Isiah Thomas on the phone and let's do some cross-promo!

New York's College Team and New York's Basketball Team. Make it happen.

The only thing that would make that much more awesome for Cuse fans? If Carmelo wore No. 44. He probably won't, so oh well. But he's back in the area, and that's good enough for most Syracuse fans.

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Hi James Dolan

Thanks for screwing up 6 months of Donnie Walsh’s work.

Seriously, as a Knicks (and Rangers) fan, I’d donate more to a fund to remove Dolan from any sort of power than I would to Villanova.

I prematurely shot my wad, if you will, on what was supposed to be a dry run, and now it looks like I have something of a mess on my hands.

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by Chris Lane on Feb 22, 2011 12:39 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

That would have been a great trade for the Knicks

Trade Dolan and Curry’s expiring contract to Denver, along with the other players, for Melo. That way they get the player they want, while unloading the most worthless owner/player combination r in the NBA.

"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998

by kotite4ever on Feb 22, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Well, this basically confirmed Walsh's resignation

Say hello to Isaiah Thomas again.

"Oh so if he's not Muslim he just gets a pass? That's called profiling mother and I don't do it!" - Sterling Mallory Archer

by Nick Petrilli on Feb 22, 2011 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

He wore 22 in HS

And didn’t here b/c of Dave Bing and the confusing retired jersey/number that tricked Triche as well.

by tommyt330 on Feb 22, 2011 12:40 PM EST reply actions

That is confusing.

'Cuse 2010, Michigan 2012

by Orange22 on Feb 22, 2011 8:27 PM EST up reply actions

SU Basketball retires "jerseys" not "numbers"

weird concept.

However, no one has worn 22 since Bing. JB doesn’t allow it.

Syracuse '12

by blackknight76 on Feb 23, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

I know how it works. Just agreeing that it is confusing.

'Cuse 2010, Michigan 2012

by Orange22 on Feb 23, 2011 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

44 :)

Anyone else think next years exhibition in the Carrier Dome will be Minnesota vs. the Knicks?

by Orange Chuck on Feb 22, 2011 12:42 PM EST reply actions

Melo wins

He gets the big contract and goes to the team he wants. As a fan of a team other than the Knicks (Nets actually, but I didn’t want us shipping off the entire team for him) I’m happy for him. Dolan is absurdly stupid for making it though, but it’s his money. Probably won’t be able to afford Paul now though…

Syracuse '12

by blackknight76 on Feb 22, 2011 12:53 PM EST reply actions

As someone who started watching the NBA because of ‘Melo and has therefore rooted for the Nuggets along with the Celtics because I’m a Boston fan first and foremost, I guess my years of split loyalties are over. Because I love Andy and Melo but hell no! I am not rooting for the Knicks!

'Cuse 2010, Michigan 2012

by Orange22 on Feb 22, 2011 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

I wish

we didnt have to give up felton or Mozgov in the deal. I understand we got chauncy, but he said he is going to retire if he gets traded. And Mozgov we turning into a good center. Considering bogut and horford are considered top 5 centers in the league, he could have been top 10 easily after a season or two.

by ryanwk628 on Feb 22, 2011 12:59 PM EST reply actions

I feel like

I’ve just been stabbed in the back. Damn you, Melo!

by pegs on Feb 22, 2011 1:10 PM EST reply actions

The knicks can't afford Paul

Plus the celtics still run the Atlantic division. The knicks don’t have a good PG or C and they can’t compete with the elite teams that have these players ie the celts, bulls, heat, lakers, and magic.

by noro on Feb 22, 2011 3:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions