February 24 is the NBA trading deadline and the rumors are heating up of the Denver Nuggets trading their unhappy franchise player, Carmelo Anthony.  It's no secret through the back-channels or the tabloids that he wants to land in Madison Square Garden wearing Royal Blue, Orange, and White.  The Knick's can take the position to sit and wait and sign Anthony as a Free Agent this summer (once the new Labor Agreement is signed.  But with the possibility that free agent terms may change in the negotiations and the fact that as condition of a trade now he would sign an extension with the Nuggets that brings him the maximum salary possible with a three year contract ($65 million).  So the Knick's are rumored to be orchestrating a three team trade, also involving the Minnesota Timberwolves.  With a trade, the Knick's would be giving up assets, whether useful on the court or as trading chips later to help surround Anthony with additional players.

So now comes the rumor that the LA Laker's have interest of trading for Anthony, offering an attractive piece in Wil Bynam.  Of concern is that Bynam is not healthy, in fact, has not been a consistent player to take the court over his career.  So the question is, then why would Denver be interested?  Most likely not.  Its a ploy to get the Knick's to up the ante in a trade.  Same goes for Anthony's statement that he would now consider re-signing with the Nuggets if a trade cannot be worked out.  Yeah, right.  The past 8 months have been orchestrated to get Anthony out and to the Knick's, so re-signing with the Nuggets is not a reality.  However, what Anthony can be doing is a favor to the Denver front office in letting it be known that if a trade is not worked out soon, he may stay where he is.

So, do the Knick's take the bait or do they play the slow hand?  We'll know within 16 days.

2011GAME OVER President Weekend Classic
New York City
Feb 18th– 20th, 2011

For a downloadable Registration Form:

2011_game_over_presidents_weekend__classic_registration_form

Age Groups - Boys 9 & under - 3rd grade; 10 & under - 4th grade; 11 & under - 5th grade; 12 & under - 6th grade; 13 & under - 7th grade; 14 & under - 8th grade;

Age Deadline - AAU age and grade eligibility rules apply

Registration Fee - $395.00 per team - all age brackets

Registration Deadline – February 11, 2011

(12 player roster - 2 coach’s roster limit)

Contacts:

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Mikhail Prokorov, owner of the New Jerseys Nets decided prior to a summit with Denver Nuggets All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony on Wednesday to see if he could be enticed to sign a 3 year - $65 million dollar extension in order to complete a 14 player, 3 team trade, decide that he has waited long enough and canceled the meeting.  Reading between the lines what most likely happened through back channels was even though the Nuggets granted the meeting with Anthony, Anthony's people let it be known that he was not interested in joining the Nets.  Instead of looking like a jilted lover for the second time in 7 months (LeBron James, though stating that the Nets put on the best presentation of all those courting his services chose the Miami Heat), Prokorov was able to save face by stepping out of a public relations nightmare.

Now stepping back into the picture, as far as the back page is concerned, is the New York Knicks, Anthony's acknowledged preferred destination.  Without knowing how the contract talks for a new collective bargaining agreement will change the framework for free-agent signings, the Knicks made a proposal to acquire Anthony this week in order to avoid potentially losing him at season's end when he is believed to sign with the Knicks.  The Nuggets rejected the Knicks offer outright.  All the events of the Knicks coveting Anthony since being rejected by James (as well) is on par for the best melodrama on the island of Manhattan.

There is little doubt that Anthony will one way or another be joining the Knicks this coming off-season.  The drama lays in if a) he can come this season and save the post-season for the skidding Knicks; b) by coming this season he can sign the 3 year max extension and therefore collect while also going where he wants (and most likely why Denver is in no rush to complete a trade - they don't want the tail wagging the dog); c) if Anthony comes via a trade, the Knicks will lose some pieces to the puzzle, whether in servicealbe players or draft choices, or both; and d) the Knicks are always awashed in drama.

The trade deadline is quickly approaching and the Nuggets will have to consider taking whatever is given to them in a trade or lose the rights to Anthony at the end of the season and receive no compensation at all.  Can't wait for the next episode.

While the New York Knicks are certainly improved from the past several seasons, and are exciting to watch, will they be frauds when it comes time for the real season, the playoffs?

Let us assume the Knicks will have meaningful games in April.  At present, they are the leading scoring team in the NBA, scoring a 108 points per game.  Not surprising for a Mike D'Antoni led team.  But the formula for success in the post season is defense and rebounding, both areas where the Knicks are strongly deficient.  They presently give up 106 points per game, second most in the league.  They are 18th in the league in rebounding.  Rule 1 - you can't score without the ball.

There is no question the team has improved greatly.  And it is still in transition - there is still thoughts that Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets will join the team as a free agent during the off season.  But for the Knicks to go far in the post season, they will have to harken back to the days of Willis Reed and Patrick Ewing.

If nothing else, the streak of 90 straight wins by the UConn women's basketball team has gained national notoriety for the sport.  Passing UCLA men's record of 88 wins in a row arguably brings UConn women into the discussion of most dominant team in college basketball history.

The streak ended at 90 last evening when 9th ranked Stanford upset UConn 71 - 59 at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, CA..  Ironically Stanford was the last team to beat UConn, in the 2008 national semi-finals, before going on it's historic streak.  To gain some perspective of just how dominant UConn has been, during the same period Stanford lost a total of 8 games, 2 to UConn.  The Stanford win allows it to extend their consecutive home winning streak of 52 games.

There is continued discussions of Denver Nuggets high scoring forward Carmelo Anthony moving east, either through trade to the New Jersey Nets or at the end of the season to the New York Knicks via free agency.  New talks are in play in Denver to try to have the All-Star forward stay in Denver.

Unless all the basketball gurus have it wrong, Anthony wants to play in one place and one place alone, Madison Square Garden.  Where it truly being an off-shoot of his freshman year of being an Orangeman from Syracuse, just his childhood dream, or understanding he could own New York as its premier basketball star since LeBron James a) chickened out, b) has a great love of the South Beach lovelies, or c) couldn't see himself in orange and blue, Anthony will be one of the top celebrities in a town that thrives on celebrities

Therefore, regardless of the Nets offering everyone, including its Russian owner, in trade for Anthony, he has no intentions of then signing a long term commitment to what would still be the "second" team in New York when they move to Brooklyn in two years.  Nor will Anthony look to staying in Denver when he can not only increase his salary as a free agent in New York (though Denver could meet and beat it under the present CBA rules), but add to it hawking everything that New York has to offer.

So to this: Knick fans, do like Melo does.  Chill.  He will be coming next season, with the Knicks not having to sacrifice any pieces in a trade.  Will Melo on the Knicks get them over the top?  Depends on your definition of "top" is.  If it is competitive for a crown, yes.  Win the crown, no.  The will require one more piece, a complimentary piece, most likely something in the middle so A'mare Stoudemire doesn't have to work as hard on the defensive end.  Either way, with Melo in the fold next season, the Knicks will be relevant again.

Sorry New Jersey and Denver.

Gilbert Arenas, alias Agent Zero, the high scoring and recently suspended guard of the Washington Wizards has been traded to the Orlando Magic.  In all, two trades by the Magic, also involving the Phoenix Suns saw the following players trade uniforms: To Orlando, Arenas and in return the Wizards receive Rashard Lewis.  Then to further shake up an otherwise dormant line-up, the Magic re-acquired Hedo Turkoglu,  and added Jason Richardson, Earl Clark and in return shipped to the Suns Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, a 2011 first-round draft choice and money considerations.

The Magic were considered a title contender but have recently dropped 5 of their last 6 and fallen from atop the Eastern Conference to 4th.

Maybe the hype is justified.  The Heat came into Madison Square Garden riding a 10 game winning streak and torched the recently hot Knicks 113-91.  LeBron James (derided by fans as LeChicken) went for a triple double of 32 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Knicks, who now sit at 16-11 and second in the Atlantic Division behind the Celtics, who they lost a heartbreaker to two days ago, are showing progress.  And with all the swirling of news that forward Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets is looking to relocate to the Garden as soon as possible (trade this year - not likely, or as a free agent at the end of the season), the Garden is buzzing like it was 2000.  The future is bright for the Knicks, but for now they will have to stand in the glow of the Heat.