A quick look at Walsh's trading spree

Last week was an exciting one for Knickerbockers fans, as three trades transformed the roster and payroll of the franchise ahead of a potentially spectacular 2010 offseason. The moves freed up major cap space for the Knicks, who publicly covet free-agents-to-be LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and now have the freedom to offer them both max contracts this summer. This fact, combined with the ballyhooed arrival of Tracy McGrady, has left many Knicks fans unwilling to examine the true long- and short-term effects of Donnie Walsh’s February dealing spree. I am not one of those fans.

Trade #1:

Knicks get: C Brian Cardinal

Timberwolves get: C Darko Milicic

The big “who cares?” trade of the three that happened last week will be just as insignificant in the long term as it initially appears. I call the Knicks winners because they dumped a contract and gained a Scalabrine-like locker room leader in Cardinal, who will probably never see the Madison Square Garden floor. Milicic is a full-fledged NBA failure, which is amazing considering the fact that he was drafted ahead of Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony.

Trade #2:

Knicks get: G Eddie House, G JR Giddens, and G Bill Walker

Celtics get: G Nate Robinson, F Marcus Landry

Isn’t it sad that Nate was traded just five days after becoming the first-ever three-time champion of the dunk contest? In return, the Knicks got three expiring contracts in the form of a smooth-shooting locker room guy, a guard who couldn’t cut it for Bill Self at Kansas, and Michael Beasley’s sidekick from the one year he spent at Kansas State. House might help, but he seems like a piece better suited for next year’s puzzle, and I don’t think the Knicks are entirely interested in bringing him back. Also, Bill Walker is a 6’6’’ shooting guard. That’s about all, but at least it looks good on paper.

As for the Celtics, they addressed their need for energy off the bench by adding the league’s most energetic bench guard, Robinson. Coach Doc Rivers told the media after the trade that he would not have made the deal if he did not believe it would make his team better. And I buy it. My biggest question for Donnie Walsh: If you are attempting to make yourself an elite team in the Eastern Conference quickly, why would you trade one of the most valuable bench assets in the game to a team that will presumably become your biggest division rival next season? Are you trying to tell me that there weren’t at least five other teams inquiring about Nate? That, I don’t buy.

Interesting side note about the Nate-D’antoni fall-out that led to the point guard’s departure: Apparently the feud started over multiple in-game eye-rolling incidents. Yet it was not the young, temperamental guard showing disrespect to his coach that caused the problem. It was instead Coach D’antoni’s sarcastic body language that drove Nate crazy. Only the Knicks.

Trade #3:

Knicks get: G Tracy McGrady, G Sergio Rodriguez

Kings get: F Carl Landry, F Joey Dorsey, and G Larry Hughes

Rockets get: G Kevin Martin, F Jordan Hill, F Jared Jeffries, and option to swap for NYK 2011 first-round pick and NYK 2012 first-round pick

This one is a doozy, for several reasons. First, it’s kind of complicated. The Rockets can swap first-round picks with the Knicks next year, unless New York winds up with the No. 1 pick (not happening). They will also receive the Knicks’ first-round pick in 2012, provided that it is not a top-five selection.

Second, it seems completely one-sided. Somehow, the Rockets turned Carl Landry, Joey Dorsey, and Tracy McGrady into Kevin Martin, Jordan Hill, and two first-round picks. McGrady only played 46 minutes all season with the Rockets, Dorsey was a ninth man, and Landry is a potential breakout scorer who is statistically equivalent to Wilson Chandler right now. To turn that into Kevin Martin, a bona-fide 20-a-night scoring two guard, Jordan Hill’s frame (the Rockets are hoping he leaves everything he ever learned about basketball in New York), and two first-round picks is a staggering, franchise-changing transaction that will likely be lauded for years to come.

The positive spin for New York fans is that the Knicks didn’t do terribly in this trade, either. T-Mac will give them a backcourt scoring presence this season, which will make them better, but the real potential value of this trade will emerge next year. McGrady has already not-so-subtly hinted that he would be willing to take a pay cut to play on the New York dream team next season. If he does, it could be the thing that ultimately attracts LeBron, Dwayne, or Chris to New York. Don’t forget, the Knicks only have Chandler, Toney Douglas, Danilo Gallinari, and Eddy Curry under contract for next season. James, Wade, and Bosh are all going to be approached by better, more complete teams, and it might take something like T-Mac’s presence to get two of them to actually come to New York.

Then there’s Sergio Rodriguez, the under-hyped second piece in the McGrady trade. He has spent three-and-a-half years waiting to break out, and his size, outside scoring ability, and vision make him an absolute threat to move into the starting point guard role before the season’s end. The best part? Rodriguez has a $2.3 million team option next year, meaning if he plays well, he will be back and he will be cheap.

However, the unfortunate reality of the situation is that the Knicks just traded their next two first-round draft picks for a beat-up shooter who was not needed by his team and a backup point guard less proven than the one that was just sent to Boston. If the Knicks miss out on LeBron and Dwayne this summer, they may very well have this trade to thank for a second consecutive decade without a 40-win season.