The New York Knicks are trying to avoid saying the word "tanking", but it is clear that is the overall plan for the team right now. Sitting with just five wins on the year, it would take a near miracle for New York to make some run into the postseason. As a result, Carmelo Anthony is leaning towards getting that knee surgery while Phil Jackson is planning mass trades before the February deadline.
Jackson has already begun clearing house. The team president traded away Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton at the start of the season. He then sent away JR Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cleveland Cavaliers and then promptly releasing all three players the Knicks got in return. He then waived Samuel Dalembert who was acquired before the start of the season. With the trade deadline still over a month away, Jackson is not looking to slow down on moves.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, Jackson will now attempt to trade both Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani to interested teams. This is no surprise as Jackson has never been fully committed to either player. Calderon was acquired in the deal for Chandler Felton, but was seen a trade piece for later deals. Bargnani has been shopped for the better part of a year, but his contract hurts interest.
ESPN is reporting that Jackson would prefer to trade Amar'e Stoudemire, but has given up on that effort after extreme lack of interest. The Knicks had been looking to move Stoudemire, but no team is looking to take on a 32-year-old with chronic knee injuries that is owed $23.4 million. Several teams showed a hint of interest at the beginning of the season, but were simply unwilling to give up anything significant. That has forced Jackson to focus on Calderon and Bargnani instead.
Bargnani might be the easier trade to find considering his contract is expiring and is only owed $11.5 million. He has exactly 22 minutes to his name this year thanks to hamstring and calf injuries which does not make him very enticing to other teams and ESPN reports that the Knicks will waive him if they have to.
Calderon has a lot of respect in the league and anyone looking for point guard help would be wise to glance his way. However, he still has two years and $15.1 million on his contract which is not the easiest contract to move. The Knicks will not waive Calderon if they cannot find a trade, but he fans should not expect to see him on the roster next season.
