Something happened in the National Basketball Association on Wednesday...something unheard of. The New York Knicks traded FOR draft picks, two of them in fact! News broke early in the afternoon on Wednesday, that the Knicks and Mavericks had completed a trade. The trade will send Tyson Chandler, and oompa-loompa turned basketball player, Raymond Felton to the Mavericks. In return, the Knicks will acquire, get ready, TWO second-round picks, along with 2013 first round pick Shane Larkin as well as Jose Calderon, Wayne Ellington and Samuel Dalembert. So, what does this trade mean for the Knicks and Mavs?
Salary involved-
Involved in the trade were some pretty hefty contracts-
Tyson Chandler(Dal)- $14.596 million for the 2014-2015 season, and then an Unrestriced FA
Jose Calderon(NYK)- Signed through the 2017 season, $7.0 million $7.4 million and $7.7 million
Raymond Felton(Dal)- $3.7 million this season, $4.5 million player option for 2015
Samuel Dalembert(NYK)- $1.8 million for the 2014-2015 season, then a UFA
In the trade, the Knicks save about $5 million in cap for this upcoming season, and can also waive Dalembert to save another 2 million. In the big picture, getting rid of Chandler’s and Felton’s contracts were important business for Phil Jackson, who is making his first real roster tweak since taking over. Getting Felton’s player option($4.5 million) out of their hair is huge as well, considering it’s a miracle he knows how to dribble a basketball. All the speculation with the Knicks courting Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony, this was the first and most important step- freeing the cap. On the flip side, the Mavericks only added about $3 million in salary, and still have room with Dirk Nowitzki's contract, to add a max deal starting a four-years $20 million.
Players involved-
The Knicks get a NBA-caliber point guard to run the triangle offense in Jose Calderon. In fact, they could’ve gotten a gatorade bottle in return for Felton, and it would’ve been a win. Calderon can dish the ball very well, and doesn’t turn the ball over that much, averaging almost a 5:1 assist to turnover ratio. Calderon shot 44% last year from the field, and 45% from downtown, compared to Felton’s 39% from the field and 31% from three.
In the trade, the Knicks also got youngster, Shane Larkin. Larkin was the 18th overall pick in the 2013 draft. Larkin was a pretty highly-touted point guard in the draft last year, and his rights were traded to the Mavs for three other player’s rights. Larkin, 5’11”, is relatively small for league standards. He has good offensive ability, averaging 14 points on 47% shooting and leading the U of Miami to their best season in school history. If Larkin can learn how to defend other guards who will be much taller and lankier, he can be a solid NBA player.
The acquisition of Wayne Ellington adds a decent shooter off the bench, who had a field goal percentage and three point percentage of both over 40% in 2013. Ellington isn’t expected to do much for the Knicks, who has only averaged over 20 minutes a season once in his career. Samuel Dalembert has played for a different team in each season for the past four years, making this the fifth. The Knicks could waive Dalembert and save $2 million, or simply flip him for another draft pick, or player.
The former Defensive Player of the Year goes back to Dallas, and they’re hoping that Tyson Chandler can be the inside presence he was in 2011 for their championship team. Chandler will get significant minutes and be a mammoth on the inside. The Mavericks were great offensively last season, second in the league in 3PT%, fourth in FG%, and eight in PPG. With that, anything Chandler gives them on offense is a plus, considering their center last year, Sam Dalembert, averaged 6 points in 20 minutes per game.
Aside from all the jokes and hatred Raymond Felton gets, he really needs to get in shape. Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle don’t put up with players who aren’t committed, and if Felton doesn’t show he doesn’t want to get better, he won’t play. Expect the Mavs to do everything they can to re-sign Devin Harris to push Felton to get better.
What this means for each team-
Clearly Phil Jackson is trying to make a win-now atmosphere. Acquiring Jose Calderon, and draft picks is a big stride in doing so. A competent point guard is something the Knicks lacked last year, and that was evident. The salary that was freed up is huge for the team who will need to make a splash in free agency due to the lack of first round picks this year, and in coming years. Looking at the roster now, it is solid for being the the Eastern Conference. Tim Hardaway Jr will be entering his second year, after averaging 10 points in 23 minutes a game last season. Iman Shumpert could still be moved, but right now he’s the other starting guard with Calderon. Throw in veterans J.R. Smith, and Amare Stoudemire, they could battle for the 8th seed right now.
The first thing the Mavericks need to do now, is re-sign Devin Harris. Harris averaged almost 8 points a game, and 4.5 assists in 20.5 minutes last year. His play in the postseason was crucial in helping the Mavs push the Spurs to seven games. Here’s the thing, the Mavericks even with this trade, still have room for a max contract. Mark Cuban needs to get Dirk Nowitzki help, and he knows that. Don’t be surprised if a top free agent falls in a Maverick uni with Tyson Chandler next season. If all works out for the Mavs, Chandler will be doing this for them again real soon-