The Knicks did it.
Phil did it.
We did it.
Somehow, someway (I’m assuming giving Mark Cuban A LOT of Peyote), the Knicks managed to cut ties with one Raymond Bernard Felton Jr. I really didn’t know this was possible. Like, Phil told Raymond that he was going to trade him at the end of season powwow, but I didn’t think that was possible. My parents used to tell me I was going to be an Astronaut or a professional athlete… I’M ABOUT TO BE AN ASTRONAUT, AREN’T I? Oh my god, thank you Phil!! I need to call my parents.
So, I just realized I haven’t even mentioned the parameters of this deal, or who has been cursed with granted Raymond Felton, but that’s what happens when your team sheds the 400 pounds plus of dead weight of Mr. Felton Junior’s contract. The Knicks are shelling out Tyson Chandler and Felton to the Mavericks and the Fightin’ Mark Cubans are dealing Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, Samuel Dalembert, Wayne Ellington, and picks 34 and 51 in this draft. (Yes, BOTH PICKS!). That’s some strong Peyote.
Why would the Knicks do this? Ummm, that question does not deserve an answer. We The Knicks are giving up Felton who terrorized Knicks fans last season like he was holding a gun to their head (sorry, I had too) and Tyson Chandler who gave up on the Knickerbockers last year, played like their was an actual ball-and-chain attached to his ankles, and looked like a shell of his former self. In return they get a bunch of young pieces who might turn into something, hope, some cap flexibility for a Melo Sign-and-Trade, and Jose Calderon. Calderon is the problem with this trade. Although he will immediately be the Knicks best point guard next year, his contract is horrendous; three years, $22.2 million.
Calderon is a two-part problem. Firstly and most apparent is that his contract is bulky and stretches into the years where the Knicks want as much cap flexibility as possible so they can go to a drive-in movie with Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, or whoever, buy them a nice dinner, and try to woo them to come to NY. Maybe we’ll get lucky, *winks*.
In the last year of his deal, Calderon will make north of 7 million dollars. He’s gotta go. Second, the Knicks will likely try to be very bad next year if they lose Carmelo Anthony. Considering that Jose Calderon is an above average player and will take minutes away from Shane Larkin — who the Knicks will want to develop for the future — Calderon will be an awkward fit on the Knicks immediate roster and future cap sheet. He’s gotta go.
Why would the Mavs do this? Losing Tyson Chandler to the Knicks right after the Mavericks won the NBA Championship is one of Mark Cuban’s biggest regrets as Head Honcho. The Mavericks need a rim protector, no projection is necessary relative to Tyson’s fit in the Mavericks scheme, he is an expiring contract if things go south, and everyone involved with the Mavericks love him. Coaches, players, executives, fans, mascot, you name it. Raymond Felton is the cost of doing business with the Knicks for the former Defensive Player of the Year. Simple as that. Maybe Rick Carlisle could turn Raymond Felton into a league-average NBA point guard, but they don’t care, they got Tyson and gave up no immediate contributors.
In the end, the Knicks traded Raymond Felton, and I couldn’t be happier. These are the times that you should spend with your loved ones. I’ll always remember where I was when the Knicks traded Raymond Felton, acquired picks instead of giving them up, and showed that the Phil Jackson era will be one of shrewd business and not greedy indulgences.
Now, go do some more VooDoo, Phil, it’s not asking too much.
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