THE ‘BOOGIE’ EFFECT
HOW COUSINS DEAL IMPACTS CARMELO AND BROOK FATES
Right before the All-Star break, an NBA executive speculated about possible, even if unrealistic, trade scenarios for the Knicks and Carmelo Anthony. One deal involved Cleveland but did not contain Kevin Love. The exec stopped himself.
“Try selling that to Knick fans and they’ll burn down the Garden,” he said.
But now, the NBA has seen All-Star/Olympian DeMarcus Cousins dealt from Sacramento to New Orleans for what on the surface appears to be a hardly overpowering return: Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, the Pelicans’ first-round pick in 2017 (protected 1-3) plus a 2017 second-rounder.
“The Kings got exactly what they wanted,” one NBA talent evaluator said. “They got rid of DeMarcus Cousins.”
So might this have any effect on Anthony and his situation?
“Absolutely no effect. Zero,” that guy said. “The only thing is once a big domino falls, people get more aggressive and start to talk.”
Whether the Pelicans are significantly improved or the Kings sidestepped the decision on Cousins’ potential $200 million-plus contract extension this summer doesn’t matter to Knicks fans. Tell Knicks fans the polar ice caps are melting, and they’ll ask if the Knicks can get a pick for the caps.
More and more, it looks like nothing will happen concerning Anthony by Thursday’s deadline. There are many factors involved: Anthony’s age, 32; his full notrade clause; his 15 percent trade kicker. All have been discussed and dissected.
“The biggest thing that will affect Carmelo is to waive his no-trade and give them the opportunity to talk to more than just the obvious teams — Celtics, Clippers and Cavs,” the talent evaluator said. “The Knicks would be better served to do this in the summer, when more teams are available, or on draft night when they can steal a pick or so. For now, the Celtics don’t even make the list. They’re not going to give up a whole lot for Carmelo. What do the Cavs have to offer other than Love?”
Last week, an exec suggested a package starting with Channing Frye, Richard Jefferson and Iman Shumpert could be offered for Anthony.
Over the weekend in New Orleans at the All-Star Game, Anthony said he has heard the trade talk and he still “thinks about it a lot.” He would have had to be encased in Jell-O for several years not to be aware.
Still, if there is a market for Cousins, a free agent after 2017-18, there should be a market for Anthony, but “as long as he has that trade kicker in his contract, that’s a lot of money, and it will make it hard” to trade him, the talent exec said.
As for the Cousins trade, former Nets — and Lakers and Hornets and Cavs — coach Byron Scott on ESPN Monday raved about the deal. It gives the Pelicans two fabulously talented All-Star big men in Cousins and All-Star Game MVP Anthony Davis with point guard Jrue Holiday running the show.
“They’ve got three pieces that are very good,” Scott said. “So if I’m a fan of the New Orleans Pelicans, I’m very excited about the future of this team.”