FanPost

One more trade to go...

After Phil unloaded J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Dalambert this week there only remains one further trade that needs to be made before the Knicks are able to fully rebuild. Melo for Kobe. Let me explain.

Carmelo Anthony has been rock solid as a Knick and he remains as a top 10 talent in the entire Association. But, with rising health concerns and his slow transition into the Triangle offense, many worry that his years are numbered as that top 10 talent.

The Knicks are at least two years away from putting a team on the floor capable of making a deep playoff run, and Phil should do whatever is necessary to make sure the Knicks have that capability as soon as possible. That means trading a declining Melo to the Lakers for a "rock-bottom" Kobe.

No, Kobe does not answer any of the Knicks needs, but the trade could have mutual interest as Kobe can finish out his last year and a half in the Garden, and the Knicks won't be handcuffed to 4 more years of an overpriced Melo. The Lakers can begin their rebuilding around Melo (which is destined to fail.) I would rather have one and a half years of declining Kobe than four and a half of declining Melo.

In my book, the Knicks will never have a championship caliber team as long as Melo is in the picture, and even though taking in Kobe will set the team back short-term, it also shortens the rebuilding road significantly. The Knicks can make significant upgrades this offseason through the draft and aim for one more high pick in 2016, then be in shape to make a run at a top-tier free agent (Kevin Durant).

I was as thrilled as anyone when the Knicks made the trade for Melo, but the Knicks now seem in worse shape because of it. Time to bite the bullet and circle the calendar for 2017.