“The Denver Post reporting that the deal is finally done.”

Those words have the potential to become as (in)famous as “I’m going to take my talents to South Beach”, depending on what steps are taken from here. The Knicks had to give up Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry (good riddance), a 1st Round Draft Pick, a 2nd Round Draft Pick, and $3 million in cash to get Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Corey Brewer, and Renaldo Balkman. Now I don’t blame them for doing it, but that exchange seems very lopsided… against New York.

Felton seemed to be doing well, Chandler and Gallinari were integral parts of this Knicks team, and Mozgov… well, he was a New York Knick too.

Simply put, this trade just destroyed the New York Knicks. Billups, Carter, and Williams are all likely to be gone by the summer of 2012, if not sooner, leaving a core of Stoudemire, Anthony, and Landry Fields.

Who is going to be the point guard? Andy Rautins? Who is going to be the presence down-low? Ronny Turiaf? What about when Turiaf is on the bench? Shelden Williams? Really?

I realize that these were the exact same questions posed to my precious Miami Heat this offseason, when they constructed their big masterpiece of a team. But this is different; New York doesn’t have a big three. They have Anthony and Stoudemire. Also, the owners and players must renew the CBA this offseason, a move that might tighten salary caps or maximum contracts.

Even if they do get Deron Williams or Steve Nash, as rumors suggest, what good will that do them when facing Miami, Boston, or Chicago? Can such a Knicks team really beat the three kings, the mean green, or Derrick Rose (soon-to-be MVP)? Did this trade help them get any closer to the ultimate goal of team sports … a championship?

As I see it, Amar’e and Carmelo <I>plus</I> one or two of those role players that New York traded to Denver would make a greater competitor than a poor man’s big three. Therefore, I propose one of the following two solutions that <I>could</I> land the Knicks a championship:

1. A carefully formulated team similar to the team the Lakers have. Now, that team wasn’t built around Kobe and Pau, but everyone else on that roster seems to compliment them well. L.A. is a good example of a two-star team. If New York could make a lesser Kobe out of ‘Melo, and a greater Pau out of Stoudemire, this could just work out.

2. A transaction that would acquire Chris Paul. I think it’s very possible this is the path the Knicks plan on taking (if it will still be possible next season). Neither Deron Williams not Steve Nash could bring rings to New York, but Chris Paul (the NBA’s second-best point guard after Rose) might. I still say that only Durant/Howard/Paul is a better big three than Miami’s, but this would be the second option. The Heat are weak at the point and center. The Amar’e/Melo/Paul combo would be strong where Miami is weak, as would the Miami 3 to New York.

The Anthony trade had to be made, and now the Knicks have some thinking to do before the season ends.