Carmelo Anthony Trade Would Cost Top Four Knicks Not Named Amar’e Stoudemire

If the New York Knicks want to trade for Carmelo Anthony, the price will be the team's top four players not named Amar'e Stoudemire, according to a report by Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times. The Denver Nuggets, looking for a sizable pull in any 'Melo trade, has reportedly asked for Raymond Felton, Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and a first-round pick in exchange for 'Melo and Chauncey Billups. At time this season, the Knicks' starting line-up has been Stoudemire and those four players.

Obviously, that's a trade the Knicks can't and won't make, as Abrams also reports. The Knicks are apparently more interested in giving up just one player of note and possible two picks, assuming the team can flip Anthony Randolph for a first, as has been rumored for about a month. New York believes it can sign Anthony in free agency next offseason, considering 'Melo has been rather open about his desire to play in the city.

But the risk becomes whether the New Jersey Nets, reportedly hot on the 'Melo trail again, convince Anthony to spend a year in Newark before the franchise moves to Brooklyn. The Nets have more reasonable assets the Nuggets are reportedly interested in, including rookie power forward Derrick Favors and a slew of picks.