If you’re a New York Knicks fan, you better buy a program to refer to next time you attend a game because you won’t recognize the roster after the trades the team made this week.

Coming into the Big Apple and donning a Knicks jersey will be four-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony along with guards Chauncey Billups and Anthony Carter, center Shelden Williams and forward Renaldo Balkman. The nine-player deal moves Knicks players, guard Raymond Felton, forwards Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler and center Timofey Mozgov out to Denver. Three million cash and the Knicks’ first-round pick in 2014 and second-round picks in 2012 and 2013 also went to the Nuggets in the deal.

Before the dust settled from this exchange, the Knicks obtained Corey Brewer from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Anthony Randolph, pine warmer Eddy Curry and $3 million.

Since LeBron made “The Decision” to go to South Beach to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Orlando Magic and now the Knicks are stockpiling superstars, loading up their line-ups for a playoff push.

Before the NBA season tipped off, the Heat were looking like the team that could run away with a title but since then, the Eastern Conference title looks to be up for grabs.

While the Orlando Magic pulled off two blockbuster deals and added Gilbert Arenas to their roster, Anthony will now be joining All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire to form one of the league’s most potent scoring tandems. Throwing All-Star Billups into that mix under coach Mike D’Antoni offers the Knicks a chance to go deep into these upcoming playoffs.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

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