you've been following along, you already know this. But the biggest reason the Knicks couldn't get into the meat of the Carmelo Anthonydiscussions is because they were lacking all the pieces required. That main piece being a first-round pick in next year's draft. 

Donnie Walsh even talked about regretting the Tracy McGrady trade in which he gave up a first-rounder. But the Knicks may be able to get back in the game now as Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com reports that New York has a deal available to them in which it can acquire a 2011 first-round pick to use as part of a potential Carmelo trade. 

Of course, the key there is getting talks revived and jumping into the driver's seat. The Knicks don't have the besttrade pieces, but the fact that New York is Melo's preferred destination and that the Knicks could package a deal better than some, it's possible. 

If anything, it's obvious that the Knicks are serious about playing in the Carmelo Sweepstakes. They've made a contingent move in order to make a move, which is a lot closer to Melo than they have been before. 

Is this deal good enough to trump what the Nets put together in the four-team deal that's dormant/dead/in a coma? Who knows, because we don't know the parts. But this definitely means that the Knicks shouldn't be counted out just yet.


http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/24934980