As we predicted after Tuesday’s loss to the Pacers, NY Daily News’ Frank Isola is already crafting his latest novel.  This drama involves a largely unproven offensive-minded coach and a seasoned basketball manager at odds with the sycophant son of a billionaire who happens to have gifted a basketball team to his idiot offspring.

Here’s an excerpt from Isola’s latest work:

Dolan, though, went all-in three days before the trading deadline and made a deal that, according to sources, neither Walsh nor D’Antoni endorsed…

The Knicks are 6-6 since acquiring Anthony, including two losses apiece to Cleveland and Indiana. According to NBA.com’s John Schuhmann, Stoudemire and Anthony have played 335 minutes together, and during that time, the Knicks are a plus-1 in points scored.

It’s a small sample, and under normal circumstances, there would be no reason to panic. Only this is not a normal situation. Dolan put his neck out to make the Anthony trade.

Dolan has always wanted to be like his idol, Dallas owner Mark Cuban, and getting Anthony has been his signature moment. That’s a tough spot for D’Antoni, who liked the pre-Melo Knicks with Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton.

If last night’s performance in Cleveland is a sign of things to come, Knicks fans will have to wait until at least next season for their team to make some real noise.  Perhaps they were looking ahead to their prime time Sunday night showdown against Lebron James and the Miami Heat, but the Knicks turned in a lackluster performance last night against one the worst teams in the NBA.  Although he finished with 27 points, Carmelo Anthony fouled out late in the fourth quarter after missing a key free throw as the Knicks dropped what should have been a gimme to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-109.  It is clear that this team more time to gel. (more…)

Via Denver Post:

Via CBS Sports:

The Knicks have made what was described as their final trade proposal for Carmelo Anthony Sunday, pushing the months-long drama toward its merciful conclusion, CBSSports.com has learned.

The Knicks would send three starters — Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Raymond Felton — to Denver for Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams and Anthony Carter, sources said Sunday. The Nuggets would get the Knicks’ first-round pick in 2014, while Minnesota would get Eddy Curry‘s expiring contract and Anthony Randolph from New York. Curry would then be waived, and the Knicks would send as much as $3 million to Minnesota to pay his freight….

A person familiar with the situation told CBSSports.com Sunday that the Nuggets were still working through specifics with the Knicks and were pushing for New York to add Mozgov to the deal. Denver also hasn’t shut the door on the Nets, with whom they have agreed to the framework of a trade, according to the source. But it appears that key figures in the organization have grown comfortable with the Knicks’ offer, which was sweetened significantly after the Nets re-emerged in the discussions during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.

Via NY Post:

The Post has learned the Nuggets made a whopping demand one week ago that is more exorbitant than recent reports. According to a league source debriefed on Carmelo Anthony negotiations, Denver asked for Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and a first-round pick (obtained via Anthony Randolph) for Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups….

The Knicks management was flabbergasted, according to the league source.

This is officially a joke.  First, we must question Marc Berman’s “league source.”  Next, we must hit the IGNORE button on all of this Melo chatter.

Via NY Post:

Wilson Chandler missed his third straight game with a calf injury. D’Antoni said they want Chandler to be “100 percent.” He probably will be ready tomorrow in Philadelphia. The cautious handling of Chandler is interesting, especially since he’s the likeliest trade chip for Anthony.

Yes, Carmelo Anthony is obviously the big free agent score to be this NBA offseason.  But the possibility exists that he’ll be traded and signed (perhaps to the Knicks), or resigned by Denver, leaving current Knick Wilson Chandler as one of the big free agent prizes left on the market.

Chandler is young (23), talented, and has a ton of upside.  He has been a major contributor to this year’s Knicks team, and has the potential to be a star.  The same question with respect to Chandler exists now as did 2 months ago:  Is he worth giving up in a trade for Carmelo Anthony, or are the Knicks better off keeping him in the hopes they can sign Carmelo as a free agent and have both Anthony and Chandler on their roster?  Only time will tell…

The Knicks finally got back on track last night, despite showing momentary lapses, against the worst road team in the NBA, the winless Wizards.

Raymond Felton was terrific, putting up 17 points, 15 assists and 4 steals.  Amar’e Stoudemire was largely a beast, scoring 30 and adding 9 rebounds.  Wilson Chandler finally awoke from his slumber, with 25 points and 7 rebounds.

Watch highlights here.

Via Newsday:

A report on ESPN Radio that said the Nuggets rejected an offer from the Knicks that included Wilson Chandler, Landry Fields, Eddy Curry and a first round pick for Carmelo Anthony might have some dust on it. That was a scenario discussed in preliminary conversations in the fall, a person with knowledge of the talks told Newsday. The Knicks consider that a starting point now, with Carmelo making it clear his choice destination — and possibly the only team he’d agree to sign an extension with — is the Knicks….

Despite the Knicks worst 5 starting combination consisting of  Raymond Felton, Landry Fields, Danilo Gallinari, Amar’e Stoudemire and Ronny Turiaf, that is the precise lineup Mike D’Antoni will be starting tonight against the Spurs.

That is to say, Wilson Chandler, who had one of his best games of the season against the Spurs earlier this month at MSG (going for 31 pts and 9 rbs), will be relegated to 6th man.

Recall, the Knicks beat up on the Spurs when Gallo was in a suit. Perhaps D’Antoni is more confident in Chandler coming off the bench than Danilo Gallinari, but one has to scratch their head at this decision.  We’ll just have to watch and see if this decision leads to a 5th straight loss for the reeling Knicks.