Balkman is Back!

The Knicks shipped Gallo, Chandler, Felton, Mozgov, and draft picks  in a three team deal to bring back Renaldo Balkman and also receive throw-ins Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Sheldon Williams, Anthony Carter and Corey Brewer.  Isiah Thomas must have been in Jim Dolan's ear trying to get Balkman back in a Knicks uniform to justify taking him with the 20th pick in the 2006 NBA draft.  Balkman, a fan favorite, is a 6'8" stud with a wingspan like a Condor.  Thomas always felt that Balkman could be a Rodman/Artest type player in the NBA and his defensive mindset could prove to be a game changer for the Knicks.

As exciting as the Melo deal is for the Knicks, it seems somewhat bittersweet losing a homegrown product like Gallinari and a tough point guard in Raymond Felton who embraced New York in his short stint here. Maybe if Donnie Walsh was able to actually do his job and not get stepped on by Jim Dolan, the Knicks would not have had to give up so much in the trade for Carmelo. Don't get me wrong, I think that the Knicks are a better team this morning than they were last night, and they are in a much better position to bring in Chris Paul or Deron Williams in 2012, but it would have been nice to see Melo drive the lane and kick out to Gallo for three.  Once Dolan got involved, it became clear that the Knicks were going to get Melo. The only question was how much restraint Dolan could show in not blowing up the whole roster.