10 ESPN Trade Machine Approved Trades The Knicks Should Make Today

Image via Complex Original

Teams Involved: Timberwolves, Heat, Thunder
Key Players Involved: Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Amar'e Stoudemire, Kevin Durant, Tyson Chandler
Wins Gained: 8

The three biggest names approaching free agency are LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love, so why not include them all in the same trade? Four teams, six players, over $100 million in annual salary. Even Michael Bay can't dream of blockbusters like this. And if the Thunder really lose seven wins swapping Durant for Anthony, the MVP race should be a no-brainer.

Teams Involved: Rockets, Warriors, Nuggets
Key Players Involved: David Lee, Jeremy Lin, Tyson Chandler, Jermaine O'Neal, J.R. Smith, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, Maurice Speights, Festus Ezeli
Wins Gained: 4

Call this one Donnie Walsh's revenge. Essentially a "what-if" deal that presumes the Knicks never made the Melo deal and simply waited for him to become a free agent, it also brings David Lee and Jeremy Lin back to New York. Strangely, this apparently would improve the Knicks just as much as trading for LeBron, Durant and Paul George would. Right. Meanwhile, the Rockets not only get taller, but Festus Ezeli-er.

Teams Involved: Warriors, Thunder
Key Players Involved: Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, J.R. Smith, Amar'e Stoudemire
Wins Gained: 4

It's hard to imagine what the response would be in Oklahoma City if Sam Presti were to deal Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Reggie Jackson for Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani, although we suspect Seattle might get their team back. Again, the Knicks only pick up a few wins despite adding three All-Stars and unloading not much. Perhaps this is Mike Woodson's fault.

Teams Involved: Wizards, Kings, Celtics
Key Players Involved: John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Ben McLemore, Carmelo Anthony, Bradley Beal, Rajon Rondo, J.R. Smith, Raymond Felton, Andrea Bargnani, Aaron Gray, Jared Sullinger, Carl Landry
Wins Gained: 7

Yes, Carmelo Anthony has said most of the right things regarding his upcoming free agency, but it would still be better to be sure. As there is no such thing as a sure thing, why not trade him to Sacramento? And while Melo tries to get his Chris Webber on, reload with DeMarcus Cousins, the Shaq-hurdling Ben McLemore and—oh yeah—a new backcourt courtesy of Washington and Boston. And while the Knicks ponder who will start between John Wall and Rajon Rondo, the Wizards seek desperately how to explain turning Wall and Bradley Beal into Andrea Bargnani and Aaron Gray.

Teams Involved: Heat, Thunder, Pelicans
Key Players Involved: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, J.R. Smith
Wins Gained: 9

Amar'e Stoudemire's contract is one of the best things about the trade machine. That $21 million chip brings back so much no matter where he goes. Of course no one would ever actually trade for him in real life (at least not until he's an expiring, and then just for overpaid dreck), but we can dream, can't we? (The fact that Anthony Davis is making identical money to J.R. Smith over the next three seasons is a whole separate absurdity.)

Teams Involved: Spurs, Nuggets
Key Players Involved: Tim Duncan, Javale McGee, J.R. Smith, Anthony Randolph, Nate Robinson, Danny Green
Wins Gained: 5

We're not going to lie—the whole purpose of this trade was to drive Gregg Popovich into early retirement. Then again, he's often said he'll leave when Tim Duncan does, and this trade does that, too. A fourth team would probably have to be involved to take on Amar'e Stoudemire or Tyson Chandler, but let's not get crazy here.

Teams Involved: Heat, Pacers, Thunder
Key Players Involved: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Lance Stephenson, Amar'e Stoudemire, Metta World Peace
Wins Gained: 4

It seems impossible that the Knicks could acquire Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Paul George—not to mention swap Raymond Felton for should-have-been All-Star Lance Stephenson—and only gain four wins. Could a team with LeBron, KD, George and Carmelo Anthony actually miss the playoffs? Hell. No. It appears that either John Hollinger's formula needs work, or it presumes that Melo won't pass to any of his new teammates. BONUS: Metta World Peace heads back to Indiana, just in time for a Palace trip on March 15th.

Teams Involved: Clippers, Heat
Key Players Involved: LeBron James, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Tyson Chandler, Amar'e Stoudemire
Wins Gained: 7

LeBron James and Blake Griffin on the same team, with Chris Paul running the show? This probably isn't even legal on 2K14. Amar'e gets to retire to Miami, and the Clippers turn back into the Clippers. The Knicks would have to throw in all of their first round picks forever, and the other teams still wouldn't do this.

Teams Involved: Pacers, Pelicans, Trail Blazers
Key Players Involved: LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Lance Stephenson, Amar'e Stoudemire
Wins Gained: 8

Need proof that rookie deals are the best bargain in the NBA? Damian Lillard, Paul George and Anthony Davis combined make roughly half of what Amar'e Stoudemire does. It's enough to make a Knick fan cry—or concoct a deal that fleeces three other franchises of their respective futures. Giving up Toure' Murry hurts, but hey, nobody said this would be easy.

Teams Involved: Suns
Key Players Involved: Amar'e Stoudemire, Gerald Green, Eric Bledsoe, Alex Len, Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris, Slava Kravtsov, Miles Plumlee, Archie Goodman, Ish Smith, P.J. Tucker, Dionte Christmas
Wins Gained: 11

Four-team deals are fun and all, but it's even more fun to decimate a team's entire roster for a single player. Not that the Suns would have any interest in taking on Amar'e Stoudemire's uninsurable contract, but if they did, they'd have to give up 11 players to do it. Which would leave the Suns with a five-man roster, yet somehow only cost them 11 wins. Yeah, we're not sure how that works either.