Feb 22, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani (7) looks on from the bench against the New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Knicks surprised a lot when they pulled the trigger on a trade that landed them Andrea Bargnani but it’s not a trade that anyone is lauding as a blockbuster. In fact it’s being called the exact opposite of that as the Knicks appear to have made the trade for Bargnani in response to the Brooklyn Nets acquiring Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry.
Knicks’ agreement to acquire Andrea Bargnani viewed by other team execs as predictable response to rival Nets’ spending spree.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) June 30, 2013
One exec of Knicks’ deal to acquire Bargnani, an overpriced luxury: “Now that the Nets put their wallet down, the Knicks had to keep up.”
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) June 30, 2013
If this was indeed a response to the Nets blockbuster than the Knicks couldn’t have made a worse trade than the one they did. While the Nets instantly changed their fortunes in a single trade, the Knicks have acquired a player who is hardly elite and has been criticized for not caring enough to be the star he should be.
The trade may help Carmelo Anthony though as he wanted a big name to come to town in the offseason. However Bargnani isn’t the scorer that he requested and his salary may hurt the Knicks chances of bringing back J.R. Smith.
That being said, Bargnani has the skill to be a game changer, it all depends on whether or not he commits himself.
