Who won and lost in the Carmelo Anthony trade?

Winner: Small ball lineups

With Carmelo Anthony joining a frontcourt of Paul George and Steven Adams, one of the two former All-Stars will have to play out of position. Both George and Anthony are self-described small forwards. While both have the size and ability to play power forward, neither has openly accepted the role.

Last season when the Pacers claimed they were planning on using George more as a small ball four, he rebuffed the notion. He was not willing to take the pounding that comes from guarding those bigger players and battling on the boards.

Anthony played primarily from the four spot in the Knicks best season. Tyson Chandler was able to negate Anthony’s defensive weaknesses. On offense, there are very few power forwards who could handle all the different ways Anthony scores.

Unless George kicks down to play the two guard and the Thunder start Patrick Patterson at the four, one of these two will be unhappy again.

The winner of all of this though is all of us who enjoy watching small ball lineups. The spacing offered by either George or Anthony at the four is a massive offensive advantage. This becomes especially true with non-shooter Andre Roberson on the floor. The signing of Patterson also has become increasingly important now with the loss of Kanter.

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The Warriors may have perfected the small ball lineup. Now the Thunder can throw some counter punches at their former MVP teammate. George and Anthony offer the type of positional versatility that is so valued in the NBA. Now they both just need to buy in.