'Melo Drama Finally Ends: Welcome to New York!

By Sharmaine Jones

The Carmelo Anthony saga came to an end Monday, as the All-Star forward struck agreed to exchange his blue and white jersey for a blue and orange one.

According to ESPN, the Denver Nuggets traded Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman to the New York Knicks in exchange for Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, a 2014 first-round draft pick and cash. The Knicks also included the Minnesota Timberwolves in the trade to clear up salary-cap space. The Timberwolves will get Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry and $3 million for sending Corey Brewer to the Knicks.

'Melo is ultimately where he wanted be, in New York with a $65 million, three-year contract extension; the Knicks get the All-Star they wanted; and the Nuggets get some first-round picks plus a plethora of young talent.

New York's possible starting lineup: Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields and Ronny Turiaf. While this is a great offensive crew, the Knicks — whose 28-26 record is largely due to lackluster defense — gave up four starters in the trade, including 7-foot-1 center Mozgov and two tough defenders in Chandler and Felton.

Sure, Carmelo will put up impressive numbers — he's averaging 25.2 points per game this season — but it's no secret that he's not a solid defender.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets lose the face of their franchise and veteran point guard Billups, who was an NBA Champion and Finals MVP while with the Detroit Pistons and who elevated the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals the same year he joined the team.

The Knicks will undoubtedly go through some growing pains — much like the "Big 3" in Miami — but this blockbuster trade will pay off in the long run, especially when the team tries to land such big names as Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard next season.

Do you think the Knicks mortgaged their future to acquire Carmelo? Tell us in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amare Stoudemire, Anthony Carter, basketball, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, New York Knicks, Raymond Felton, Renaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams, Timofey Mozgov, Wilson Chandler