Knicks president Donnie Walsh, who has been trying to trade Anthony Randolph and get a third team involved for a Carmelo Anthony blockbuster, might have found a match for both.
A source familiar with the situation said the Knicks, Timberwolves and Nuggets have discussed a three-team trade that would bring Anthony to the Knicks while Randolph, Wilson Chandler and Eddy Curry’s expiring contract would depart.
“There are discussions,” the source said yesterday.
However, talks are at a standstill, but it confirms why the Knicks have handled Chandler’s recent calf injury with kid gloves, kept him out three games, and are not starting him since his return Friday. The trade deadline is Feb. 24. Chandler has acted subdued the past 10 days, likely because his name has been linked to the talks.
“Donnie is talking to everybody, and so is Denver, focusing on how ’Melo can get to New York,” a source familiar with the situation said.
In the proposed deal, the Nuggets would wind up with Corey Brewer, Chandler and a Minnesota first-round pick. Minnesota gets Randolph and Curry’s expiring contract. Randolph, whose representatives have requested a trade, has long been rumored headed to the Timberwolves for a first-rounder.
It would be a sweetheart deal for the Knicks, and the Nuggets would not get nearly as much as they would have if their 15-player, three-team deal with the Nets had come to fruition.
Ironically, Walsh announced the official hiring yesterday of Mark Warkentien, the former Denver general manager whose addition has been linked to the Knicks adding Anthony.
But Walsh made clear the hiring was not Anthony-related. Warkentien, was in San Diego yesterday, scouting San Diego State vs. TCU. Warkentien has a strong relationship with Anthony and is represented by CAA, also Anthony’s firm.
When Anthony heard reports of Warkentien’s flirtations with the Knicks last week, he beamed and said it was “a great addition.”
If the Knicks can’t get a deal done, Walsh knows he can wait until free agency. Warkentien would represent another comfy reason for Anthony to join, though the Knicks always have been his first choice. The Nets have pulled out of the running but nobody has ruled them out of rejoining.
Warkentien’s title is director of pro player personnel, but his major attribute is his tireless college scouting, with focus on the West Coast. He will live in Portland. Nevertheless, the trade deadline is approaching.
“We didn’t hire him for that reason,” Walsh said of Anthony. “No.”
Asked about Warkentien’s potential good relationship with Nuggets ownership led by the Kroenke family, Walsh said: “I doubt that. You get fired you don’t have a relationship anymore. That’s the way it goes.”
The Knicks have dropped to one game over .500 at 25-24 and the need for Anthony has become increasingly apparent.
Walsh has long tried to add Warkentien to the staff. The timing is not ideal as Walsh still doesn’t have a guaranteed contract for next season. But the Knicks could use college-scouting help and Warkentien was chief of the Blazers’ and Cavaliers’ drafts.
Walsh isn’t traveling to scout because of his hip-replacement rehab. The status of Knicks college scout Rodney Heard, who was fined $20,000 earlier this week for staging illegal college workouts, could be in jeopardy. Heard’s actions cost owner James Dolan $200,000. And longtime college scout, legendary Dick McGuire, passed away last season.
“Basketball, he’s a basketball guy,” Walsh said of Warkentien. “We lost Dickie McGuire. We have a good scouting group. He’s been a general manager, a good guy to talk about a lot of different areas in basketball operations. I ’ve known him a long time. He’s wanted to work here a long time. It was a good time to do it, period. His life has been in basketball. The same way mine is.”
Walsh interviewed Warkentien in the summer of 2009 for the still-vacant general manager job. Warkentien told confidants two years ago he always wanted to work for Walsh, his mentor.
“It’s true when he started at Denver when he was doing a big trade he’d run it by me,” Walsh said. “That’s nice. I respect his basketball and I know I can work with him. That’s why he did it.”
Walsh has made it clear this was his hire, even though Dolan has not exercised the option on Walsh’s contract for next season. Walsh said Warkentien’s past general manager job makes him even more valuable as a draft guy.
“I have him in the draft but I don’t feel like uncomfortable talking to him about the NBA stuff,” Walsh said. “When he looks at college games he probably has a better perspective where he fits in the NBA as opposed to college guys always looking at college guys.”