Carmelo trade another example why CP3 should be traded

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it finally happened.

Carmelo Anthony got his wish and is now a New York Knick.

Basketball in the Big Apple is back again – or so I’ve been told. The New York hoops savior is here.

Never mind the fact that Anthony is an overrated and overhyped NBA star that just plays offense and has never had any intention of playing defense throughout his career.

Never mind that Anthony has had a talented roster beside him in Denver, but still never so much as even sniffed the NBA championship trophy, or even the NBA Finals in his seven-year career.

Some also forget that it took five young players, a first round pick, two second round picks, an expiring contract and $3 million to get him.

The Knicks finally got their man.

Pay close attention and take notes, Dell Demps. This is going to be your life in 12 months.

That’s because at the trading deadline next season, it will be New Orleans Hornets’ star guard Chris Paul who will be unhappy, angry and just winging it until his team trades him in advance of the end of his contract, which expires in the Summer of 2012.

I know what you’re saying. But I promise it’s not as blasphemous as it seems. If Paul wanted out of New Orleans so badly last summer, why would he all of a sudden be enamored with the team’s current position in the bottom half of the Western Conference playoffs?

Please don’t give me the whole “the media had it all wrong” line. I trust several of the journalists who reported the guard’s displeasure more than I do Paul, who has to say the company line and pretend like he’s happy because he doesn’t want to lose fans.

Make no mistake about it – this time next year, it will be our fans who will be booing our star, our city turning on its franchise player and our team that will be the subject of all of this ESPN speculation.

Know what I say to those prognostications?

Great. Bring it on!

Because the fact is that only one team got better in the Anthony trade and I’ll give you a hint – it wasn’t the Knicks.

And if Demps and his group play their cards right in the next calendar year, that same wealth of riches that made the Nuggets winners in this deal could be taken to New Orleans.

Let me ask a question to basketball fans today: Is Anthony a better basketball player than Chris Paul?

Some might say yes, most others – especially in this area would say no. At the very least, we can meet middle ground and say they are both very similar in terms of talent, marketability, star power and impact on the basketball floor.

So let me spell out again what the Knick gave up to get their 25 points per game star.

They traded Wilson Chandler, a 23-year-old small forward averaging 16 points per game. They also gave up Danilo Gallinari, a 22-year-old sharp shooting who also averages 16 points per game, but is lethal behind the 3-point line.

Point guard Raymond Felton was also sent packing with his lofty 17-points per game and his nine assists per game.

Also saying bye-bye to the Big Apple were power forward and former LSU star Anthony Randolph and center Timofey Mozgov, both of whom showed promise and have room to grow in the league.

So let’s reset and review: They gave up a promising point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center and three draft picks for one star player and close to washed up 34-year-old point guard Chauncey Billups.

That’s eight players for two players. Even against two UFC fighters, I like me and seven of my friend’s chances in an alley fight.

OK, maybe that’s a bad analogy, but the point stays the same: why couldn’t the Hornets get a similar package in a trade for Paul?

After all, he’s an equal talent and is a full year younger than Anthony.

And most importantly he doesn’t want to be in New Orleans long term – no matter how many times he says otherwise.

So to the Knicks, Bulls, Lakers, Magic, Nets or anyone else who might be interested.

Give the Hornets everything in your closet and all of your draft picks for the next half-decade.

In return we’ll give you Paul.

I’d rather five or six birds in the hand over one in the bush any day.

But then again that’s just me.