NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks Deal for Raptors' Former First Round Pick Andrea Bargnani
The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors are on the verge of finalizing a trade that will be sending key players to each side in a move that could benefit either team in the long run.
The Knicks will send forward Steve Novak and veteran Center Marcus Camby along with two future second round picks to the Raptors in excahnge for 2006 first round pick, center Andrea Bargnani.
The deal was close to finalization Sunday evening, but the two sides could not come to terms with the deal as salary adjustments would have to be made, according to Yahoo! Sports. However, league sources believe the deal will be made today.
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Bargnani has two years and is owed $22 million on his contract, and has often been injured or plagued with inconsistent play throughout his career. When healthy, he is a seven-footer with a deadly three-point touch and shoots a high percentage in free throws and field goals.
Novak is one of the best three point shooters in the league, but his inability to create his own shot and do anything else but camp out behind the three point arc makes him a liability on the court. This, along with an injury, saw him get no action on the court during the Knicks playoff run.
Camby has been one of the best defenders in the NBA for the last 15 years, as he is superb at blocking shots and getting rebounds. Unfortunately, when the Knicks brought in the 39-year-old they had hopes of him being their backup center, but injuries limited him to just 24 games and another three in the playoffs.
This move will help the Raptors unload Bargnani's large salary and get younger with two draft picks as they rebuild. Camby can help mentor the younger players while Novak may find a home as a spot up piece off the bench.
The Knicks' end of the deal can go either way. If healthy they have a quality center-forward who can score and work well with Tyson Chandler, their current center. If not, it's just another underachieving, often-injured big man such as Amare Stoudemire, Rasheed Wallace, Kurt Thomas, and Camby. Plus, they lose two future draft picks.
