Carmelo Anthony could have been a Knick Monday if only team president Donnie Walsh were willing to meet Denver’s trade demands, which one team official classified as “steep.”

According to a team source close to the negotiations, “there is a deal to be made” but whether Anthony joins forces with Amar’e Stoudemire in New York between Tuesday and the Feb. 24 trade deadline likely comes down to the Nuggets either lowering their asking price or the Knicks turning over their roster to acquire one of the NBA’s top players.

The Nuggets, according to a source, are asking for three starters – including Danilo Gallinari and Raymond Felton – plus Eddy Curry’s expiring contract and at least one first-round pick. In that proposed deal, Anthony and veteran point guard Chauncey Billups would be coming to the Knicks.

It is believed that Walsh and Mike D’Antoni feel the team would be giving up too much. Garden chairman James Dolan has had direct involvement in the negotiations and may ultimately overrule his basketball staff.

It’s long been thought that the Knicks have the inherent advantage in these negotiations because Carmelo can ultimately just become a free agent and go sign in New York during the offseason.  They are (rightfully) thought to have the leverage because it would allow them to keep the core intact without having to sacrifice any potential talent that would otherwise be lost in a trade. 

A fair point, indeed.

Unfortunately for Knicks fans, what most people underestimated up to this point is that the Knicks have one of the worst owners in sports in James Dolan.  This a guy who still takes regular advice from Isiah Thomas after the former completely and utterly destroyed the Knicks reputation as a respectable basketball franchise.  He’s watched current team president Donnie Walsh come on the brink of making the team respectable and yet many still believe Walsh will be out and Thomas will be back in going into next season.  This would be like Jerry Jones calling up Wade Phillips during the season and then firing Jason Garrett and reimplementing Wade as coach.

Absurd, I know.

The idea of him handing over Felton, Gallinari, Curry, and a draft pick is not outside of the question, even if his entire basketball operations staff is imploring him to do otherwise.

This trade would obviously be a coup for the Nuggets and would give them a solid point guard with a very efficient contract in Felton, an up and coming star in Gallinari to replace Melo at the three, cap space with Curry’s expiring deal, and then a potential draft pick.

Nuggets fans can only hope Dolan is that dumb.

[New York Daily News]