JR would have likely exercised his option to be a useless piece there, Shumpert was going to command some money, so we were just right place right time. The Knicks did get cap space, and remember, the main benefit was getting rid of JR, who has turned into a damn good starter for us. Now they'll have the cap space to recruit... um, Rondo? Dragic? Dramond Green? to pair with Carmelo and run the triangle. I dont really see the top guys going anywhere - Lebron, Love, Millsap, Gasol, Butler, DeAndre Jordan, Aldridge, Kawhi - and if they do go somewhere, I just dont see New York as being all that attractive to someone who legitimately wants a shot at a ring. And outside of Carmelo, there just arent any pieces there nor any assets. The smart thing would be to unload Anthony, get a bunch of draft picks, and use the cap space to collect assets and facilitate trades. What I think Phil is going to do is overpay a bunch of B listers that havent gotten that fat contract yet who are young enough that they dont mind wasting 3-4 years in New York, and maybe they'll compete for the 8th seed. They're just so far off that I cant see them doing any better than that.