New York Knicks: Landry Fields Talks What Could Have Been

Former New York Knicks shooting guard Landry Fields gives his take on what could have been had things went a little differently his rookie season.

The New York Knicks are currently prepping for what is one of the most imporant offseasons in recent franchise history. Not only are they on the lookout for a new head coach, but they need to upgrade a roster with an aging superstar in Carmelo Anthony and a young cornerstone in Kristaps Porzingis.

Related Story: New York Knicks 2015-16 Team Grades

This is similar to a situation that they faced seven summers ago, which before this upcoming summer people would argue was the most important in recent memory. That summer, of 2010, the Knicks were armed with cap space that was acquired through multiple trades the previous season. The Knicks had their sights set on acquiring LeBron James, hoping he would help turn around their downtrodden franchise.

We all know how that turned out, as James went on ESPN to declare that he was taking his talents to South Beach, signing with the Miami Heat and joining up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Not to be left without nothing, the Knicks gave a max-contract to Amar’e Stoudemire.

More from New York Knicks

• New York Knicks Fall to Eighth After NBA Draft Lottery
• New York Knicks: Players to Draft in Worst-Case Lottery Scenario
• New York Knicks: Three Players Who Should Thrive Under Tom Thibodeau
• Is Devin Booker to the New York Knicks Realistic?
• New York Knicks: Tom Thibodeau Officially Hired as Head Coach

While the deal is one that is scrutinized by many people, there is no denying the impact that Stoudemire had on the franchise as a whole. The Knicks finally had a face of the franchise that wanted the pressure of leading the Knicks back to prominence. Upon signing, Stoudemire proclaimed, “The Knicks are back!” Everyone was excited about what the future would hold, and the early results were positive.

Stoudemire was a legitimate MVP candidate. As the focal point of the offense, the Knicks were thriving. They had young, talented supporting players in Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, a solid veteran in Raymond Felton at point guard and a surprise at shooting guard in Landry Fields.

There were other good building blocks as well, as they had Timofey Mozgov learning the ropes of the NBA, and Toney Douglas as a solid combo guard off the bench. Things were looking up for the Knicks as they finally looked to be putting together the foundation of a solid roster that could improve over time with eachother.

But, then Carmelo Anthony became available via trade. With the New Jersey Nets looming as a potential landing spot, James Dolan made the executive decision to trade for Anthony, as he couldn’t stand the thought of Anthony playing across the pond for a team moving to Brooklyn in a couple of seasons.

The trade was made, and it was a massive one. The Knicks roster was stripped down, as they moved Gallinari, Chandler, Felton, Mozgov, Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph. But, they got their man in Anthony, along with veteran Chauncey Billups at point guard.

More from Empire Writes Back

• Caesars New York Promo Code: Win $250 Bonus GUARANTEED on ANY Bet!
• Last Chance Caesars Promo: Claim $1,250 Bonus for ANY MLB Bet!
• Caesars New York Promo Code Gives TWO Chances to Win Betting on Your Yankees!
• PointsBet New York Promo: FIVE $100 Bonus Bets to Back the Yankees or Mets!
• Caesars NY Promo: $1,250 Bonus to Celebrate the Return of Judge!

The Knicks snuck into the playoffs that season, but were swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics as Billups and Stoudemire got injured. It turned into a one-man show for Anthony, which has continued to be the case more often than not in his tenure with the team.

That leads many people to play the what if game. What if Anthony had just waited to sign with the Knicks as a free agent that summer instead of forcing his way there via trade, causing the Knicks to not only ship out promising players, but draft picks as well.

It is a game many fans play, but players do also. One of the players that recently did was someone directly affected by the move; Fields. Fields offered his take on the situation and what could have been had Anthony come as a free agent and the Knicks kept their assets when talking to Anthony Donahue and Moke Hamilton of SNY’s The Knicks Blog Podcast.

"“It would have been a major, major play for New York if we had kind of the young talent of (Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler) and Ray Felton and Amar’e (Stoudemire) and Carmelo. It would have been a team that just would have been so impactful throughout the league and one that probably could have created a dynasty. But I don’t want to speak too much to that because you don’t want to get (into) all of this, ‘Rah rah, what could have been’ because that’s not what happened. There were possibilities there for such an incredible team to be assembled but at the same time, we can’t harp on what never happened.”"

It is tough to project how things would have been different, but there is no denying that the Knicks would have had a heck of a lot more talent had they not shipped so many assets out to acquire Anthony. It is something the Knicks still have not yet fully overcome, as their roster still has holes from previous regimes making more trades and robbing the team of any first round draft picks.

There are other trickle down affects to this as well, such as Stoudemire probably receiving the amnesty provision at some point instead of Billups, who the Knicks amnestied to make room to sign Tyson Chandler.

Next: Who Are The 30 Greatest Knicks Of All-Time?

The list can go on and on about what could have been, but it would be tough to argue against the Knicks being in a worst spot roster and talent wise had they been able to keep some of the talent, and draft picks, that were traded to the Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves in that three-team deal.