Knicks finalize trade, add size and wing depth

Since you all can find these randomly updating trade rumor sites on your own without my speculations, I'll only post what's going on for reals, purportedly, for now.

Knicks have agreed to two deals, one sending Jerome James and Tim Thomas (and Anthony Roberson apparently) for Larry Hughes, a second sending Malik Rose and cash considerations to Sam Presti for Oklahoma City's little used Chris Wilcox.

Ironically, for the Knicks, these moves are generally more basketball oriented than for the 2010 free agency bonanza.  Though, you have to keep in mind that this doesn't affect the state of the Knicks' 2010 plans.  Hughes will be off the books by 2010 and Wilcox, like Rose is an expiring contract, the difference being Wilcox still has game.

All in all, it's not a bad move for the Knicks, despite all that's said and done about Larry Hughes, he's at least as good of a perimeter threat as say, Quentin Richardson.  I see Hughes immediately starting in the 2 slot, sliding Wilson Chandler back to the bench, unless Jared Jeffries gets traded, who knows? maybe they bench Jeffries.  Wilcox essentially is a major upgrade over Tim Thomas in terms of big man quality, he's not a great rebounder or scorer by any means, but he's serviceable, which Mike D'Antoni has a way of working into stat inflation.  Expect Wilcox to backup Harrington, Lee, and Jeffries at the PF/C slot, unless of course Jared Jeffries gets traded, in which case, expect him to just back up Harrington and Lee.