Chris Paul to the Knicks?

How would this super-team look in the Big Apple?

(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

     New York Knicks F Carmelo Anthony said recently that he would love to have New Orleans Hornets PG Chris Paul come play for the Knicks when he becomes a free agent at the end this season (if the season ever starts). Well, duh. Anyone would be happy to have him on the team, unless you’re a point guard that wants to start. But how would this team work?
     Offensively, it would be one scary team. PF/C Amare Stoudemire and Melo can score at will. They showed that last year, as the Knicks scored the second most points in the league. Both Melo and Amare averaged more than 25 points per game.
     Add Chris Paul to that combination and it gets even more frightening. There is no better leader at the point guard position right now than Paul. He is an extremely efficient player who knows exactly what to do in every situation. His numbers have fallen a bit as of late but he should be fully healed from injury this year. He’d be even healthier after the 2011-2012 season, especially if the current season is cancelled.
     Paul running the pick and roll with Amare would be a thing of beauty, reminding Amare of his time with Steve Nash. Paul could throw alley-oops all night, just as he used to when he made C Tyson Chandler look like an All-Star.
     Don’t worry Melo, you’ll get your touches too. Paul averages just under 10 assists per game, and that’s with a New Orleans team who isn’t nearly as good offensively as his New York counterparts would be.
     The scariest thing may be late-game situations against the Knicks. Melo is already the best late-game scorer in the league. With Paul on the floor, Anthony wouldn’t have to always create his own shot. Paul would help spread the floor and give the Knicks three deadly scorers they could go to each possession. Let’s be honest, PG Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups hasn’t lived up to that nickname for a few years now.
     Paul makes the smartest decisions with the ball in his hands, and New York fans would much rather see CP3 running point guard when they needed a bucket down the stretch.
     With this offensive power, the Knicks could be a top team in the league. Paul may even be able to interest Amare and Melo (and head coach Mike D’Antoni) in defense. If not the Knicks will be stuck as a mid-level playoff team and never realize their true potential.
     Here’s the real question: How would this team match-up with the one in Miami? These two teams would make for a great playoff series. PF Chris Bosh and Amare cancel each other out, being better offensively than defensively. The Heat would probably slide C Joel Anthony over onto Amare to slow him down.
     Melo against SF LeBron James would be a beauty of a match-up, but the edge would have to go to James. He plays defense and is just as potent of an offensive player as Melo. The PG Dwyane Wade-Chris Paul matchup may be the most interesting, without a clear cut winner. Both guys go all out on both ends and every point would be hard fought.
     But don’t get too far ahead. For this to happen the Hornets, who are currently owned by the NBA, would have to allow Paul to walk without getting anything in return. That doesn’t seem likely. They would also have to go through the trade deadline without dealing him, with almost every single team in the NBA asking for Paul.
     Right now, it doesn’t matter where these guys end up playing. It would just be nice to see them play at all.