[octothorp]

Wow, the steal for NY is that they did this without giving up Fields, and they actually decreased the amount of salary they have on the book for next year by a few million, despite picking up Billups. Not sure they did enough to make a play for Paul during the offseason. Other than Fields, they've got nothing left to trade to facilitate a sign-and-trade, and they're under the cap for next season by about 6 million, with eight players under contract for next year (assuming Turiaf picks up his player option). That's not enough room to get either Paul or Williams. Probably the only way it works is if either of them pick up their player option, stay for another year, and then jump to the Knicks in the 2012 offseason when Billups' contract is up.

edit: I should mention, I don't mean that this trade is a steal for NY. Just that they kept Fields, which I didn't think they would do. I think this has the potential to be a lose-lose trade.