TRADE: Knicks trade Malik Rose for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith to the Celtics?

[Glenn]

Source: Knicks swap Rose for Wilcox

By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com

NEW YORK -- The Knicks agreed to a minor trade Thursday with the Oklahoma City Thunder, swapping Malik Rose for Chris Wilcox.

A source with knowledge of the trade disclosed it to ESPN.com, saying it was agreed to early Thursday afternoon. It was unclear whether there were any additional parts involved in the trade.

Wilcox was one of the players the Thunder had sent to New Orleans in the trade for Tyson Chandler that was voided by Oklahoma City after Chandler failed a physical. The other was Joe Smith, who would like to be bought out by the Thunder in order to sign as a free agent by the Boston Celtics, a source told ESPN.com late Wednesday night.

Both players have expiring contracts: Rose is making $7.65 million, and Wilcox earns $6.75 million.

[Tahoe]

Ok the Joe Smif deal is about winning...if it happens.

[WTFchris]

Why did the Thunder do this? I don't get it. swapping expirings (where they take on a larger contract) for the same position and a worse player?

[Zekyl]

Wilcox is a 5, Rose is a 4, but I see what you mean. And Wilcox makes less money so they aren't even saving cash by doing this. Maybe Wilcox was a lockerroom issue since he wasn't playing. Maybe Wilcox makes more than Rose. It does say it's unsure if any other parts are included. They could have gotten a 2nd rounder out of it.

[WTFchris]

The other parts is key IMO. It's not like the Thunder have a young center that Wilcox was keeping from playing. and I think Wilcox can play the 4 anyway. They must have gotten something else or this is stupid.

[Uncle Mxy]

I wish we could've done this deal with Kwame Brown.