Anthony Carter: A veteran point guard who defends and leads but sure as heck doesn't score, Carter was something of a security blanket for George Karl in Denver for half a decade but has only played 14 games this season. At 35, he's no longer a viable rotation player but has use as a third point guard who can run the offense in a pinch and provides sage counsel in the locker room.
As a side note, Carter could technically blow up this deal because his contract permits him to refuse a trade. However, it won't stay blown up for long -- Denver can replace him with Melvin Ely, who makes the exact same money, if it comes to that.
Renaldo Balkman: An athletic forward who fell into disfavor in Denver and has played only five games this season, Balkman was included as a mini-salary dump (he has two years left after this one at a modest $1.675 million per) but may actually help with his energy and athleticism off the bench. While useless in the halfcourt and badly suited to D'Antoni's floor-spacing offense, Balkman is a good open-court finisher and a very good rebounder. Given how thinned out the Knicks' ranks are at the forward spots, he may see spot minutes in his return to the place where he started his career.
Shelden Williams: New York's likely backup center behind Ronny Turiaf, Williams is an effective, workmanlike rebounder and a physical defender. But offensively, he has hands of stone and a poor outside shot, and he can't elevate to finish at the basket. Also, Williams is just 6-9, so many centers can play right over the top of him. Basically, he's a "4.5" -- too small for full-time center duty but not skilled enough to play the 4 in today's game. As a fifth big man, he's not bad at all. As a rotation player, you've got a problem.
Anthony Randolph: An intriguing mix of shot-blocking skill, athleticism and ballhandling, Randolph has huge strengths but glaring weaknesses: He can't shoot and doesn't know it yet, he doesn't always play hard or practice with much verve, and he's light as a feather.
Randolph is also only 21 and averaged better than a point every two minutes a year ago -- an amazing feat considering he has no post game, no jumper and only the slightest inkling of the difference between a good shot and a bad one. He fell out of favor in New York and hardly played, but I would argue the positives outweigh the negatives and I expect Minnesota to give him plenty of rope the rest of the season.
Corey Brewer: A rail-thin wing who plays exemplary defense thanks to his length, effort and anticipation, Brewer nonetheless will be best-remembered in Minnesota for fans' blood-curdling shrieks of "No!! Noooo!!" every time he dribbled. Despite his entertaining ballhandling -- he either falls down or comes close virtually every time he puts it on the floor -- Brewer can help New York because he's a good defender on what's likely to be a very poor defensive team post-trade.
Nonetheless, it's possible he'll be moved to a third team. He's a restricted free agent after the season and, as a 24-year-old role payer, he's unlikely to move up in the world. But he's just competent enough offensively to make it worthwhile to play him for his defense, particularly on a roster like New York's.
Eddy Curry: Hopelessly out of shape, Curry will be waived upon arrival in Minnesota and is unlikely to set foot in the NBA again.