The NBA season will start in less than a month. A preview of the New York Knicks looks bleak, as they are not even the best team in New York.

The brash Brooklyn Nets have issued challenges, classy and otherwise, to the Knicks and they really mean to challenge the Madison Square Garden residents for bragging rights to the Big Apple's fanbase. They have dramatically retooled by taking the two of the Boston Celtics' Big Three in a trade.

And what have the Knicks done? Their most significant move was a trade to acquire former first overall draft pick Andrea Bargnani-perhaps the worst first overall draft pick of the past decade who wasn't a victim of extended injuries. They also re-signed JR Smith to a hefty contract, despite the absence of clear cut rivals. To afford this contract, the Knicks let had to let promising small forward Chris Copeland to the Indiana Pacers. After the signing, JR Smith turned out to be injured and needed to undergo surgery and may miss three months of the season.

There were some good points. They got Metta World Peace from the Lakers through amnesty. World Peace is still strong, but badly in decline. They also acquired Beno Udrih, a worthy back-up point guard at the least.

The big story, and what would change the fate of the Knicks this year and it's long term future, concerns Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. Amare has succumbed to numerous injuries, yet still on a gargantuan contract. The resident superstar Carmelo Anthony lamented on ESPN: "As a friend, it's hard for me to sit back and act like it doesn't bother me because I know how hard of a worker he is [and] I know the time that he puts in the gym to train and rehab," Anthony said Tuesday. "To see him go forward and then take some steps back every time, it's just sad.

Carmelo has the option to opt out of his contract at season's end. It's great to play in the New York, but it's also great to win. Something he has done in High school and College..but not in the NBA. Will he choose to stay with the Knicks, when the LA Lakers and a team up with Kobe Bryant makes the call?