Three-Way Deal Brewing Between Clippers, Nuggets, and Knicks?

Some people are going to call me crazy here—and maybe I am—but I'm increasingly feeling the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Clippers—or two of the three—are soon to pull off a big deal that could involve names such as Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Marcus Camby or David Lee. 

Of course, I have no proof any deal is imminent; however, a look at each team's recent moves leaves a lot of head scratching and wondering.

The Nuggets have all but publicly said they plan to dismantle their team and start over.  They traded their only good big man, Marcus Camby, to the Clippers for nothing—a future second round pick—and let quality back-up, fan favorite Eduardo Najera walk off without an offer. 

Then they went out and signed wacko Chris Anderson and traded for Renaldo Balkman.  Go to any Nuggets' message board online and you'll see many of their fans are pissed.

These moves leave the Nuggets with the following players under contract: Carmelo Anthony, Iverson, Chucky Atkins, Kenyon Martin, Nene, Steven Hunter, Linas Kleiza, Anderson, and Anthony Carter.  Iverson, Atkins, Anderson and Carter are all free agents at year's end who are unlikely to return.  J.R. Smith is a restricted free agent and Nuggets' brass has said they will match any offer.

Why would the Nuggets send off Camby for nothing when they know Martin and Nene will visit the IR as early as their next sudden movement?  Since joining the Nuggets, Martin has only appeared in 49 percent of his team's games.  Nene, in the past four seasons, has appeared in only 41 percent of the games.  Making matters worse is the fact these guys might hold the two most untradeable contracts in the league. 

Martin is owed roughly $45 million over the next three seasons.  Nene is on the hook for four more years and $43 million.  What's going on here?  Do the Nuggets actually believe these guys are good enough to play big roles, and that they'll hold up physically?

The Clippers are also in a weird situation.  Fans were psyched about a Baron Davis-Elton Brand combo, but that was before Brand left for greener pastures.  Management responded by contacting the Knicks about adding Zach Randolph, a move that would make sense for both clubs.  But as rumored, the Clips' offer of a second round pick wasn't good enough to convince Knicks' GM Donnie Walsh. 

The Clippers then turned their attention to Denver and traded for Camby, a move that still doesn't make a lot of sense—a Camby-Chris Kaman pairing would be odd and this team has a greater need for a dynamic two-guard.

I wrote last Friday how I felt the Clippers might have made the Camby move—Camby, by the way, wants out of L.A.—to return to the Knicks with a different offer for Randolph and possibly others.  I feel, without a doubt, the two teams are talking.

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