Carmelo Anthony: 5 Different Trades To Send the Star To the Mecca

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Everybody is talking about Carmelo Anthony potentially joining Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton to make the Knicks a legitimate contender in the east along with the Celtics, Bulls, Magic and Heat. Since New York has most of the leverage in this possible trade due to Carmelo saying he won't sign an extension with anyone except the Knicks, the Knicks won't gut their roster for him.

The main challenge for the Nuggets over the next two months will be to get as close to full value as they can for their franchise player. They do not want to end up like the Raptors or Cavaliers after their respective superstars left (though calling Bosh a superstar is debatable). The Knicks should probably just wait until the summer, but just in case they don't, here are 5 trades that can send Melo to his preferred destination.

The Simple Deal

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Knicks Get: Carmelo Anthony

Nuggets Get: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry's contract (Yes, thats right just a contract. The guy is a useless shlub.)

 

This is the most the Knicks should offer the Nuggets in a straight up deal. As said in the intro, the Knicks have all the leverage because Carmelo has let it be known he wants to go to New York whether it be this year or the next.

Coming into the year, Danilo Gallinari was the hottest item the Knicks had to offer. He had a great three-point stroke and blocked shots occasionally. His stock has gone down a little due to his inconsistent shooting though he has picked it up lately. He has also started to show the ability to create his own shot.

Conversely, Wilson Chandler's stock was very low in the summer. The Knicks shopped him all summer, even offering him up to Portland for Rudy Fernandez. This year, Chandler has been an absolute monster. He is averaging 17 points to go along with six rebounds and a staggering two blocks per game. He is also one of the more versatile players in the league in that he can play shooting guard as well as both forward spots.

And Eddy Curry? He just sucks.

Trade Link- http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2bae56b P

Sacramento Kings Join The Party

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Knicks Get: Carmelo Anthony

Kings Get: Toney Douglas, Kelenna Azubuike

Nuggets Get: Carl Landry, Danilo Gallinari, Bill Walker, Eddy Curry's Contract

 

Why the Kings do this deal: Right now there is a logjam in the King's frontcourt. They have Landry, Jason Thompson, Samuel Dalembert and two very talented rookies in DeMarcus Cousins and Hasaan Whiteside. All the while, they do not have a point guard. Tyreke Evans will never be a legitimate point guard in this league because he cannot defend on the perimeter. He is more of a two guard. Toney Douglas on the other hand is a great perimeter defender. He won the ACC Defensive Player of the year when he played at Florida State. He can also be a serviceable point guard when called upon to do so. Azubuike is a great shooter and a great leader who the young Kings team can learn from. His contract also expires at the end of the year, so there is no commitment.

Why the Nuggets do this deal: They get two young pieces to build around in Landry and Gallinari. Billy Walker is a good defender with an adequate shot. The starting five would be Chauncey Billups, Aaron Afflalo, Gallinari, Landry and Nene. They also would have a deep bench in Chris Andersen, JR Smith, Ty Lawson, Kenyon Martin and Walker. That is a team you can go into the future with and probably could squeak out the eighth seed in this years weak bottom of the West.

Trade Link- http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2ezsjfr

The Lakers Get Better?

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Knicks get: Carmelo Anthony

Nuggets get: Andrew Bynum, Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas, Sasha Vujacic, Eddy Curry's contract

Lakers get: Chauncey Billups, Anthony Randolph

 

Why the Lakers do this deal: Andrew Bynum has not played the entire year and it has not had a major impact on how the Lakers have played. Yes you might say that they would lose size and upside by trading Bynum but in this trade they acquire Randolph to fill those losses. But the major reason the Lakers do this deal is the man they call Mr. Big Shot. There is no way Chauncey Billups would want to stay in Denver when the Nuggets trade Carmelo. I think the Nuggets will do right by him and trade the hometown hero to a contender. If the Lakers aren't the prohibitive favorites already, they will definitely be after this trade. Billups, Kobe, Artest, Odom and Gasol. Who is going to stop that?

Why the Nuggets do this deal: The Nuggets get Bynum who is one of the top prospects in all of Basketball. Yes he has had injury problems but he has immense upside. If you are trading Carmelo Anthony, that is the primary thing you are looking for. Vujacic is an expiring contract and a good shooter who you can put along with Gallinari to give opponents fits. Douglas would be a long term partner with Ty Lawson. They would give opponents trouble with their hounding defense and speed.

Trade Link: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=25qpsjz

Nuggets Get an Extra Pick For The Future

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Knicks Get: Carmelo Anthony

Nuggets Get: Danillo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry's Contract, 2012 Knicks first round pick via Houston

Rockets Get: Anthony Randolph

 

Why Nuggets do this deal: see trade 1. Plus they get an extra first round pick that the Knicks gave the Rockets in the ill fated Tracy McGrady deal.

 

Why the Rockets do this deal:

If the Knicks get Carmelo then that pick in 2012 wont be so good. Might as well get a guy filled with upside in Anthony Randolph

 

Trade Link: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=29a5kdx

The Best Case Scenario

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Knicks get: Carmelo Anthony, Sean Williams

Nuggets get: OJ Mayo, Hasheem Thabeet, Toney Douglas, Eddy Curry's contract

Grizzlies get: Wilson Chandler, Anthony Randolph, Bill Walker

Note- This deal cannot be completed until after December 15th due to Williams not being eligible for trade.

 

Why Nuggets do this deal- For some reason the inept GM of the Grizzlies Chris Wallace wants to deal OJ Mayo. The Nuggets would gladly take him along with Thabeet who is also reportedly on the trade block. Mayo would take over Carmelo's scoring role and maybe even match his output in the future. Thabeet is never going to be a good offensive player but he has the potential to be the next Dikembe Mutombo.  Douglas can team with Ty Lawson and learn under Chauncey Billups if he is not traded as well.

Why the Grizzlies do this deal- Well they do it because Chris Wallace is horrible. But to be fair if he is going to trade Mayo, this is not that bad of a return. Chandler is not as pure of a scorer as Mayo is but he is a more complete player. Randolph will help down low and bring much needed athleticism to their frontcourt.