Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: 10 Reasons the New York Knicks Have Most to Offer
Carmelo Anthony trade rumors will continue to gain more momentum as we near the NBA's February 24th trade deadline.
Although it may seem as if talks have reached their height, they haven't even come close.
Get ready for even more rumors. Even more possible destinations. And even more twists and turns.
As the trading deadline approaches, there is no telling what may or may not happen.
We do know one thing though: Carmelo Anthony's preferred destination is still the New York Knicks.
From day one, Anthony's wish was to become a Knick. And that dream is still alive.
With the New Jersey Nets pulling out of the Carmelo sweepstakes, the door is wide open for the Knicks to swoop in and claim Anthony.
There is just one problem. The Denver Nuggets are reportedly still not interested in anything that Knicks can offer.
It's mind-boggling right? I mean, how can the Nuggets still be playing this game?
If you ask me, they don't want to deal with the Knicks more out of spite than anything else. Denver does not want to send Anthony to his preferred destination, which is why the Nuggets have tried to avoid talks with New York this whole time.
However, lets just say the Nuggets are truly not excited about anything the Knicks can offer. Lets say spite is not playing a factor in Denver's reluctance to enter serious negotiations with New York.
Well then, the Nuggets entire front office are out of their minds.
The package the Knicks can put together for Anthony exceeds anything else that any other team can or is willing to offer.
And it's time to prove it.
Here is the top ten reasons why the New York Knicks can put together the best trade package for Carmelo Anthony.
No. 10: Eddy Curry
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Cue the angry critics.
Call me crazy, but I think Eddy Curry increases the value of New York's package for Anthony.
And it is not just because of his expiring contract.
Make no doubt about it that Curry wants to see his days as a Knicks come to an end. He wants to move on and try to salvage what may be left of his disappointing career.
Curry has something to prove to say the least. He wants to show that he can still play so that he may be able to get another NBA contract.
This is a major plus for the Nuggets. A player in his contract year with something to prove is always a good thing. It means Curry is motivated and hungry for once.
New York Head Coach Mike D'Antoni's system is not Curry friendly, but Denver Head Coach George Karl runs a less fast-paced system. As a Nugget, Curry would be able post up in the paint more, which is where he is effective.
Also, Denver wants another big man. The Chicago Bulls will not give up Joakim Noah and the Nuggets have no interest in Luol Deng. And the Houston Rockets' Yao Ming is available, but he is out for the rest of the season.
So why not give Curry a try if you are Denver?
Curry can play a role in Karl's system and there is zero risk. If Curry plays well, then you got some value out of him and if he doesn't, then Denver can still wave goodbye to him and his bloated contract at the end of the season.
Denver wants a big man and Curry's a big man. He is no Joakim Noah, but Curry can still be effective in the paint.
And we have to go back to the fact that Curry actually has some motivation to play for a change.
In the case of Curry, the Nuggets have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
No. 9: Kelenna Azubuike
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Kelenna Azubuike is very valuable in any offer the Knicks make to Denver for Anthony.
Why?
Eighty-percent of Azubuike's $3.3 million salary of this season is officially going be paid via insurance as a result of his knee injury. Kelenna would essentially cost the Nuggets nothing.
This is a plus for Denver because their top priority, even above draft picks and assets, is saving money. Pair Azubuike's deal with the expiring contract of Eddy Curry and that saves the Nuggets almost $15 million.
Denver's deal they had in place with New Jersey did not save them nearly as much. The Houston Rockets have been thought to be able to offer more savings than the Knicks, but lets take a look at that for a second.
The Rockets can give the expiring contracts of Yao Ming and Jared Jefferies in exchange for Anthony, but that's it. Houston will not be able to find homes for Chauncey Billups or Al Harrington, two contracts that if unloaded, would save Denver a pile of money.
Houston would only be acquiring Anthony as a rental, making them less motivated to take on or find other homes for Billups and Harrington.
The Knicks however possess the ability that Houston lacks. Even the Dallas Mavericks cannot put a deal in place that would save the Nuggets as much money.
Yes, Kelenna Azubuike has the potential to make a big contribution for the Knicks.
And he won't even have to set foot on the court.
No. 8: Al Harrington
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I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Knicks are the most flexible team in the league when it comes to including Al Harrington in any trade for Anthony.
It's no secret that Denver wants to move Harrington and the $28 million he has remaining on his contract. The problem though, is that the Nuggets have not found any takers for Harrington.
The deal that Denver had in place with New Jersey did not include Harrington. But a deal with the Knicks could.
And Denver wants to save as much money as possible, as I mentioned in the previous slide. This means trading Harrington is a necessity. And unlike most owners in the league, Knicks owner James Dolan is not concerned about how much he spends.
Basically, if it means landing Anthony, Donnie Walsh will have the green light to include Harrington in any deal.
Denver can look all it wants, but it will find no team as willing as the Knicks to take on Harrington's contract.
The Rockets will not agree to take on Harrington when they are essentially obtaining Anthony as a rental. And although the Dallas Mavericks are willing to acquire Anthony as a rental and were interested in signing Harrington this past off-season, do not expect them to agree to take on Harrington's contract.
Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban may have deep pockets that he is more than happy to empty, but even he is not that desperate. Taking on Harrington's contract is too big a risk for even Cuban take when there's no guarantee Anthony will re-sign with Dallas.
So this leaves Denver with the option of finding a team Carmelo is willing to sign the three-year $65 million dollar extension with because such a team would be more willing to take Harrington too.
And let's see, which teams will Anthony sign the extension with?
There's the Knicks. Then there's...
Nobody. The Knicks are it.
Anthony has made it clear he will sign the extension with the Knicks and no one else.
So the Knicks have the best to offer in the sense that they are Anthony's preferred destination and as a result are willing to accept Harrington in any trade that brings Anthony to New York as well.
Next time Denver says the Knicks have far from the most to offer them, they better check again.
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No. 7: Draft Picks, Draft Picks, Draft Picks
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It is known that the Knicks have the ability to acquire a first round draft in exchange for Anthony Randolph.
However, last week, Knicks President and General Manager Donnie Walsh said that he could acquire multiple first round picks.
What does this mean?
Well, Randolph equals one first round draft pick, and it is believed Walsh can pay cash to another team for their first round draft pick of this year.
That makes two first round draft picks the Knicks can attain, but what if a third one can come into the mix?
If the Knicks trade either cash or Randolph for a 2012 first round pick, then they unlock the ability to trade their 2011 and 2013 draft picks.
The NBA prohibits teams from trading away first round draft picks consecutive years in a row and the Knicks traded their 2012 pick to the Rockets in part of the Tracy McGrady trade last season.
But lets say the Knicks trade Randolph for a 2012 first round pick. And then lets say they trade cash for a 2011 first round pick. They can then trade the Nuggets two 2011 first round picks and one 2013 first rounder, for a total of three first round picks.
The Nuggets have wanted multiple first round picks in exchange for Anthony all along, and New Jersey's proposed deal only sent Denver two. The Knicks have the potential to send three.
Only downside to this is that the Nuggets then have multiple 2011 first rounders in what is supposed to be a very weak draft. Although not ideal, the Nuggets cannot complain about having the abundance of draft picks they would have.
Not to mention that the 2012 loophole combined with Anthony Randolph opens other doors.
Scroll forward one slide and you'll see what I mean.
No. 6: Anthony Randolph
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At the beginning of the season it was reported that Anthony Randolph was the player the Knicks had that interested Denver the most.
That's probably not the case anymore.
Randolph played himself out of the rotation and his agent requested a trade from the Knicks.
At 21, Randolph is full of potential. However, he has not impressed the Knicks coaching staff during practice and there is a sense around the organization that Randolph feels entitled to minutes because he's considered to have so much potential.
However, Randolph can still prove valuable to the Knicks and Nuggets in a Carmelo Anthony deal.
Although it is highly unlikely, Denver may actually want Randolph to see if they can get through to him. More likely than not though, Randolph can aid Denver in acquiring a possible 4th first round draft pick.
Yes, you read right.
The Nuggets know they can line a team up to take Randolph off their hands for a first round pick. So if they really wanted to, they could insist that they actually obtain Randolph from the Knicks in any Carmelo deal.
This means the Knicks would be forced to resort to other measures to get draft picks to satisfy Denver.
The Knicks can purchase a first round draft pick for this year and might be able to find a taker for Wilson Chandler who would send them another draft pick in return.
Denver would then receive a package from the Knicks that because of the 2012 loophole would consist of three first rounders along with Randolph and other pieces. The Nuggets could then flip Randolph for a first rounder and have four picks.
Now, why doesn't Denver just take Chandler?
Chandler is a restricted free agent and the two top priorities for Denver are saving money and acquiring draft picks. The Nuggets do not want to have to overpay to keep Chandler at the end of this season nor do they want to be left with the task to find a taker for him because many teams may have the same reserves as Denver about having to overpay Chandler at season's end.
In this scenario, the Nuggets force the Knicks to handle that task and they are left with the easy one of flipping Randolph for a first rounder.
This is not a scenario being discussed nor is it one I'm saying the Knicks should try and bring to the table, but it does prove that the Knicks have the ability to put the best package together for Anthony.
The Knicks can satisfy Denver's desire to save money and acquire as many first round picks as possible.
New Jersey was only going to give Denver two and the Bulls can probably only give away one or scrounge up one more.
It is more attractive than any draft picks Houston would offer because they would be obtaining Anthony without an extension and at most would give away one 2011 first rounder because the upcoming draft is so weak with talent anyway.
If the Nuggets want to obtain as many first rounders as possible they need to start playing ball with the Knicks.
No. 5: Landry Fields
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Landry Fields was simply a steal for the Knicks in the second round of this past year's draft.
Fields is an above average defender and a ferocious rebounder. He's won Rookie of the Month twice this season for the Eastern Conference. And his numbers are solid at 10 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
And at only 22, Fields has enormous potential.
However, it has been reported that the Nuggets are not high on Fields and would rather the Knicks involve the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal that would land Denver Nicolas Batum.
This is puzzling.
Why are the Nuggets so down on Fields and high on Batum?
Batum is averaging 12 points per game, only two more than Fields. Furthermore Batum is averaging only 4.7 boards per game, almost 2.5 less than Fields.
Looking at the numbers, the two players are very similar, but Fields should have the edge. Batum is an inch taller at 6'8 and plays the three while Fields plays the two. Fields however, averages more rebounds a game.
Fields also has a better field goal percentage and a slight edge in steals per game.
So I ask again: Why do the Nuggets prefer Batum over Fields?
I think we are approaching the topic of Denver's spitefulness again.
The numbers of each player are very similar, but when you look at them, it's clear that if Denver should favor one it should be Fields.
Perhaps Denver just prefers Batum because he is a forward and not a guard?
Give me a break.
Landry could play the three if Denver really wanted him too. I mean he's already proved he can rebound better than Batum so it wouldn't be that much of an adjustment.
Fields also brings more intangibles to the game than Batum. The energy he brings while on the court is something Batum cannot match.
Fields is also a very smart and efficient player on both ends of the floor, as well as a determined offensive rebounder.
Landry Fields is yet another reason why the Knicks have the most to offer Denver in any trade for Carmelo.
And the only way Denver doesn't see the value in Fields, especially over Batum, is if they are that spiteful toward Anthony because of his desire to play for New York instead of them.
Either that or Denver is blind to true talent.
No. 4: Wilson Chandler
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Wilson Chandler has shown flashes of being a future all-star this season.
Chandler is averaging 17 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. And although he has been in a slump as of late, he has become a fantastic ball player.
The Nuggets are believed to not be that interested in Chandler because he is a restricted free-agent at the end of the season and they would have to overpay to hold on to him.
Chandler is expected to sign a five-year deal worth between $50-$60 million dollars over the summer.
If Denver can hold on to Chandler for that type of deal, is that considered overpaying?
Based on the five-year, $82 million dollar deal Rudy Gay received from the Memphis Grizzlies this past off-season, I would say no.
Gay's averaging 20.5 points per game this season, but keep in mind, Chandler is often the third or fourth option on offense for the Knicks, Gay's the Grizzlies first.
Furthermore, there has been chatter around the league that Chandler could turn out to be the next Carmelo Anthony. The comparison may be a bit premature, but what other team can offer a Forward to replace Carmelo that has even been given the same comparison?
Last time I checked, there is none.
As mentioned previously, Nicolas Batum of the Blazers, whom the Nuggets are thought to covet,barely measures up to Landry Fields, let alone Carmelo Anthony.
Also, the Nuggets were high on Rookie Derrick Favors of the Nets, yet Chandler is a proven player. He can play the three and the four, and can drive to the basket or hit the jumper. Simply put, he is more versatile than Favors.
Denver's only justification for not coveting Chandler is the fact that he becomes a restrictive free-agent at the end of the season. But I ask you this:
What other available forward has the potential to match Carmelo Anthony's game?
Who else can they acquire that can fill the void on offense left by Carmelo as well as Chandler can?
No one.
Which makes Denver's distaste for acquiring Chandler unjustifiable.
No. 3: Raymond Felton
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Raymond Felton has only recently surfaced in trade rumors regarding Anthony.
He has been mentioned though because the Nuggets would like to deal Chauncey Billups.
If the Knicks include Felton in a package for Anthony that rids the Nuggets of Billups, then its a no brainer on Denver's part.
Felton is averaging 17.5 points and 8.7 assists per game. And his dominant play this season seems to imply that he is approaching his prime.
Billups on the other hand is averaging 15.9 points to go along with 5.3 assists per game. Unlike Felton, Chauncey's best days are behind him.
The acquisition of Felton would give the Nuggets another proven scorer who can also run the offense just as well as Billups can.
Short of New Orleans swooping in and offering Chris Paul or Utah offering Deron Williams, there is no team other than the Knicks with the ability to offer a Point Guard of Felton's calibre.
And Felton will continue to turn heads if he keeps dominating the Point Guard position for the rest of the season. He may even be able to convince critics that he is just as good as Paul or Williams.
Regardless, Felton is certainly an upgrade for the Nuggets over Billups at the one. And he comes with very little risk to the Nuggets.
Felton only has one year left on his contract after this season. The Nuggets would be free to chase Chris Paul or Deron Williams at that point if they really wanted too.
Either way though, Felton would be an upgrade at the Point Guard position for the Nuggets as well as an offensive weapon who could shoulder some of the burden without Carmelo Anthony.
And the Nuggets are aware and have admitted to this as well, which given their approach to the rest of the Knicks assets is very surprising.
No. 2: Danilo Gallinari
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And here we have the Knicks most valuable asset.
Danilo Gallinari has showed the league he has the potential to be a superstar if his team can keep him involved on the offensive end.
Coach Mike D'Antoni has even admitted as of late that the Knicks need to do a much better job of getting Gallo the ball.
On the season, Gallinari is averaging 15.5 points per game, which is a solid stat. It becomes very impressive though when you learn he only takes about ten shots per game.
Although Gallo needs to become more aggressive on the offensive end, if he can score fifteen points with only ten shots per game, imagine what he could do if he took twenty or twenty-five shots per game. His upside is enormous.
Furthermore, Gallinari's defensive ability is commonly overlooked. He works extremely hard on the defensive end of the ball and has risen to the occasion when he's had to defend some of the best players in the game like LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Gallo is also one of the best in the league at drawing the charge on the defensive side of the ball. He has gotten calls to go his way against all-stars like James and Carmelo Anthony.
Gallinari is also one of the deadliest three-point shooters in the game. Not to mention he has such a smooth and rhythmic shot, that it draws comparisons to former Knicks star Allan Houston and current Boston Celtic Ray Allen.
If Gallo could just improve his rebounding and take a few more shots a game, he would be near unstoppable.
The Nuggets would be out of their minds not to covet this prodigy, right?
Well, Denver claims that Gallo doesn't interest them. According to them, players like Gallo are a dime a dozen.
This is absurd.
How many other 6'10 players can step back and hit the three as well as effectively drive to the basket while playing above average defense?
After Dirk Nowitzki, it becomes a challenge to name anymore. In fact, you can count them on one hand.
I'll tell you for certain that neither the Nets, Rockets, Mavs or Bulls can offer someone like Gallo.
Gallo is one of the most underrated players in the game and I fully believe in the next year or so he will break out.
And the Nuggets have the opportunity to acquire him in return for Carmelo and they aren't interested?
Give me a break.
In Denver, Gallinari would probably become the second offensive option and start blossoming sooner rather than later. If Denver balks at the opportunity to acquire him, it's their loss.
Who else could Denver get in a Carmelo Anthony trade with as much potential to be a fitting replacement as Gallo?
Maybe Wilson Chandler, but he's on the Knicks as well.
You see my point.
No. 1: What Other Package Satisfies All Of Denver's Demands?
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From the beginning of this Carmelo Anthony saga, Denver has made it clear they are interested in three things: Financial relief, multiple first round draft picks, and talented young players.
They want to achieve all three of those goals in any trade for Anthony, but do have them prioritized.
Is there even a team out there that can satisfy all three of Denver's goals?
Well, essentially, the Mavs cannot satisfy any of those demands. They really do not have any young talent to offer or any cap relief to give. They might be able to scrounge up a draft pick or too, but that is it.
Houston on the other hand can offer major cap relief, but nothing else. The Nuggets have no interest in Kevin Martin apparently, nor do I think Houston is willing to give him up to rent Anthony for half a season.
The Rockets may be able to offer a draft pick or two, but might be reluctant to do that as well without guarantee Anthony would sign with them. At best, Houston can probably offer major cap relief and one first round pick.
The Bulls cannot offer any real cap relief. They can offer a draft pick and have a great young player in Noah, but they refuse to give him up. This means the Bulls can put together a package of Luol Deng, whom the Nuggets have no interest in, and draft picks.
New Jersey had a decent package. It gave the Nuggets some valuable youngsters in Devin Harris and Derrick Favors while also providing Denver with two first round draft picks. The only problem is that the deal saved the Nuggets very little. They got rid of Chauncey Billups, but were stuck with Al Harrington still.
What about the Knicks though?
Believe it or not, the Knicks can satisfy all three.
New York can offer cap relief in the form of the expiring contracts of Curry and Azubuike. They would also being willing to take on either Chauncey Billups and/or Al Harrington's contract. And don't rule out Donnie Walsh finding new teams for both players. He is very skilled in the art of trade craft.
The Knicks can also provide two, three or four first round draft picks as previously noted. In addition, they have young talent such as Gallinari, Chandler, Felton and Fields to offer.
And there you have the makings of a deal that gives Denver multiple first round picks, cap relief and talented young players.
After analyzing the potential package the Knicks have to offer it becomes clear that Denver will find no better candidate.
The Nuggets would be crazy to pass on such a package that New York could offer.
And perhaps the Knicks would be crazy to allow such a deal to go through.
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