The Carmelo Anthony Effect: Chauncey Billups on Trade Block?

Since Carmelo Anthony decided he wants to leave the Denver Nuggets, numerous other players on the roster have been rumored to be on the trading block since the departure of Anthony would mean rebuilding for the Nuggets.

Chauncey Billups has already stated that he would like to finish his career in Denver in a winning tradition, but that won't likely be possible unless the Nuggets manage to get something good in exchange for Anthony.

As you could guess, having a veteran point guard who's used to winning won't be good in a rebuilding team, especially considering the fact that Billups would be eating up minutes otherwise given to the much younger Ty Lawson.

Which is why the media are speculating that Billups might be on his way out of Denver if Melo leaves.

That's where the Portland Trail Blazers come in to the equation. Don't get me wrong, I really like Andre Miller's game and think he is a very good starting point guard to have, but he just isn't suited to the Blazers' offense. 

Brandon Roy is at his best when the ball is in his hands. Sadly, that's when Miller is at his worst because he isn't much of a jump shooter.

Billups, on the other hand, is very lethal with and without the ball. With the ball, he can penetrate and create for himself or his teammates. Without the ball, he can spot up and shoot threes.

Another reason for the Blazers to pursue Billups if he's available is his winning mentality. He has been in winning situations his whole career.

Before he arrived in Denver, Carmelo and the Nuggets were being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for five straight years. After his arrival? They won the Northwest Division and reached the Western Conference Finals. 

There's no reason to think he can't do the same with the Trail Blazers since they are in a similar situation after being eliminated in the first round for the past two years.

Both Miller and Billups are veterans and, coincidentally, the same age. The Blazers won't lose any experience and I think it would be a definite upgrade since Miller is much more suited to running a fast paced offense than one at the Blazers' speed.

Putting together a package that Denver would like is a much harder job because Nicolas Batum would be off-limits in a trade for Billups.

The most logical trade I could come up with was this.

To Denver Nuggets: Rudy Fernandez, Andre Miller, Joel Przybilla
To Portland Trail Blazers: Chauncey Billups

Another option for the Nuggets if they aren't interested in Fernandez could be this:

To New York Knicks: Rudy Fernandez
To Denver Nuggets: Wilson Chandler, Joel Przybilla, Andre Miller
To Portland Trail Blazers: Chauncey Billups

The Knicks have already offered Chandler for Fernandez, so this would be a trade they wouldn't mind.

Chandler would replace Anthony in the starting five for the Nuggets with Miller and Przybilla being expiring contracts they could use to get cap space.