Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: 10 Best Win-Win Deals As Nets Back Off
While numerous media outlets have reported that New Jersey's bid to land Carmelo Anthony is dead for now, you know it won't be the end of the story.
If Denver has learned anything this summer, it's that if it's clear your star wants out, trade him before he becomes a free agent and you're left for nothing. Right Toronto? There are plenty of teams out there who would love to have Anthony and I'm sure Denver isn't lacking suitors for him.
However, there are only so many teams who can make a deal work and here are the 10 best deals in my opinion that would benefit the team trading for him, Denver and Anthony. I put these deals together myself and all work as valid trades.
Have any deals you think Denver should do? Leave them in the comments.
No. 10: Los Angeles Clippers
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Proposed Deal
Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon, and 2011 first round pick
Why It Works for Los Angeles
It works because it gives Baron Davis and Blake Griffin a running mate and a legitimate scorer. While I've seen some people say on the internet that the Clippers don't own their 2011 draft pick as it went to Oklahoma City, that's not true based on what I've seen. It's the 2012 pick that went to Oklahoma City. While they'd be out of their first-rounders for two years, the Clippers do own the rights to Minnesota's first round pick this year.
Why It Works for Denver
The Nuggets would get a solid center and a young scorer out of the deal and a high first rounder to build off of. I've heard reports that they'd love to get Blake Griffin, but that's simply not going to happen. Kaman's deal is hefty, but it expires in two years and Denver has cap space coming off of the books soon anyway, so the contract wouldn't weigh the Nuggets down.
Why It Works for Carmelo
Carmelo's wife has expressed a desire to live in Los Angeles and it would put Anthony in a major market with a young player in order to build around. However, there wouldn't be much cap flexibility as Baron Davis still has three years left on his contract.
No. 9: Sacramento
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Proposed Trade
Samuel Dalembert and DeMarcus Cousins for Carmelo Anthony
Why It Works for Sacramento
The Kings would get Anthony to team up with Tyreke Evans and would still have 14 million worth of cap space to work with. While they are trading a huge expiring contract in Dalembert, it would be worth it to land a scorer in the realm of Anthony.
Why It Works for Denver
While it doesn't look like much on paper, it would give Denver 13 million worth of cap room to work with at the end of the year, and that's before you work in the money you get from the expiring deals of Aaron Affalo, Anthony Carter, Ty Lawson, Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, and Shelden Williams. That's a ton of money to make some moves in the offseason.
Why It Works for Carmelo
Sacramento was originally a rumored destination for Anthony before the list narrowed and they could certainly give him the big money deal he wants and be able to put some players around him after the fact. It's not the biggest market, but it's a situation where he could win some ballgames.
No. 8: Minnesota
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Proposed Trade
Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster, and Utah's 2011 first round pick for Carmelo Anthony.
Why It Benefits Minnesota
After drafting what seems like 15 point guards, the Timberwolves would get a scorer to pair with Kevin Love down low and Jonny Flynn at the point. Minnesota would also have $9 million to work with in cap space so the Timberwolves could hypothetically add another piece to the puzzle.
Why It Benefits Denver
The Nuggets would get a young player in Wesley Johnson and some expiring contracts plus Utah's draft pick, which is top 16 protected. The Nuggets wouldn't get much in cap relief from the deal but Denver has plenty of contracts that are coming off of the books this year, about $28 million to be exact, which will give the Nuggets some relief but not enough to make serious moves in free agency.
Why It Benefits Carmelo
Carmelo would be paired with a solid big man who could be hitting Anthony with great outlet passes on the fast break and make things happen in transition. I don't think Kevin Love will ever be a dominant big man, but he is the type of player that helps you win championships. Minnesota couldn't really add another big player to the puzzle but there would be a solid team in place. Not great, but solid.
No. 7: New Orleans
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Proposed Trade
Peja Stojakovic, Marco Bellinelli, and New Orleans' 2011 first round pick for Carmelo Anthony.
Why It Benefits New Orleans
While the Hornets don't get under the cap to avoid the luxury tax, something they've been trying to do for years, it does team Anthony up with Chris Paul, something the duo has talked about. The Hornets could go over the cap further to sign Paul when he becomes a free agent, but the money issue would hamper this deal because neither team wants to take on salary.
Why It Benefits Denver
This deal wouldn't just give Denver more cap relief, it would give the Nuggets a good draft pick to help rebuild after losing Anthony. The cap space and a solid player could help turn things around in Denver rather quickly and make the loss of Carmelo less painful.
Why It Benefits Carmelo
Anthony and Paul have talked about playing together but Paul isn't a free agent until 2012 so this would put the duo together quicker than it would have happened had Carmelo gone to a team and hoped they had the space to put them together.
No. 6: Philadelphia
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Proposed Trade
Andre Iguodala, Spencer Hawes, and 2011 first round pick for Carmelo Anthony.
Why It Benefits Philadelphia
The Sixers get out from underneath Iguodala's big contract and get a bonafide superstar in town for the first time since Allen Iverson was traded out of town, to ironically, Denver. Then the Sixers could make a team around Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, and Elton Brand (until his contract is up) for a couple of years and make a run in the Eastern Conference.
Why It Benefits Denver
The Nuggets get a scorer in Iguodala and a first round pick to build with and some cap relief with Hawes' contract being up at the end of the year. Iguodala could help keep the Nuggets somewhat competitive without Anthony, working with Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, and J.R. Smith and take some of the pressure off of him that was there in Philly.
Why It Benefits Carmelo
It's a major sports market and a major market overall. While it's not New York, Philadelphia is a great city and one of, if not the best sports city in America. You'd be hard pressed to find a better group of fans in terms of passion than Philadelphia fans, regardless of their reputation.
No. 5: Golden State
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Proposed Trade
Stephen Curry, Vladimir Radmonovic, Dan Gadzuric, and 2011 Second Round pick from Chicago
Why It Benefits Golden State
With Monta Ellis and David Lee already in house, not to mention Andris Biedrins at center, it would give the Warriors quite the lineup to contend with. Ellis has regressed in recent years and has had some off the court issues but I think that he can and will turn it around for Golden State.
Why It Benefits Denver
It gives the Nuggets a young player in Curry to build with, along with some expiring deals to make salaries match. The second round pick won't be great, but it never hurt to have more draft picks, just ask the Houston Rockets.
Why It Benefits Carmelo
It would give Anthony some quality players to be around but wouldn't give Golden State much room to work with in free agency. It would put him on a contender, but it wouldn't do much in terms of putting him in a great market.
No. 4: New York
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Proposed Trade
Wilson Chandler to Houston for a first round pick, Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry, and Ronny Turiaf for Carmelo Anthony
Why It Benefits New York
Anthony has made it perfectly clear that he'd love to play for the Knicks and that's his preferred destination in terms of trade partners. The only issue is that the Knicks don't have a first round draft pick next year and cannot trade a future one because a team cannot trade first round picks in back-to-back years. So New York would find a team like Houston, that has plenty of picks, including the Knicks' pick to get one to ship to Denver. Houston is reportedly interested in Chandler and a deal might work that way.
Why It Benefits Denver
The Nuggets would get plenty of cap space although they wouldn't get anything from Eddy Curry, who is already hurt and reported to camp way overweight. However Gallinari is an explosive player from beyond the arc and while he's a fan favorite in New York, the Knicks have to spend money to make money in this case.
Why It Benefits Carmelo
Anthony is dying to play in New York and his wife wants to live there too. It's the biggest media market in the nation and would bring some major endorsements Carmelo's way. Plus, it would open the window for his buddy Chris Paul to join him in New York after he becomes a free agent in two years.
No. 3: New Jersey
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Proposed Trade
Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Kris Humphries, for Carmelo Anthony and a future first round pick
Why It Benefits Denver
It gives the Nuggets a young player they covet in Favors, some cap relief in Humphries and Harris, who can score the ball, even if he's under contract for three more years. It won't make the Nuggets wildly successful but when you lose a superstar, it's hard to win after it.
Why It Benefits New Jersey
The Nets get a superstar after totally coming up empty this year in free agency. Not only that, but a ton of money is coming off the books, especially Troy Murphy's $11 million. Which begs the question? Who was stupid enough to pay Troy Murphy that much money? Either way, it helps the team out and they'd need a pick back after giving up so much for Anthony.
Why It Benefits Carmelo
The Nets are moving to Brooklyn and that's going to help seeing as Carmelo wants to be in New York. While it's not the Knicks, it's close and they were on his list of possible trade partners. There'd be flexibility to add another piece as Anthony teamed up with Brook Lopez, who has turned into a nice player.
No. 2: Chicago
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Proposed Trade
Joakim Noah (sign and trade) Taj Gibson and a future first rounder for Carmelo Anthony
Why It Benefits Chicago
The Bulls are unwilling to trade Noah, who has turned into a solid player in Chicago and instead have tried to move Luol Deng and his awful contract but cap-strapped Denver isn't going to make that type of deal. Chicago would have to sign Noah to an extension and then move him to make salaries work and throw in a pick to make the deal sweet enough for Denver.
Why It Benefits Denver
Denver would get a solid big man in Noah along with a pick to rebuild with. Gibson's a nice player as well but it wouldn't be the most talent they could get in a trade, but it's a destination that Anthony would sign an extension with and that helps the situation.
Why It Benefits Carmelo
Anthony would team up with Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer and make the Bulls a more serious threat in the East. It's also a big media market as Michael Jordan proved and would help bring the endorsements that he craves.
No. 1: Houston
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Proposed Trade
Kevin Martin, Jared Jeffries, and New York's 2011 first round pick
Why It Benefits Houston
It teams Anthony up with Yao Ming (for however long he'll play) along with Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks in Houston and would make the Rockets a contender in the West. The Rockets would also hold on to more of their picks and some more expiring contracts to add pieces after the fact.
Why It Benefits Denver
The Nuggets would get a young marketable player in Martin that they want, not to mention a valuable draft pick as the Knicks won't be very good this year so the Nuggets could rebuild with that pick and their expiring contracts.
Why It Benefits Carmelo
Houston isn't the worst market in which to play and they could afford to give him a contract extension with Yao Ming's contract coming off the books and he won't command the same type of money he got last time with all of his injury issues. They could help put some people around him with Ming's and Shane Battier's contract coming off after this year.
