Carmelo Anthony vs. Chris Paul: Who Will Be Traded First?
The NBA season hasn't started, and we're barely three months removed from LeBron and "The Decision," but the countdown to two more star players changing addresses is already underway.
Even though the Carmelo-to-Nets deal fell through, there are going to be more rumors.
Chris Paul's unhappiness in New Orleans has not gotten that much attention this summer and early fall. But once the season starts, someone's going to want the All-Star point guard.
Who gets dealt first?
No. 10: Chris Paul, The Conglomeration of Power
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We're headed towards an NBA completely defined by haves and have-nots.
The Lakers started going that way when they got Pau Gasol, then Ron Artest. They were just following the Celtics' Ray Allen-Kevin Garnett-Paul Pierce mold.
Obviously the Heat hopped aboard that trend too.
There's a good chance someone, already loaded with talent, will think Chris Paul is the guy to make them loaded with enough talent to win their conference. Maybe it's the Bulls or the Knicks. Hopefully it's not the Heat.
No. 9: Carmelo Anthony, The Top-Heavy East
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LeBron, Wade and Bosh are now all together in Miami.
Maybe it's time the other stud from that 2003 NBA Draft—no, not Darko Milicic—joins them in the East.
The Celtics, Magic and Bulls really are the only teams who can legitimately contend with the Heat.
But if another Eastern Conference team nabs 'Melo, they would became an instant rival.
A Knicks team with Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire would pose major problems in the Atlantic Division for two of those elite teams.
No. 8: Chris Paul, The Hornets Sharp Decline
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Back in 2007-08, the Hornets nearly posted the top regular season record in the West, falling one game short of the Lakers. Paul was a serious contender for the MVP.
A year later, the Hornets barely made the playoffs. Last year, they were eight games under .500 and fell far short of the postseason.
For a player in his prime like Paul to taste such excellence then fall flat is disheartening. He may be so sour on the franchise that he forces a trade.
No. 7: Carmelo Anthony, The Lakers
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Do the Nuggets really think that they can oust the Lakers in the postseason any time soon?
Denver played LA in consecutive postseasons (2008, 2009). The Lakers won eight of those 10 games and easily took both series.
Denver might just accept the fact that it doesn't have the resources right now to legitimately contend for the Finals. If that's the case, paying Anthony the maximum might not be a good investment.
No. 6: Chris Paul, The Hornets' Immediate Future
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It's not inconceivable that the Hornets are the worst team in the Southwest division.
San Antonio and Dallas will battle it out for divisional supremacy. The Rockets get Yao Ming back this year and just missed out on the postseason.
And with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo, Memphis features a great pair of scorers. If their defense improves, they are a playoff contender.
Last season, the Hornets finished with the worst record in the division. And that was with Chris Paul. New Orleans could be contending for a lottery pick before the start of the calendar year. That would speed up his departure from The Big Easy.
No. 5: Carmelo Anthony, The Russian Billionaire
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Maikhail Prokhorov probably didn't become a billionaire by sitting back with his fingers crossed.
The Nets want Anthony. Prokhorov wants a star and a face for a franchise that has been abysmal since the mid-2000s. Devin Harris and Brook Lopez make the Nets a decent team. Anthony would make them a certain playoff contender.
If no one else does, Prokhorov will pull the trigger and pull Anthony out of Denver.
No. 4: Chris Paul, The Russian Billionaire, Part II
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If for whatever reason Prokhorov's people think that Anthony isn't the right fit for the Nets, or Denver just wants too much in return, he probably won't just give up.
Prokhorov wants to stir up interest in the Nets. He wants to compete with the Knicks, who brought in Amar'e Stoudemire this year. Remember that huge poster he hung in New York City?
Paul doesn't have the name recognition of Carmelo Anthony. But a deal for Paul would certainly please his fans and does give the team an All-Star.
Devin Harris might be a nice straight-up swap for both teams. He is the same age, posts comparable numbers and makes $6 million less a year than Paul. If the Nets have to toss in a draft pick or a bench player, they'll do it gladly.
No. 3: Carmelo Anthony, The Knicks
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Madison Square Garden is the perfect place for Anthony.
In college, Anthony and the Syracuse Orangemen lost to UConn, but in two games he averaged 25 points. Of course they went on to win the National Championship, endearing himself to—among other places—Central New York.
With Dwyane Wade and LeBron James at centerstage in Miami, Anthony's arrival in Manhattan as a Madison Avenue star is a perfect fit.
Plus, both he and wife La La Vazquez are from Brooklyn, so maybe they want to head home.
No. 2: Chris Paul, Payroll
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Paul's $14 million contract is bad enough for a team that finished eight games under .500 last season, but he is an All-Star and one of the league's best guards.
Even more surprising is the fact that the Hornets have the 10th-highest payroll in the NBA.
They're paying Peja Stojakovic almost an identical yearly salary for not nearly the type of excellence Paul gives them.
Ideally, it be easier to move Peja, but they'll certainly get more in return for a far younger Chris Paul.
No. 1: Carmelo Anthony, Denver's Age
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The Nuggets won the Northwest division last year and in 2009 reached the Western Conference Finals. They gave the Lakers all they could handle but lost in six.
It's now two years later, and all the Nuggets have gotten is two years older.
Aside from Anthony, three of Denver's four biggest scoring threats this season will be Chauncey Billups (13-year veteran), Kenyon Martin (12-year veteran) and Al Harrington (12-year veteran).
Nene Hilario and J.R. Smith could be the future along with Anthony, but replacing the other pieces, while paying Anthony, might not appease the ownership.
