NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony and 10 Players Who Need a Fresh Start
The 2010-2011 NBA season is underway, and there's already several teams that must make a move before their season goes from bad to ugly.
The Denver Nuggets have been a hot topic since Carmelo Anthony declined a multi-year extension to stay with the team earlier this year.
However, there are several other players and teams that need to part ways.
Many players from the 2007 draft class didn't sign an extension, and a team with one of these players would be smart to trade them for value, instead of getting nothing in return.
Boston and Miami have shown us it only takes one season of clever moves to become a perennial contender, so the time to make a move is right now.
Now I will reveal 10 players who need a change to help their individual careers and the future of their current teams.
10.) Greg Oden
1 of 11
Unfortunately for Portland Trailblazers fans, the scene of Greg Oden in a suit has been a nightly occurrence, as injuries have derailed the start of his much anticipated career.
Taken as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, Oden was thought of as a once in a generation talent, with many comparing his defensive skills to Celtics legend Bill Russell.
A string of injuries has limited Oden's first few seasons, and he declined to sign an extension prior to the deadline for the 2007 draft class.
Portland should not re-sign Oden, and instead should trade him. Last year's replacement for Oden, Joel Przybilla, played very well, and is a worthy center.
Trading Oden would allow the Blazers to get some value back, and just move on. Portland needs to improve quickly, because their time to win is now.
9.) Andrew Bynum
2 of 11
The Lakers have shown great patience with Andrew Bynum. Bynum is often hurt, and his knees are of great concern to the future of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have no doubt explored trade possibilities with Bynum, but his potential if healthy is too high to ignore.
But he cannot help you if he's not on the court, or playing at full strength.
With Paul Gasol and Lamar Odom, the Lakers have length and size in the paint. The tandem of Gasol and Bynum is deadly for every NBA team, and it allows Odom to be a great sixth man off the bench, but this situation seems more unlikely with each passing week.
Bynum has not shown the proper rehab desire he should have, blowing off recovery from surgery while he attended the World Cup in South Africa this summer, and this wasn't the first time he's missed his anticipated return date.
The Lakers must trade Bynum and move on—some team will be willing to gamble. The Lakers are too good to let Bynum's exit affect them, and they could also get a nice return for him as well.
8.) Gilbert Arenas
3 of 11
Gilbert Arenas is a very good player. Throughout his career he has shown he is an all-star caliber player who can score as well as any point guard in the NBA.
Last season's gun incident in the Washington Wizards locker room resulted in Arenas being suspended for most of the season.
In April's draft, the Wizards choose John Wall out of Kentucky with the first overall selection, in attempt to change the image of the franchise.
Wall is now the point guard of the future, and the face of the team, and Arenas is better suited being traded for a fresh start.
Arenas can still play at a high level, and he would make a significant boost to the guard rotation on nearly every NBA team.
His off the court issues are a risk potential trade partners will consider, but there is no doubting his talent.
7.) Rashard Lewis
4 of 11
Rashard Lewis is one of the most overrated players in the NBA, and is not even close to being a max contract player, yet the Magic signed him to a max deal a few years ago.
Lewis always plays badly when it counts the most—in the playoffs.
Against Boston in last year's Conference Finals, and the in the NBA Finals versus the Lakers in 2009, Lewis was overrmatched, outplayed and looked rattled.
He is an undersized power forward who can shoot the ball tremendously from the outside, but he cannot defend strong forwards like Kevin Garnett, Paul Gasol and Chris Bosh.
Lewis is a good player, but he does not help the Magic, and allowing Brandon Bass to take his place at the power forward would help Orlando.
Lewis' inconsistent playoff play, and his large contract will make him tough to trade, but it's a deal Orlando has to make to get better in a very competitive Eastern Conference.
6.) Monta Ellis
5 of 11
Monta Ellis is a pure scorer. He can score 30 any night, and is a capable passer as well. The Golden State Warriors don't play defense at all, and neither does Ellis.
The Warriors have their point guard in last year's rookie standout, Stephen Curry. Curry is a quality offensive player himself, but is a far better passer and playmaker than Ellis.
Ellis' value is very high, and he does not have an outrageous contract.
Golden State should trade him for better defensive players. They already have plenty of scoring with Curry, David Lee and Andris Biedrins.
Ellis would dramatically improve almost every NBA team, and would provide his new team with a reliable scoring threat with decent passing abilities.
Miami could use him very much.
5.) Steve Nash
6 of 11
Trading the face of your franchise does not usually end up as a success, just look at Minnesota's current situation three years after trading Kevin Garnett.
But the Phoenix Suns need to trade Nash, because the only thing that has eluded him during his hall of fame career is a NBA championship, and the Suns are far from being real contenders.
The Suns lost Amare Stoudemire in the summer to free agency, but traded for Hedo Turkoglu from Toronto.
Losing Stoudemire was devastating for Phoenix, especially after barely missing the NBA Finals in 2010, losing to the Lakers in six games in the western finals.
Nash is frustrated in Phoenix, and being in his mid 30's does not give him the time to be patient while Phoenix rebuilds.
A change for Nash is a good for the Suns as well, and it's also the right thing to do for a player who has given everything to his team.
4.) Shane Battier
7 of 11
This may be a surprise to many people, but every general manager should consider trading for Shane Battier before the trade deadline. He is the type of player that makes very good teams become great teams.
Battier's exceptional defense and great perimeter shooting is essential to every team. He has great experience guarding the best players in the league, and does a very good job guarding Kobe Bryant.
Battier is not a player who the Rockets will likely look to actively trade, but many teams will be calling for his services.
He is an unselfish player who gives all he has every night, and can guard any opposing team's top scorer.
The Rockets are 1-5 so far, and while it isn't time to panic yet, some changes might have to be made.
Battier could put many teams over the top, and give them the edge to become champions in June.
3.) Mo Williams
8 of 11
Mo Williams was not the answer to being LeBron James' No. 2 man in Cleveland. Williams' inconsistent shooting and suspect defense limited the Cavaliers output at point guard.
Williams is a solid scorer and a decent passer, and would also be a great player to have come off the bench.
Teams like Dallas, New York, Utah, Portland and Orlando could all use Williams as a backup point guard or a sixth man.
Cleveland should not make Williams a part of their future, and his value is not going to be any higher.
2.) Andre Iguodala
9 of 11
Andre Iguodala is a very good player, but cannot be the primary option offensively. His play at the 2010 FIBA World Championships proved he is a guy who can do a little of everything.
Philadelphia is rebuilding, and trading Iguodala could expedite that process. He is a good player, but the Sixers need more offense, and much more defensive talent.
Some team will easily overpay for Andre as the trade deadline approaches.
The 76ers could also be helped by trading forward Elton Brand, whose bad play and injuries have made his signing a complete disaster.
Philadelphia has many talented young players, but by the time they are ready to contend, Iguodala and Brand will be much older, and near the end of their deals.
1.) Carmelo Anthony
10 of 11
The hot trade topic of the summer was Denver's superstar, Carmelo Anthony.
Anthony turned down an offer to sign with the Nuggets for the long term, and thus the rumors began to swirl about his possible exit from Denver.
New Jersey has been a team likely to have both the desire to acquire him, and the young talent to actually make the deal happen.
If Denver can acquire rookie forward Derrick Favors in a trade involving Anthony, they must pull the trigger. Favors is going to be a great player, and a future all-star. The Nuggets have never had a dominating post man, and Favors' potential is limitless.
Carmelo is a superstar and an elite scorer, and would instantly make the Nets a top team in the East.
Denver is not going to contend in the Western Conference, and will be lucky to even win a playoff series in May.
For all parties, Carmelo Anthony being traded is the best solution.
Recap
11 of 11
These are 10 players who could benefit by playing in new places, and getting a fresh start.
With the possible lockout next season, and the threat of player salaries declining, many players will try to push trades through in order to better themselves financially for the future.
The top NBA teams; Boston, Miami, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando and Oklahoma City, are unlikely to make major moves.
The second tier teams will be very active.
The uncertain NBA/Players Association future, and the number of quality teams in the NBA this season, will make the months leading up to February's trade deadline unusually busy, and very exciting.
