Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Does Derrick Favors Make Nets the Favorite?

There hasn't been too much news lately about a possible "Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets" deal.

Recent reports have stated that Anthony would prefer to be traded to the New York Knicks, but would accept a deal to the Nets, given that they will be relocating to Brooklyn in two years. The Knicks also do not have many pieces that Denver is enthused about.

The Chicago Bulls were said to be interested in acquiring Anthony, but are unwilling to give up Joakim Noah, the main player the Nuggets would want from them.

Any deal involving 'Melo will most likely not be completed until February's trade deadline, and Denver may even wait until the summer and attempt a sign-and-trade, although that is a risky proposition as they could then lose the superstar for nothing.

Prior to the beginning of the season, New Jersey was the team most closely linked to an Anthony trade, and it was even reported that a multi-team deal that would send him to the Nets was in place and imminent.

The Nuggets, however, evidently began stalling partly because they were unsure of trading their franchise player and partly due to the highly erratic preseason play of Nets' rookie Derrick Favors, whom they were less than impressed with.

With the season beginning things may have changed, though.

Favors has flashed some serious potential, averaging 9.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in limited action. He has shown good ability to crash the offensive boards, averaging nearly four offensive rebounds a game, including grabbing 10 against Miami on Halloween.

The rookie is also routinely in good position on defense, as he appears to have a good grasp on what he needs to do on that end. He has gotten himself into foul trouble a little more often than the Nets would like, but it's not like that is unheard of for a rookie and he has improved in that regard as he's gotten more experience.

If Favors can continue to get better and the Nuggets are serious about trading Anthony, we could have a deal on our hands.

The Nets have extra draft picks over the next two years and an expiring contract in Troy Murphy; we all know how much teams love those.

The only true untouchable on New Jersey's roster is center Brook Lopez, and while they would not be thrilled about giving up point guard Devin Harris, they could be persuaded to do so in return for Anthony, particularly if Terrence Williams is able to fulfill his play-making potential.

If Denver does eventually give the Nets an offer, they will have a decision to make.

Favors looks like he could be a good player, and the frontcourt size they would have for many years to come with the combination of him and Lopez would give them some serious matchup advantages.

It is, however, extremely difficult to turn down a proven top-five player in favor of Favors' potential emergence.

Anthony would provide the Nets not only with tremendous scoring potential, but would increase ticket sales and make the team much more enticing to future free agents.

Also, New Jersey is not likely to get many, if any, nationally televised games. With Anthony on board, that would change immediately and would give the team the visibility new owner Mikhail Prokhorov desires as he attempts to make the Nets a global brand.

Not much is certain right now, not even that Denver will trade Anthony. We also can't deny the possibility, as unlikely as it currently seems, that 'Melo will have a change of heart and stay in Denver, particularly if the Nuggets are able to pull off a playoff run.

Remember, they were in the Western Conference Finals just two years ago and undoubtedly would have performed better down the stretch and in the playoffs last season had coach George Karl been on the bench instead of receiving chemotherapy.

The only sure thing is that it will be a very interesting February as rumors will surely be flying everywhere.

We'll just have to wait and see if there's any fire behind all the smoke.