Carmelo Anthony: NBA Trades That Could Work
There have been a lot of rumors over the past few months that Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver.
He has refused to sign an extension with the Nuggets, which leads many to believe that he has already made up his mind about free agency. He will not return to the Nuggets.
Many analysts and fans have speculated where Anthony might end up during the season.
It makes no sense for the Nuggets to let Anthony walk for nothing, a la the Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James and Toronto Raptors with Chris Bosh. If Denver management knows ‘Melo has no desire to stay with the only NBA home he has ever known, they might as well try to get something in return.
Expiring contracts, first-round picks and young, promising players are always at the forefront for management as they will look to rebuild after losing their top superstar.
Where could Carmelo Anthony potentially end up and which deals make the most sense for the Denver Nuggets?
Orlando Magic
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Orlando could attempt to make a splash by acquiring Anthony, though they would appear to have a difficult time making an attractive offer.
Rashard Lewis or Vince Carter would have to be in the deal. Lewis still has three years left on his deal, while Carter has two years left. Carter may be more attractive in this sense because Billups also has two years left.
Lewis is younger, however, and is a fantastic three-point shooter whom Chauncey Billups will easily be able to find on the fast breaks. As far as talent goes, he is more attractive than Carter at this point.
Denver needs depth at the forward and center positions.
Marcin Gortat is a quality, durable center. Orlando may not like giving him up because Dwight Howard’s minutes may have to increase, but Gorta is the best center they could offer Denver.
The key to the trade would be Denver acquiring Brandon Bass.
Bass is a very good, young player who is progressing nicely in his NBA career.
Orlando would also have to give two first-round picks to Denver.
To make the trade work, the Nuggets would have to part ways with J.R. Smith, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Smith should not be back with the team and is not much of a loss for this squad.
Dallas Mavericks
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One can never count out Marc Cuban and his Dallas Mavericks from any trade discussions.
Cuban is a competitor and will do whatever it takes to better his squad.
The Mavericks have a ton of veterans they can offer Denver to make the switch.
Caron Butler is one of the better small forwards in the league. He has one year left on his current deal, which is also an attractive piece for Denver.
The Mavericks could also add Rodrigue Beaubois or Jose Juan Barea. Both have shown great potential in limited minutes and could blossom into very good players.
DeShawn Stevenson would have to be added to make salaries work. He also just has one year left on his deal.
Of course, a first-round pick or two would have to be added to help Denver in the future.
Like Orlando, Dallas has a long shot at acquiring Anthony, but it would send shockwaves through the NBA.
Detroit Pistons
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Joe Dumars could try to redeem himself for passing on Anthony in the 2003 draft by trading for him to rejuvenate the franchise.
The Pistons would need to part ways with their young talent and expiring contracts to bring Anthony in.
Rodney Stuckey would appear to be a must, as he is arguably the best young player on the team.
Stuckey and Ty Lawson would make for a fine backcourt for the future. Stuckey also seems to need a change of scenery to reach his full potential.
Forward Greg Monroe would need to be added as well.
Tayshaun Prince’s expiring contract is a great trade piece. The Nuggets would be able to clear cap space for the 2011 offseason.
Houston Rockets
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The Rockets have entertained the idea of acquiring Anthony.
The Rockets could send Kevin Martin to Denver. Martin is a fantastic scorer and would mesh very well with Billups. At the very least, Denver would not lose much offensively.
Denver could also acquire the expiring contract of Shane Battier who, for this season at least, would add depth at the forward position.
Finally, in addition to a first-round pick, the Rockets could send either Jordan Hill or Patrick Patterson to the Nuggets. Both young forwards have potential to succeed in the league and could be intriguing to take a chance on.
The Rockets are an interesting place for Anthony to go to. Aaron Brooks, Anthony and Luis Scola, with Yao Ming working in with limited minutes, is an interesting core group.
They certainly have the pieces to compete in trade negotiations, even though Houston is not one of ‘Melo’s desired destinations.
New Orleans Hornets
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The Hornets are currently one of the top teams in the league. The team is healthy and meshing very well.
Management is looking to do all they can to keep Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the league, in New Orleans for the rest of his career. Paul and the Hornets had a falling-out over the summer, but Paul is determined to bring the best out of his team and win the city of New Orleans another sports championship.
There would be no better way to keep Paul than to provide him with Carmelo Anthony.
The Hornets could send David West, Trevor Ariza and Marcus Thornton to Denver.
The Hornets would lose depth, but it is the price they have to pay to acquire the services of Anthony in their attempts to ensure Paul stays in New Orleans.
West is one of the better power forwards in the league and would work well with Billups.
Trevor Ariza is a great role player and would instantly be one of the best defenders on the team.
Marcus Thornton is a bright young player. Thornton and Ty Lawson would make for a nice backcourt in the future.
Philadelphia 76ers
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The Nuggets and 76ers have reportedly had discussions about swapping Anthony and Andre Iguodala.
This may be the best move for the Nuggets as Iguodala is one of the top players in the league. Neither team appears to be headed in the right direction with their current superstar. A change of scenery may be best for both players.
The 76ers could add a player such as Louis Williams, who is getting lost in the shuffle with Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday also on the roster.
Williams is a spark plug and would work well with Denver’s second unit, which usually plays more up-tempo basketball.
The 76ers just may have the most attractive pieces to offer because they can swap Iguodala.
Chicago Bulls
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The Bulls would become a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference if they were able to successfully land Carmelo Anthony.
The Bulls have pieces they can offer Denver to intrigue them.
In addition to a first-round pick and James Johnson, Chicago could send Luol Deng and Taj Gibson.
Gibson is a physical defender and is progressing very well thus far in his career.
Luol Deng has been injured often, which has hampered him from reaching his full potential. Still, Deng is a very good small forward who can score and play solid defense.
Denver would be upgrading on the defensive side of the ball without taking a major hit offensively.
Bulls management needs to push Denver into making such a deal as Chicago could win a championship with the base of Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
New Jersey Nets
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The Nets have been in the Carmelo Anthony running all summer. They reportedly had a deal in place before the season opened, but the Nuggets were reluctant to pull the trigger.
The Nets would have to part ways with at least one first-round pick and presumably Derrick Favors in any deal.
With Billups getting older, the Nuggets need to look toward the future of the team. Since the Nets wouldn’t move Brook Lopez, one of the best centers in the game already, point guard Devin Harris is the next most desirable piece.
The Nets could send one or two future first-round picks, Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and Terrence Williams.
Williams is a fine young player who plays the same position as Anthony and would provide a nice spark off the Nuggets bench. Their backcourt of Billups and Harris would be one of the premier duos among guards in the league.
Kenyon Martin and Nene Hilario are frequently injured, so Favors is an attractive piece at the power forward position.
It’s not the best package for Anthony, but it gives the Nuggets pieces to work with for the future.
New York Knicks
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It is no secret that New Yorkers desperately want Carmelo Anthony playing in the blue and orange at Madison Square Garden.
It is also no secret that Anthony would love to play for the Knicks and bring them their first NBA Championship in seemingly forever.
After Amar'e Stoudemire took the first step into the Garden, many other superstars started to realize that New York is on the rise.
How could New York potentially deal for Anthony?
The Knicks would have to part ways with the expiring contract of Eddy Curry, of course, and most likely a future first-round draft pick.
Wilson Chandler is an ideal piece to move for New York. He would be one of the better scorers for Denver, even though he is inconsistent. Chandler is still young and can grow into a solid player. If Denver doesn't like what they see in Chandler, they can part ways after the season.
The catalyst for the Knicks is maintaining the services of the sharpshooting Italian, Danilo Gallinari. If they can keep Gallinari while acquiring Anthony to play with Stoudemire and Raymond Felton, the Knicks would have one of the scarier lineups in the entire league, let alone the Eastern Conference.
New York may be forced to part with Gallinari, as he is their best young talent. He would provide a major building piece for Denver.
To please Knicks fans, management may be forced to part ways with Gallinari to acquire a high-caliber player like Carmelo Anthony.
