NBA Trade Rumors: The Best Possible Carmelo Anthony Trades
Since the beginning of the season, people have wondered about where Carmelo Anthony would finish the season. Some thought he would stick around in Denver to finish what he started. Others believed the Syracuse product would wait until the end of the year and explore free agency.
Now that ESPN’s Chris Sheridan has reported that Carmelo informed Nuggets management he would only sign an extension with the Knicks, it seems a foregone conclusion that Anthony will not finish the season with Denver.
With that piece of breaking news, it’s time to re-examine Carmelo Anthony’s most likely suitors and determine which clubs are prepared to make a competitive offer for Melo’s services.
The Ridiculous
1 of 10
Anthony to LAC for Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Draft Picks
One possible trade destination for Carmelo Anthony is in Los Angeles with the Clippers. LA would provide the big city and bright lights that both Carmelo and his wife LaLa seem to be looking for. Moreover, the Clippers actually have the pieces to put a trade together.
Although Chris Kaman is injured and still has two years left on his contract at just over $10 million per year, he’s still one of the NBA’s better centers. The 28-year-old out of Central Michigan averaged 18.5 and 9.3 last season, showing he can still compete at a high level.
Denver would also add a promising young forward in rookie Al-Farouq Aminu, plus two first-round picks (which knowing the Clippers history could be quite high).
For LA this is a no-brainer. Teaming dominant rookie Blake Griffin and Carmelo would create one of the league’s most formidable front courts for years to come. The question is, does Kaman’s injury problems and extended contract queer the deal?
Denver is looking for cap relief and young players, and while LA could offer one of those things, they can’t offer immediate salary flexibility. And even if LA did land ‘Melo, would they really deal away that amount of talent even without a guaranteed contract extension? I think not.
...More Ridiculous Proposals
2 of 10
Anthony to Charlotte for Boris Diaw and Gerald Wallace
Earlier this week, CBSSports.com writer Ken Berger reported that the Bobcats were interested in acquiring Carmelo from the Nuggets. The Bobcats were a part of the rumored four-team deal that would have sent Anthony to New Jersey, but the deal fell through in the later stages.
While no names have been mentioned, a package including Boris Diaw and Gerald Wallace would work under the NBA’s trade restrictions. Diaw would offer Denver financial relief by means of his $9 million expiring contract while the 28-year-old Wallace would offer the team a player to build around.
If I’m Denver, I would jump all over this offer. Wallace is inked for two seasons at an affordable $10 million and averaged an impressive 18 and 10 last season. He’s an athletic, versatile forward and an all-star caliber player. Denver knows they are getting 60 cents on the dollar, but at least this trade is closer to 90.
For Charlotte this deal makes no sense. Carmelo has expressed his preference of teams to play for, and the Bobcats definitely don’t make that list. Since Carmelo would almost definitely refuse to sign an extension with the team, Charlotte would be dealing away their best player for half a season of ‘Melo.
Simply Proposterous
3 of 10
Anthony to Sacramento for Samuel Dalembert, Omri Casspi and DeMarcus Cousins/Carl Landry and Draft Picks
Another team rumored to be interested in Carmelo’s services are the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are loaded with young talent and could put together a very interesting offer for Anthony.
Under NBA trade guidelines, the most logical trade would include Samuel Dalembert’s expiring contract, Omri Casspi and either DeMarcus Cousins or Carl Landry and draft picks. Dalembert would give Denver immediate cap relief, while Casspi and Cousins/Landry and picks would give the Nuggets an influx of young talent.
Again the biggest problem here is that Anthony would refuse to sign an extension with Sacramento and the Kings would be moronic to deal away all that young talent unless they were positive Anthony could be re-signed.
Seemingly Impossible
4 of 10
Anthony and Alexis Ajinca to Orlando; Caron Butler, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson and Two Orlando First-Round Draft Picks to Denver; Gortat and Pietrus and Two Orlando Second-Round Picks to Dallas
This trade is slightly more complicated, but addresses the potential Carmelo-to-Orlando rumors.
On their own, the Magic can’t complete a trade for Carmelo. They lack big expiring contracts as well as talented young players. Still, they do have trade chips, but they would need to bring in a third team.
In this hypothetical deal, Orlando would sent Mickael Pietrus’ expiring contract plus Marcin Gortat to Dallas. Brendan Haywood hasn’t panned out for the Mavs, and Gortat was originally signed to an offer sheet by the Magic.
Denver would receive Caron Butler’s $10 million expiring contract, two solid young players with affordable contracts in Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass, plus two first-round picks.
This is the best offer Orlando can realistically offer, and there is no way it gets a deal done. The first-round picks are nice, but because Orlando will have such a good record they will essentially be second-round selections.
Also, considering the rumored New Jersey offer (Derrick Favor and two higher first-rounders), this trade looks dreadful.
The Unlikely—But Significantly More Realistic
5 of 10
Anthony to Dallas for Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, Rodrigue Beaubois and Draft Picks
Although Dallas has expressed an interest in keeping Beaubois, the speedy Frenchman would be expendable if obtaining Carmelo Anthony became a realistic opportunity. Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson both have expiring contracts, while the young Beaubois and two draft picks would help Denver rebuild in a hurry.
For Dallas, the thought of two of the league’s best scorers teaming up together in Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony would be euphoric. The team would still lack a championship-level defense, but they would create matchup problems all over the floor. Both those players can score in so many ways whether it be off the dribble or via the catch and shoot.
One problem is trading Anthony away to a conference rival while the other concern is that again the draft pick will be too low to have any real value. Similarly to when the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol, the draft picks were at the end of the first round and Memphis could not obtain quality players (Greivis Vazquez and Darrell Arthur).
Would Melo Sign Extension With Houston?
6 of 10
Anthony to Houston for Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill, Courtney Lee, Shane Battier and Picks
For years Houston GM Daryl Morey has done an outstanding job of acquiring quality young players late in the draft while maintaining financial flexibility. Morey picked up a first-round draft pick by taking on Jared Jeffries' salary, and that move may allow him to add a superstar forward.
Jared Jeffries and Shane Battier both have roughly $7 million expiring contracts while Courtney Lee and Jordan Hill are both young players with promise. If Houston is willing to trade two draft picks (they have the right to swap picks with the Knicks this season and a top-5 protected Knicks pick in 2012), they may have a good chance at landing ‘Melo.
Again, the question is, will Carmelo sign an extension? If he’s unwilling to commit long-term, then Houston would be unwise to part ways with so many assets.
Alternative Houston Trade
7 of 10
Anthony to Houston for Kevin Martin, Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill
While the last slide detailed one possible trade that could send Carmelo to Houston, this one offers an alternative. If Denver opted to stay competitive now (not trade Chauncey Billups, trade ‘Melo for an impact player), perhaps a trade of Anthony for Kevin Martin, Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill would work.
I’m unsure if Denver would also want picks, but Kevin Martin would give Denver a legitimate face of the franchise to replace Anthony with.
The 27-year-old Martin is due just over $34 million for the next three seasons, and can be counted on as a go-to scorer. Martin consistently ranks amongst the league’s top 20 scorers and is averaging 23, three and 2.5 this season.
He’s an offensive force, but brings little else to the table. Would the Nuggets entertain this offer? I can’t speak for GM Masai Ujiri, but it certainly gives you something so think about.
Is This Trade a Fantasy or Reality?
8 of 10
Anthony to Chicago for Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson and a First-Round Draft Pick
Many believe that the Anthony to Chicago rumors are dead, but the Bulls have the necessary trade chips to make a deal, so I refuse to discount them. Earlier this offseason, the Nuggets were emphatic in their demand that Joakim Noah be included in any trade for Anthony. As the months have passed, I imagine they have softened on their stance and are willing to talk trade.
Luol Deng has four years left on a contract that will pay him $51 million, but that’s about market value for a 25-year-old forward who plays stifling defense and averages 18 points per game. Deng doesn’t offer Denver the cap flexibility they have stated they want, but he does help keep the team relevant while fitting into the rebuilding process.
Taj Gibson has looked terrific as a rebounder and defender, but may be somewhat expendable with Noah and Boozer holding down the front court. James Johnson has been a bust thus far, but he’s a talented young player who fits into the rebuilding blueprint.
For Chicago, the benefits of this deal outweigh any cost. A starting line-up of Derrick Rose, Ronnie Brewer, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah would compete for the NBA title for the next decade.
Also, while Derrick Rose is a dynamic and fantastic player, he doesn’t have the prettiest jump shot and would not make the best late game option. Anthony has a complete offensive game and could be counted on for a basket late in games.
As an advocate of fantasy basketball, this is a dream scenario, but the idea of all these forced trades creating super-teams sends the wrong idea to young kids. Would ‘Melo accept a contract extension in Chicago? It does offer the spotlight of a big city, but it seems Anthony is thinking New York or bust.
Is This the Best Option?
9 of 10
Anthony to NJ for Troy Murphy, Derrick Favors, Damion Jones and a First-Round Draft Pick
If New York is the favorite to land Anthony’s services, New Jersey is a close second. Today a report surfaced that Carmelo would also be willing to sign an extension with the Nets, meaning Prokhorov’s team will make a serious run at ‘Melo.
It seems reasonable to expect that New Jersey would offer a similar package to the four-way proposal that supposedly nearly happened. Denver would add financial flexibility with the massive expiring contract of Troy Murphy, while getting younger by adding two rookies and a draft pick.
Although Anthony is one of the league’s elite players, it’s tough for me to see New Jersey offering two high draft picks plus this year’s No. 3 overall pick considering the other available offers.
In my estimation, this deal is far superior to that of the Knicks as Derrick Favors has the potential to be far better than any one of the young players on New York. Only 19 years old, the 6’10" Favors' numbers don’t jump off the page at 6.5 and 5.3. But then, you look at his minutes. Favors is only logging 18 minutes per game, but his per 36 averages are 12.6 and 10.2. As raw as Favors is, he could be averaging a double-double if he just earned starters minutes.
To me this is Denver’s best option, so it will be interesting to see if this trade is re-examined.
Most Likely Landing Place
10 of 10
Anthony to NY for Eddy Curry, Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler and Anthony Randolph
Since Carmelo has expressly stated that he would sign a contract extension with the Knicks, you have to consider them a front-runner for his services.
The Nuggets reportedly would like draft picks in addition to cap relief, which puts the Knicks in a bit of a quandary as they cannot trade their own pick this year. However, if they could trade another player (say Anthony Randolph) for a first-rounder, perhaps they could more easily pry Carmelo away from the Nuggets.
No matter what the trade, there will be a few required necessities. The Knicks will use Eddy Curry’s expiring contract as the base of the contract, filling in the rest with a selection of young players including Landry Fields, Toney Douglas, Anthony Randolph, Bill Walker and Wilson Chandler.
I would assume that any deal that New York offers would include Chandler who, at age 23, is having a career year (17, 6 and 1.7 blocks).
Adding Carmelo to a rapidly improving Knicks team could make the team relevant again, but Mike D'Antoni's system will never produce an NBA title. Anthony could bring excitement and anticipation to Madison Square Garden, but I don't think he can bring a title until they bring in a more defensive-minded coach.
