Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz From Around the Web
Carmelo Anthony trade rumors have started to kick up a notch as the NBA trade season unofficially begins today.
The biggest rumor, which has already been debunked by the Denver Nuggets and Anthony, had the star forward heading to New Jersey in a four-player deal, including Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy and two first-round draft picks.
First reported by local Denver TV station KMGH, the rumor was shot down immediately by Nuggets brass.
According to numerous reports published online, the Nets have begun the process of acquiring Anthony by stockpiling draft picks with what could be a three-team trade that would send New Jersey's Terrence Williams to Houston, Rockets' veteran Joe Smith to the Lakers and Sasha Vujacic to the Nets.
According to this deal, New Jersey would also receive Los Angeles' 2011 first-round draft pick and Houston's lottery-protected pick in the 2012 draft.
As written in a report by Sam Amick on AOL's NBA Fanhouse, this development would give the Nets five draft picks over the next two years.
These reports, of course, come on the heels of Monday's news that Anthony was gushing over the city of New York after Denver's recent trip there. Some stories indicated that Anthony only had eyes for New York as his next destination.
What's shocking about the early parts of the Carmelo Anthony trade saga is that it's shaping up similarly to last summer's collective NBA courtship of LeBron James. With the Knicks and Nets well in the mix, along with perhaps Golden State, it's bound to get messy.
And all of that started with Tuesday's rumors of Anthony being dealt to New Jersey for Favors, Murphy and two first-rounders.
If the rumors of New Jersey already beginning to jockey for position with the trade of Terrence Williams is correct, this could potentially devastate the Nets if they don't acquire Anthony at the end of the process. New Jersey missed out on their man over the summer when James signed with Miami, and there's a possibility all of these maneuvers could be for not.
If the Nets do miss out on the Anthony sweepstakes, one can only guess where that would leave them following a 12-win season last year and a 6-18 start this season.
If for nothing else, the latest Carmelo Anthony trade rumors have irked one key player in the deal: Anthony.
After scoring 35 points in the Nuggets' win over Orlando, Anthony returned to the locker room to hear the rumors for the first time.
He told the Associated Press: “Who? I haven't heard that one. Am I?”
Apparently tired of the trade talk, Anthony went on to say, “You want to ask me about Orlando?”
Anthony has yet to sign a three-year, $64.47 million extension the Nuggets have put on the table. If he doesn't sign and there's no trade before the end of the season, Anthony would become a free agent, which he has said he has no interest in doing.
A trade involving the Nuggets star is nearly certain to happen; it's just a matter of where he'll go, when it will happen and the validity of the source reporting it.
