Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Why New Jersey Nets Megadeal Won't Happen
Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors have become an institution in the NBA. Every weeks it is a new deal and a new team. But there is always one constant, Carmelo Anthony.
Adrian Wojnarowski, of Yahoo Sports, is reporting today that the Nuggets and Nets are in talks to send Melo to New Jersey.
Details are still sketchy, but the deal as of now would be rookie forward Derrick Favors, the expiring contract of Troy Murphy, two or three future first-round draft picks and $3 million to Denver for the bare minimum price of Anthony and Al Harrington.
This has all the warning signs of a trade that will sink just like the others before it. Here is why.
10. Cap Space
1 of 10
The current trade proposal is missing one thing, more players. As it stands, more Nets would have to be involved to make the cap space work. That may necessitate sending Devin Harris or another player that the Nets would need.
The Nets are already a thin team. Losing just one starter is a huge loss. While Carmelo brings star power, the Nets lack depth. This may be a sticking point as the talks continue.
9. The Players Involved
2 of 10
One of Carmelo Anthony's issues is that he wants the team he gets traded to be already talented. As is currently structured, I don't know that this deal does that. Yahoo Sports quoted a Western Conference team official as saying, "Melo wants something similar to the Orlando deal, where he won’t have to go into New Jersey—or anywhere he’s going—without some help right away.”
The Magic deal had star power. Outside of Melo, this is just some shuffling of pieces. The Nets need more than Al Harrington to be considered lethal. On paper, this would be a decent team that could reach as high as the fourth or fifth seed. There is already a lot of ground to cover and the Heat, Celtics and Magic would still be better.
8. Orlando Magic
3 of 10
There it is. Carmelo Anthony has a barometer to measure how his future team stacks up. As the Magic have just made a blockbuster trade, the Nuggets star no has a measuring stick for any team he lands with.
Does that new team have a star like Dwight Howard? Does it have a shooting guard with the prowess of Gilbert Arenas? Does it have depth and defense? These are all questions that the Magic answered instantly without having played a game together. The current trade scenario falls short of that.
7. Extension
4 of 10
This is the thorn in any trade's side. Carmelo has stated that he will not sign an extension to any team that he does not think has a chance of contending. This is the main reason the Nuggets have not been able to package him in a deal and send him wherever they see fit.
The team that gets Melo will have to part with a great many players. They would need assurances that Carmelo will even be around after this year. If not you have to be certain that renting a player would make sense. With a stacked Eastern Conference, it doesn't.
6. Other Teams
5 of 10
As it sits now, the Nets and Nuggets will most likely have to include one or more teams into their recent trading venture. This is where it could get really interesting.
The two sides would have to include partners that would not mind seeing the Nets become an elite power alongside an already packed conference. The teams would also have to be in the doldrums but also boast significant talent. The teams that come to mind are the Pistons and the 76ers. But both franchises would want significant talent in return for either Andre Iguodala or Tayshaun Prince. There is just not enough talent abounding to make Melo happy in New Jersey.
5. Devin Harris
6 of 10
It is looking more likely that Devin Harris would have to be packaged at least to a third team in order to bring more talent to New Jersey. There is no sense in doing so. In Devin Harris, the Nets have a budding star that can compete with the Rajon Rondos and Jameer Nelsons of the East.
If they let him go, they will most likely get a second tier guard in return. That will be a glaring hole at that position for the Knicks. Even if they lucks out and nab a cagey veteran like Chauncey Billups, there is no telling how long he can be effective for.
4. Contending Teams
7 of 10
That important little extension that general mangers would love for Melo to sign may not actually be necessary to some teams.
Adrian Wojnarowski writes that the teams interested in Anthony include, "two contenders who are willing to chase a championship with Anthony as a rental player, a league source said. The Nuggets could do those deals without consulting Anthony, because those teams aren’t requiring a contract extension with Anthony to make the trade."
That news comes as death to this potential trade. The Nuggets do not care about the plight of Carmelo and his wish to win a title. They want equal return on their dollar. The closer we get to the trade deadline the less talent they are likely to receive. A contender may be able to give them a trade that is actually in their best interest.
3. Denver Nuggets
8 of 10
It seems NBA general managers don't mind beating a dead horse. If you recall, both of these teams had a trade in the works in October. At the time, Devin Harris was included in a package and then he wasn't. Either way, the Nuggets ceased negotiations when they felt that they were not getting enough talent back in the deal.
That is one of the main sticking points. The Nuggets have one of the best players in the Association. Trading away a player like that can kill an organization. They need to be certain that they are getting at least 90% of his value back in a trade.
2. Complexity
9 of 10
It is always a marvel to me when an actual NBA trade goes through. There are so many cogs and moving pieces that it is any wonder that these things get done. This trade is no different. An executive was quoted as saying that although the trade scenario in October was complex, this one is “a more complex, even bigger deal."
There is just too much to consider for this to go smoothly. If one thing fails, it all comes crashing down. There will be multiple teams, salary cap considerations, a looming lockout, multiple teams, draft picks and cash considerations. In the end, it is just to grand to actually occur.
1. New York Knicks
10 of 10
This is the main reason nothing gets done. Carmelo wants New York. New York wants Carmelo. The Nuggets don't want to play nice with the Knicks. It's a situation with no winners. Melo will not sign any extension when he can simply sign on with the Knicks next year.
The only card that the Nuggets hold is the looming lockout and looming CBA. In it, Carmelo may make significantly less than if he signed an extension. If Melo is a money man, he goes wherever soon and signs an extension. But the bright lights of New York may be too good to pass up.
