NBA Trade Rumors: Nuggets Up Asking Price for Carmelo Anthony and More
First off, happy 2011, everybody!
Another year brings another fresh batch of trade rumors swirling around the NBA like Nor'easter winds.
Basketball's hot stove is bound to heat up soon enough now that the deadline for moving players in-season is less than two months away.
From the Denver Nuggets playing hard-to-get with Carmelo Anthony to the Sacramento Kings blowing up their roster, here are some of the latest trade possibilities buzzing about the NBA.
Denver Looking To Loot New Jersey for Carmelo
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We once again turn to Denver for an update in the Carmelo-thon.
Word on the street is that Nuggets' general manager Masai Ujiri has told Nets' brass he won't send Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey unless they get all five of the Nets first-round draft picks over the next five years in return, along with rookie forward Derrick Favors and point guard Devin Harris.
Such an asking price is astronomical for any team to realistically meet, even for a player as transcendent for a franchise as 'Melo.
If Ujiri and the Nuggets are serious about moving Anthony any time soon, they'll have to bring down their asking price to a more acceptable level.
Chances are Denver isn't serious about sticking with such high demands but took such a steep line to see how much the Nets would bite to have a star like 'Melo on their roster.
Danilo Gallinari's Knee Could Kill 'Melo Deal for New York Knicks
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Denver's most recent rebuff of the Nets for Carmelo leaves the window open for the New York Knicks to make another pass at the All-Star forward, though the question of having enough attractive assets remains.
One player who would likely be moved in any Knicks deal for Anthony is Danilo Gallinari, the young sharp-shooting forward from Italy. An apparent knee injury suffered by Gallinari on Sunday, however, may cast into doubt New York's hopes of landing its native son.
The Knicks announced that Gallinari will miss two to three weeks, following the results of his MRI.
As such, the Nuggets may now view Gallinari as damaged goods, thereby forcing Knicks GM Donnie Walsh to be more creative with the pieces he has available should he still want to bring 'Melo back to the Big Apple.
Omri Casspi Headed to Bright Lights, Big City?
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Should the Knicks fail to land a big fish like 'Melo, they may very well turn their attention further to the West, where the Sacramento Kings appear primed for a veritable fire sale.
The Kings are an NBA-worst 7-24 and don't look to be emerging from their chaotic state any time soon. Unless GM Geoff Petrie can make some serious moves before the season is up, he may be out the door, along with coach Paul Westphal.
As such, don't be surprised if Petrie pulls of a deal involving Omri Casspi, the NBA's first Israeli-born player.
The Knicks and the Bulls look like the two most interested parties at this point, though the bidding may get a bit crazier once the market heats up.
Kings More Likely To Move Carl Landry Than Casspi
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Then again, the Maloof brothers, owners of the Sacramento Kings, reportedly have no desire to move Casspi, as they like him both as a player and as a person.
Instead, the Kings will likely look to ship forward Carl Landry out of Cow Town, and there should be no shortage of takers.
Though Landry's numbers are way down this year from where they were last season, his size, ability to score in the post and, most importantly, his expiring contract, make Landry a particularly attractive option for any potential contender looking for a warm-and-able body off the bench.
Chicago Bulls in the Market for a Shooting Guard
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Despite alternating injuries to Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah, the Chicago Bulls currently boast an eight-game lead in the Central Division and have a pretty solid hold on the third seed in the East.
However, the Bulls have lacked a legitimate scoring option on the perimeter to complement Derrick Rose since Ben Gordon left town for the rival Detroit Pistons.
If Chi-town is to contend for a title sooner rather than later, it'll need another player who can create his own shot both inside and out.
Should Omri Casspi not be available, look for Bulls' GM Gar Forman to target Charlotte's Stephen Jackson as the Bobcats look to build themselves into winners with Michael Jordan as the owner.
Raptors Looking To Dump Peja Stojakovic?
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Like Stephen Jackson, Peja Stojakovic is (or was) a great shooter and capable scorer, though significant injuries have recently rendered him nearly incapable of playing.
However, he still has plenty of value for teams looking for cap relief, as his bloated contract is set to expire after the season.
Throw in the trade exception that the Raptors got in return for Chris Bosh and Toronto could very well be bringing back a significant piece for a shot at the playoffs this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers Interested in Andray Blatche
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As embarrassing as some of his low-lights have been this season (a missed wide-open layup and a tussle with teammate JaVale McGee), Washington's Andray Blatche is still a very attractive option for a young team looking to improve its frontcourt.
Enter the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are right toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference but aren't entirely devoid of talent...yet.
The Cavs has some young talent to send the Wizards way, and given the recent issues involving Blatche and his teammates, the time may be just right for Blatche to change scenery.
Minnesota Timberwolves Buying?!
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Speaking of bad teams looking for good players, the Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly in the market for (more) young talent to add to their (already way too young) roster.
GM David Kahn, the man who loves to double up on positional talent in the draft, allegedly has his wanting eyes gazing toward Memphis' O.J. Mayo, who the T-Wolves originally drafted in 2008 before swapping him for Kevin Love and New York's Anthony Randolph.
While neither player figures to turn Minnesota into a contender anytime soon, each still has a ton of talent that would do well with more minutes in Minneapolis.
Dallas Mavericks in Need of Healthy Players To Keep Title Hopes Alive
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One team that really needs new players is the Dallas Mavericks.
Former MVP Dirk Nowitzki should be back in action soon after a mild knee sprain, but the story looks decidedly worse for Dirk's frontcourt mate, Caron Butler.
Butler went down over the weekend with what is looking more and more like a season-ending knee injury, putting Dallas' early-season title hopes in jeopardy.
Luckily for GM Donnie Nelson, the Mavs' roster is replete with depth up front, with three solid centers—Tyson Chandler, Alexis Ajinca and Brendan Haywood—providing coach Rick Carlisle with plenty of depth.
Should the Mavs front office decide to seek out another small forward, look for Haywood to be packaged along with Butler's expiring contract to bring back a quality piece or two to Texas.
