NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets Back On?

The Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets has been the most prominent of many NBA trade rumors all year, but chatter has cooled down recently.

At least until yesterday, when Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported in the NBA Drive podcast that talks are back on.

Derrick Favors and Devin Harris are the two players most likely to be moved, and Favors' recent promotion to the starting lineup only increased speculation.

With Carmelo to the Nets talks heating up, here's why getting Melo would make New Jersey immediate playoff contenders.

10. Attendance Would Skyrocket

The Nets are dead last in the NBA in attendance at 13,241 per game.

Carmelo would lift their numbers considerably.

9. Home Field Advantage Would Return to New Jersey

The Nets are just 7-9 at home, the fourth worst mark in the NBA.

An increase in attendance at "the Rock" would help that mark big time.

8. Their Defense Is Already Solid

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 22: Emeka Okafor #50 of the New Orleans Hornets shoots the ball over Derrick Favors #14 of the New Jersey Nets at the New Orleans Arena on December 22, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges

Anyone who says getting Anthony would be a bad idea would almost certainly point out that he would hurt team defense.

But the Nets' problems are on offense.  They're a surprisingly decent 16th in the NBA in points allowed (98.1 ppg).

7. He Would Take the Pressure off of Brook Lopez

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 22: Brook Lopez #11 of the New Jersey Nets shoots the ball over Emeka Okafor #50 of the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena on December 22, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Hornets defeated the Nets 105-91. NOT

Brook Lopez is playing well, but not up to his immense talent.  He is the number one focus of opposing teams, and getting Melo would help take the pressure off.

6. Travis Outlaw Wouldn't Have to Start

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 22: Chris Paul #3 of the New Orleans Hornets shoots the ball over Travis Outlaw #21 of the New Jersey Nets at the New Orleans Arena on December 22, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Hornets defeated the Nets 105-91. NOTE

Travis Outlaw has proven to be one of the worst free agent signings of the year, yet he has to start at small forward for the Nets.

Bringing in Carmelo would move Outlaw to the bench, where he belongs.

5. He Would Fill the Nets' Biggest Need

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 05: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers won 106-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowle

The Nets do have some nice pieces, but they don't have a dominant perimeter scorer that can turn it on whenever he wants.

All of the elite teams have someone like that and getting Carmelo would be a huge step for the Nets in their long quest for a championship (well, at least a playoff berth).

4. He'd Help Ease the Knicks' New York Dominance

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CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 24: Amare Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks during his game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on November 24, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that

The Nets have always been forced to play second-fiddle to the Knicks, and even more so this year.

But adding Melo would give some of the New York area hype to the Nets and get the city talking.

3. He'd Help Team Rebounding

The Nets are 20th in the NBA in rebounding at 41.1 boards per game.

Anthony is an underrated rebounder, pulling down 8.5 per game this season.

2. He'd Be the Superstar the Nets Are Missing

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 05: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets fights to drive through Baron Davis #5 and Ryan Gomes #15 of the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

Every good team has a superstar.

As good as Brook Lopez and Devin Harris are, they aren't the level of superstar Carmelo is.

1. They Desperately Need His Scoring

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 5: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading a

The Nets are ranked 29th in the NBA in scoring (92.4 ppg).  Bringing in one of the NBA's best pure scorers would do wonders to help boost that number.

Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud.