NBA Rumors: New Carmelo Anthony Trade Scenario Involving OJ Mayo and Grizzlies

The New York Knicks have contacted the Memphis Grizzlies to help facilitate a trade to bring Carmelo Anthony to New York from the Denver Nuggets, according to league sources.

The trade talks are in the earliest of stages, and it has yet to be confirmed if the Grizzlies and Nuggets are talking as well.

The important player believed to be involved from Memphis is young shooting guard OJ Mayo.

Mayo is a fabulous player, but with the emergence of rookie guard Xavier Henry, Mayo has seen less playing time than last year.

It is unclear which players New York will give up and which team(s) they will go to. However, we can assume the usual names from the Knicks roster are involved, forwards Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and rookie sensation Landry Fields.

If the Knicks cannot acquire Anthony, Mayo would be a great Plan B. Mayo is a very good scorer and is an underrated defensive player.

If the Knicks were to acquire Mayo, he would likely be a trade chip to use in attempt to acquire Anthony from Denver.

According to ESPN the Magazine's Chris Broussard, the Knicks need a first-round draft pick to persuade the Nuggets to make a trade involving Anthony.

The Knicks are confident they can acquire a first-round pick for young forward Anthony Randolph, according to Broussard.

The Indiana Pacers were rumored to be interested in Randolph for a first-round pick during the summer, but those talks have fizzled since.

The Nuggets have realized Anthony is unlikely to re-sign with them after this season. He has not pledged his future to the team through the media, and has rejected a contract extension worth $65 million over three seasons.

The consensus throughout the league is that the Nuggets were not impressed with the players the Knicks made available in trade talks earlier in the year, but with the Knicks playing very well, the value of their young players has improved.

Carmelo Anthony holds the key to many of these trade proposals because he has stated his desire to play for the Knicks, and not the other often rumored trade suitor, the New Jersey Nets.

Unfortunately for the Nuggets, the team Anthony has been unwilling to commit his future to, the Nets, can offer the best package of players for Anthony's services.

The Nets, Nuggets and Detroit Pistons are rumored to have a 13 player deal drawn up, but New Jersey needs to use caution in trading for Anthony.

It would be unwise to jeopardize the team's future when you are uncertain Anthony will commit long term.

The Nets are still not a true championship contender. If Anthony went to the Knicks, they would be a legitimate title threat with a three headed monster of their own (Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton).

Carmelo Anthony will almost certainly be traded before the February trade deadline. The Nuggets saw how LeBron James' departure has hurt the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland was not able to get any players in return for James to rebuild, and making the same mistake would be catastrophic for Denver.

Anthony and the Knicks is the best match, and with Memphis now interested in helping, the Madison Square Garden faithful might finally get their man.