Carmelo Anthony Trade: Projecting How the NBA Superteams Will Look in 2012

Carmelo Anthony was finally traded—it's about time—as he went to the New York Knicks in a huge three-team deal on Monday night.

'Melo will hook up with fellow All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire in NYC to create a nice frontcourt one-two punch.

In addition, the Knicks might end up landing point guard Chris Paul sometime next year. If they do, the dangerous Stoudemire-Anthony-Paul trio would be the NBA's next Superteam and could win a title for the first time since 1973.

Here's a look at the starting fives of what could be the league's top 10 Superteams, or just really good teams, in 2012.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 03: Kevin Love #42 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks to pass as Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics defends on January 3, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Timberwolves 96-93. NOTE TO USER: U

Starters:

C: Darko Milicic

PF: Kevin Love

SF: Michael Beasley

SG: Monta Ellis

PG: Ricky Rubio 

The Timberwolves...really? Minnesota still has an NBA team?

Yes, they do—and they should be a pretty solid ball club come 2012.   

Ricky Rubio, the "Spanish Pistol Pete," should be a Timberwolf by then, and rebounding sensation Love and the rejuvenated Beasley will only get better. 

Also, GM David Kahn could make a big splash by trading draft picks and young players to Golden State for Ellis.

9. Dallas Mavericks

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots over Amar'e Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 2, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by down

Starters:

C: ??

PF: Dirk Nowitzki

SF: ??

SG: ??

PG: Rodrique Beaubois 

As long as Mark Cuban is still running the show, the Mavs will be competitive. Nowitzki will be 34 years old, but he should still be putting up his usual All-Star numbers.

You know Cuban will make a big-time trade to bring in star talent to surround his franchise player. 

8. Atlanta Hawks

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 12: Josh Smith #5 of the Atlanta Hawks walks to the bench as Al Horford #15 reacts after missing two free throws in the final seconds of their 90-86 loss to the Utah Jazz at Philips Arena on November 12, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE

Starters:

C: Al Horford

PF: Josh Smith

SF: Marvin Williams

SG: Joe Johnson

PG: Kirk Hinrich 

Poor Hawks.

With the Eastern Conference continuing to upgrade, they'll never sniff the Finals. Nevertheless, All-Stars Johnson and Horford, as well as Smith, will prevent Atlanta from falling to a lottery team.

That's for sure.   

7. San Antonio Spurs

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 25: (L-R) Manu Ginobili #20, Tim Duncan #21, and Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs watch from the sidelines during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on January 25, 2009 in Los Angeles,

Starters:

C: DeJuan Blair

PF: Tim Duncan

SF: Richard Jefferson

SG: Manu Ginobili

PG: Tony Parker 

The Spurs keep getter older and older but that never stops them from winning.

It's almost a guarantee that the front office will come through and find several more draft steals to keep the team relevant.

Duncan and Ginobili might be on their last legs. However, rising star Blair will still be in his early 20's and Parker will only be 30.

Never write the Spurs off.

6. Los Angeles Clippers

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers on the court against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 9, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading an

Starters:

C: DeAndre Jordan

PF: Blake Griffin

SF: Al-Farouq Aminu

SG: Eric Gordon

PG: Deron Williams 

Playing alongside Brook Lopez isn't going to keep Deron Williams happy enough to re-sign in New Jersey.

But playing alongside Griffin and future All-Star Gordon in L.A.? Now that's a different story.

Can you imagine the D-Will-to Blake the Great alley-oop combo?

In 2012, Williams should still be one of the top three point guards in the league and Griffin just might be unstoppable.  

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 21: Teammates Kevin Durant #35 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma Thunder warmup before the start of their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOT

Starters:

C: Cole Aldridge

PF: Nene

SF: Kevin Durant

SG: Thabo Sefolosha

PG: Russell Westbrook

Nene will somehow find his way to Oklahoma City. The Thunder need his strong inside game to complement the superstar duo of Durant and Westbrook.

The team will likely make the jump from really good to great in 2012.

4. Chicago Bulls

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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 17: Derrick Rose #1 and Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls return to the court after a time-out against the San Antonio Spurs at the United Center on February 17, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Spurs 109-99. NO

Starters:

C: Joakim Noah

PF: Carlos Boozer

SF: Luol Deng

SG: Rip Hamilton

PG: Derrick Rose 

Boston will be out of the championship contention picture in a few years, meaning it will likely be the Miami Heat vs. the Bulls every year in the Eastern Conference Finals.    

Rose, the league's best point guard, might lead his troops to the team's first title since 1998 when Jordan and Pippen were in town.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

Starters:

C: Dwight Howard

PF: Pau Gasol

SF: Ron Artest

SG: Kobe Bryant

PG: Steve Nash 

There are rumors that Dwight Howard wants to pull a "Shaquille O'Neal" and leave the Orlando Magic for the Lakers.    

Orlando isn't going to let Howard leave for nothing when he can become a free agent in 2012. So look for him to be traded to L.A. sometime next season in a deal for Andrew Bynum.

Wow—Kobe, Gasol and Howard on the same roster?

And oh yeah, don't forget Steve Nash. He'll want to try to grab a ring before calling it quits.

2. New York Knicks

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks on the court against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on February 23, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/o

Starters:

C: Nenad Krstic

PF: Amar'e Stoudemire

SF: Carmelo Anthony

SG: Landry Fields

PG: Chris Paul 

Chris Paul made a toast at Carmelo's wedding last summer, claiming that the Knicks will feature a Stoudemire-Anthony-Paul trio one day.

The Knicks have Stoudemire and Anthony. They're just waiting to sign Paul in the summer of 2012.

If this happens, the Knicks will be one of the scariest teams around.  

1. Miami Heat

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25: (L-R) Dwyane Wade #3, LeBron James #6 and Chris Bosh #11 of the Miami Heat look on from the bench area during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Th

Starters:

C: Samuel Dalembert

PF: Chris Bosh

SF: LeBron James

SG: Dwyane Wade

PG: Chauncey Billups 

The Lakers might end up getting Howard and Paul might head to New York City, but Miami will still be the team to beat.

The superstar trio of LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh will likely lead the Heat to the NBA's next dynasty. 

They put the "super" in Superteam.