NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony and 10 Players Who Must Be Traded This Season
If there's one thing this NBA season has been all about, it's Carmelo Anthony. Ever since tip-off in November, NBA fans have swarmed blogs and ESPN about rumors that the perennial All-Star forward may be leaving the Denver Nuggets for his hometown New York Knicks.
The fact is, the NBA is a professional sports organization and trades are going to happen. Sometimes it's for salary reasons, sometimes to better the team, and sometimes as a last resort to rid a team of distractions.
Well, folks, like OJ Mayo is to the Grizzlies, these rumors are becoming a distraction! That being said, these are my 10 NBA players who simply must be traded this season.
If they aren't, the NBA will officially be a circus.
10) Eddy Curry, New York Knicks
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Forget the fact that he's only played in 10 games over the past two-plus seasons. Eddy Curry's overall career, especially for my beloved New York Knicks, has basically been a joke.
Despite being the fourth overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Curry has never lived up to his potential. His athleticism was never really there, and his career averages are an underachieving 13 points and 5 rebounds per game. Not exactly what one would expect from a seven-footer who, at the time he was drafted, was known as "Baby Shaq."
Still, after being traded to the Knicks, Curry was signed by then-GM Isiah Thomas to a six-year contract worth $60 million. Despite one good season in which he averaged 19.5 points and 7 rebounds, Curry's tenure in New York has been disappointing. His contract expires at the end of this season, so he could be a good throw-in to any deal. Thus, this must be said:
Donnie Walsh: DO SOMETHING!!!!
9) Carlos Arroyo, Miami Heat
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Let's not jump to assumptions.
Carlos Arroyo is not by any means a bad point guard. He plays decent defense, has a pretty good three-point shot, and drives well to the basket.
Still, he needs to be traded.
As much as I like Arroyo, he doesn't seem to be fitting in with the revamped Miami Heat. His already low assist average is at its lowest since 2002, and he isn't really meshing well with the Big Three. With Mario Chalmers re-emerging as the top point guard on Erik Spoelstra's squad, don't be surprised to see Arroyo's name come up in trade rumors.
Arroyo's off year leaves the Heat without an effective point guard on the bench, particularly one who can be a leader. His contract expires at the end of the season, and he could be a good fit for a team looking for a physical point guard (e.g. Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, etc.).
With Miami's title dreams at stake, Arroyo is one who needs to get out of South Florida.
8) Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats
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Last year, Wallace established himself as one of the top defenders in the league. He averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds.
This season, he's come back down to Earth.
In the second-to-last year of a six-year deal he signed back in 2007, Wallace has only averaged 15 points and seven rebounds in 2010. I don't know if his play is suffering because Larry Brown is no longer the coach, or if he's just having a bad year. Either way, Wallace's drop in physicality has the Bobcats fighting to hold onto the last playoff spot in an already tough Eastern Conference.
Teams in the market for a tough defender with a nice perimeter shot would be a good fit for Wallace. Actually, don't be surprised to see the Cavaliers make a play for him. They need a leader, and Wallace could provide them with one.
7) Anthony Randolph, New York Knicks
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I'm not going to beat around the bush or make excuses for him--Anthony Randolph's first season in New York has been a disappointment. He has spent most of this season on the bench (only 15 games played) as Mike D'Antoni cannot find a spot for him in his run and gun system.
Yet, that isn't to say that Randolph isn't an effective player. Remember, he averaged 11.5 points and six rebounds for the Golden State Warriors in 2009. Also, he's still young and has plenty of time to fully develop.
All season, Knicks Team President Donnie Walsh has stated his confidence in being able to obtain a first-round draft pick for Randolph. Don't be surprised to see a team in need of a big man (like the Yao-less Houston Rockets) inquire about Randolph. Either way, if the Knicks want to make any moves at the deadline, they MUST trade Randolph to get the first-round pick (or picks) necessary to make a key move.
6) Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
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Many of you are probably surprised to see Ellis on this list. He's having a phenomenal season, with averages of 25 points and a career high five assists.
Still, it's time for him to go.
Ever since signing a six-year, $67 million extension in 2008, Ellis hasn't earned his pay despite putting up good numbers. He missed most of 2008-2009 with an ankle injury, only playing in 25 games. Last season, he only played in 64 games.
He hasn't missed any time this season, but the Warriors are still struggling and are five and a half games out of the final playoff spot in an extremely competitive Western Conference. Best guess is that the Warriors are starting to regret giving Ellis that extension, as he has basically been exposed for being a glorified shooter.
Don't be shocked to see the front office eat his contract and trade him for a player who can shoot the ball.
That should allow point guard Stephen Curry to run the show.
5) Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies
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Let me start off by saying this: I LOVE Zach Randolph.
To me, he epitomizes what a true big man should be. He's great in the key and pulls down rebounds with authority.
Still, expect Memphis to trade him.
Despite consistently averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds for most of his career, including his season and a half in Memphis, Randolph's contract is still heavy. He is in the final year of a six-year, $84 million contract he signed back in 2004 as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.
That being said, don't be shocked to see the small-market Grizzlies trade him for a draft pick and young shooter as they fight for a playoff berth.
If this trade happens, perhaps Hasheem Thabeet will finally have a chance to prove he was worth the second overall pick in the draft!
4) OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies
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After being a regular starter and shooting threat his first two seasons in Memphis, OJ Mayo's numbers have dropped off this year. He has lost his starting job, and he's only averaging about 12 points a game after putting up averages of 18.5 and 17.5 in his first two seasons.
Basically, Mayo has fallen out with head coach Lionel Hollins.
He's a great shooter, but doesn't get as many opportunities now that Hollins has put the offense in the hands of Zach Randolph and Mike Conley, Jr.
On top of losing his role in the game plan, Mayo has become a distraction in the locker room. He is currently serving a ten-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy. As Memphis fights for a spot in the playoffs, it would only benefit them to trade Mayo to a team looking for a man with an outside shot who, when clicking, is absolutely deadly.
3) Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
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Richard Hamilton's name has been popping in and out of rumors all season.
First, he was benched because of a falling out with Pistons coach John Kuester. Then, he was going to go to the Nets in the three-team deal involving Carmelo Anthony. Now, there's no telling what the deal is.
By most reports, it seems that Hamilton is on the bench because he has become a distraction. Rumors swirled early in the season that he was unhappy with his role, and thus "quit on the team."
Still, that doesn't take away from the fact that Hamilton is a great shooter. After missing most of the previous two seasons with injuries, he's looking to make a comeback. He will look attractive to teams in need of a sixth man or another leader in the back court.
Simply put, the Pistons underachieve enough already. They don't need Hamilton bogging them down even further.
Trade the man!
2) Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
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Andre Iguodala is a product of the University of Arizona.
Simply put, he played in a guard-friendly offense under Lute Olsen--there's no reason he shouldn't be a top scorer in the NBA.
Still, the Sixers should trade him.
Although the team is in the playoffs as of now, Iguodala is killing them. His scoring has dropped each of the past three seasons, and he has missed key games this season due to a nagging Achilles injury.
Trading him is hard because he is in the third year of a six-year, $80 million contract signed in 2008. Still, the man plays good defense, has a great perimeter shot, and if Philadelphia is willing to cover some of his salary, teams could be chomping at the bit for him. Plus, it would give rookie Evan Turner more opportunities to develop.
A phenomenal athlete, Iguodala should be in high demand for many teams.
1) Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
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Well, here we go again.
Another opinion on why Carmelo Anthony has to be traded. Let's get to it.
The fact is, Anthony has already said this season that he WANTS to be traded. Only problem is that he has a full no-trade clause, and he only wants to go to the Knicks. Until the Knicks get the draft pick necessary to make that trade happen, look for Anthony to stay in Denver.
Anthony is the player that coaches dream about.
He can shoot either close or far from the basket, and plays great defense with the right effort. Still, these players come at a price.
Needless to say, despite having a ton of talent surrounding the young forward, the Nuggets are only ranked seventh in the Western Conference. Long story short, this saga is a distraction and effecting the team's play. It's understandable that the Nuggets' GMs are young and want to make a statement with this trade, but is it really worth it if it's killing the team when they DO have him?
Either way, look for 'Melo to be on his way out, this season or in the off-season.
