Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: 10 Potential Deals That Could Bring Melo To Lakers
Carmelo Anthony trade rumors were kicked up somewhere between eight and 12 notches today, when it was reported that the Los Angeles Lakers were in preliminary talks to acquire the talented forward from the Denver Nuggets.
According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Nuggets and Lakers had begun bandying about a swap that would send Carmelo to the Nuggets for promising young center Andrew Bynum straight up.
However, this got us thinking. How else could Carmelo wind up in Los Angeles?
So, we've compiled 10 potential deals that could send Anthony to the Lakers. Because a third team isn't required to make the deal possible, we've tried to avoid those scenarios.
We'll tell you why each team would make the trade, and why it will (or won't happen). Let's fire up the trade machine and get crackin', shall we?
10. Carmelo And Nene Go, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest and Salary Come To Denver
1 of 10
What Los Angeles Gets: Carmelo Anthony splitting the majority of the scoring with Kobe, and Nene filling the middle where Bynum once was. They also rid themselves of Ron Artest's crazy.
What Denver Gets: Bynum, Artest's skills and defense, and Matt Barnes, a decent scorer at forward. They'd also take home point guard Shannon Brown, who could split minutes with Lawson and free up Chauncey Billups to be traded.
Why It Will Happen: The Lakers keep Pau Gasol at power forward, and give him an even more capable partner in the paint in Nene. The Nuggets get salary to dump next season, as well as their potential star in Andrew Bynum.
Why It Won't: The Nuggets definitely get the short end of this deal, even with Bynum's upside. There's no way they lower the price this much for their star.
Odds: 100-to-1. No way does this deal happen. Artest is too much of a drop to be a primary piece, and Bynum's not enough of a jump over Nene at this point.
9. Carmelo and Arron Afflalo
2 of 10
What Los Angeles Gets: Anthony and a great outside shooter and scorer in Afflalo, the kind they've been in need of this season. Afflalo's not a bad defender either, and would be extremely valuable off the bench.
What Denver Gets: Andrew Bynum, the key to any deal, and the expiring contract of Shannon Brown. Brown could fill Afflalo's role perfectly, and gives the Nuggets more cap room to play in the offseason than Afflalo had provided.
Why It Will Happen: The extra players here are safe; both are near the end of their contracts. If things don't work out, they can bid them farewell with few financial regrets.
Why It Won't: Brown's been solid for the Lakers in relief of Derek Fisher; the Nuggets would be getting older by taking Brown over Afflalo, which runs contrary to their rebuilding effort next season.
Odds: 90-to-1.
8. Carmelo and Nene, Part Deux
3 of 10
What Los Angeles Gets: Pretty much the same thing as deal 10.
What Denver Gets: Bynum and Shannon Brown, as well as the versatile Lamar Odom. Odom's a veteran, but he's capable of doing whatever the Nuggets need of him, short of possibly running the point.
Why It Will Happen: The Lakers are keeping their interior strong, and getting Anthony. They keep Artest to back him up and provide a defensive stopper, if need be. The Nuggets get Brown's expiring deal, and a boost in the paint from Bynum and Odom, who's got the skills to play four positions and can score from anywhere.
Why It Won't: Odom's deal is too long for the Nuggets liking, and they're trying to dump as much salary as possible. If Kobe and Melo don't mesh, this actually makes the Lakers worse.
Odds: 75-to-1.
7. Theo Ratliff's Contract Makes an Appearance, Ty Lawson To The Lakers
4 of 10
What Los Angeles Gets: Carmelo Anthony and point guard Ty Lawson.
What Denver Gets: Andrew Bynum, small forward Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff's expiring contract.
Why It Will Happen: We've got two guys on the last years of their deal coming to Denver, and while the Nuggets don't get a ton of cap space from the deal, they do get Bynum and a bit more cap flexibility. The Lakers get a point guard of the future in Lawson, and get to keep most of their core intact.
Why It Won't: How does giving up a promising young point guard like Lawson help the Nuggets, when all they're getting for him are expiring contracts? It doesn't, so this one's out, too.
Odds: 70-to-1.
6. Carmelo and Ty Lawson, Part Deux
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What Los Angeles Gets: The same package as in number eight.
What Denver Gets: Bynum and Ron Artest.
Why It Will Happen: This one works, and gives the Nuggets a forward to plug into the hole vacated by Melo's departure.
Why It Won't: This makes no sense for Denver. They downgrade at small forward, and lose their point guard of the future by shipping him to a conference rival? Nope.
Odds: 70-to-1.
5. The Juggernaut
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What Los Angeles Gets: Melo, Al Harrington and Ty Lawson.
What Denver Gets: Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest and Matt Barnes.
Why It Will Happen: The Nuggets dump salary, getting out from under Harrington's albatross contract, while gaining more cap space through Barnes, who comes off the books this year. Los Angeles gets a big boost on offense through Melo and Harrington, and a point guard of the future in Lawson.
Why It Won't: The Nuggets don't get much better from this trade, and while losing Harrington's contract is a boost, Artest cancels it out for the next two years or so.
Odds: 50-to-1.
4. The Juggernaut Redux
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What Los Angeles Gets: Melo, Lawson and forward Al Harrington.
What Denver Gets: Bynum, Lamar Odom, and Shannon Brown's contract.
Why It Will Happen: Denver dumps that Harrington albatross on the Lakers, and frees up an additional $2 million when Brown's contract is up. The Lakers improve at small forward with Melo, while Harrington stays as an equivalent power forward to Lamar.
Why It Won't: While Al Harrington is statistically similar to Lamar Odom, the two are very different personality wise, as Harrington has a reputation as a slacker. Would the Lakers risk their chemistry to gt Melo? Plus, that's an awful lot of guys who need the ball to be effective, so Los Angeles puts the kaibosh on this one.
Odds: 35-to-1.
3. The Birdman Cometh
8 of 10
What Los Angeles Gets: Carmelo and Chris "Birdman" Andersen.
What Denver Gets: Bynum and Artest.
Why It Will Happen: Los Angeles gets it's man, and keeps a rebounder who can provide a spark off the bench in Birdman. The Nuggets get Artest and their star of the future in Bynum, and get Artest's defense.
Why It Won't: While Bynum's tempting, the Nuggets actively do not want Ron Artest, and if you put his crazy on the same team as J.R. Smith's crazy, the world just might come to an end.
Odds: 30-to-1.
2. Carmelo and Al For Lamar and Andrew
9 of 10
What Los Angeles Gets: Carmelo and Al Harrington.
What Denver Gets: Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum.
Why It Will Happen: It's similar to the epic trade at number five, except smaller. Denver gets younger (and healthier) by taking on Bynum and Odom, while dumping Al Harrington's albatross contract. The Lakers maintain status quo by sticking Harrington at power forward, Carmelo at small forward, and running roughshod over the entire NBA.
Why It Won't: Is Carmelo worth taking on that epically bad contract of Al Harrington's? No. Plus, Denver's not saving all that much money next season, considering how much Lamar Odom's making right now.
Odds: 25-to-1.
1. Carmelo For Bynum, No Chaser
10 of 10
What Los Angeles Gets: Carmelo Anthony, one of the NBA's premier stars.
What Denver Gets: Andrew Bynum, the oft-injured, but incredibly talented center.
Why It Will Happen: This is the trade that started all this. If Denver's willing to just take Bynum for Melo, why muss it up with other players? Just keep things simple, and make the trade.
Why It Won't: Chemistry. The Lakers have a very delicate balance in the locker room, and the presence of another alpha dog in Carmelo Anthony could be enough to upset that balance. If he doesn't give up shots to Kobe or Pau Gasol, this team could find itself in a heaping helping of trouble. Plus, for the Nuggets, taking one player who has averaged fewer than 60 games a season for one of the NBA's best players is not going to do much to appease the fan base. The Nuggets need to find the right deal for Melo, and getting a 24-year-old center with knee issues is not going to cut it.
Odds: 20-to-1.
