NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony and the 20 Most Important Players on the Block
Won't we all be glad when all the tension the NBA trade deadline brings has passed and our teams can just get on with playing?
There have been many sagas this season, and while the Carmelo Anthony "will he or won't he" situation has dominated headlines, there are still some great NBA athletes who are either a likelihood or a possibility to move before the deadline.
This list compiles the top 20 trade prospects, rating them on ability, potential, explosiveness of the trade and historical significance.
20. Rashard Lewis
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It shows that it is not a very deep trade market when Rashard Lewis makes the top 20 most valuable trade chips.
Lewis has done about as much in turning around the Washington Wizards as he did for the Orlando Magic.
Arguably, he is one of the many reasons the Wizards have been performing so poorly, so it makes quite a bit of sense that they are currently shopping him around.
He has a pretty massive contract for a guy who has been known to under-perform, and while he is a pretty reliable scorer, he is old and he has proven he isn't a great second option.
He is worthwhile on a team that is in desperate need of a power forward, but it is likely we will see him stay in Washington for now.
19. Ron Artest
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Ron Ron has said he didn't ask for a trade, as was reported, but let's face it, Artest is crazy and you can take what he says with a grain of salt.
Things aren't working out for the once-dominant Lakers, and Artest seems like a viable trade chip, as he has been more absent than usual in games.
Apparently, the Lakers and Bobcats have discussed a deal that would ship out Stephen Jackson or Gerald Wallace to LA for Artest. Seems like curing one problem with another.
Artest was fundamental in the Lakers' championship last season, and to be honest, it is hard to imagine many teams clamoring for him.
Smart money is on him staying in LA for now or being shipped off in a package with another player.
18. OJ Mayo
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The former USC star Mayo has been flailing in Memphis this season, and a trade would not only help Memphis, it might help Mayo reinvigorate his career.
Memphis must be extremely upset at trading Kevin Love to pick up Mayo, as the frontcourt would be absolutely dominating with Love, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.
Being suspended for 10 games because he tested positive for a banned substance, mixed with a lackluster season, Mayo is making it difficult for him to be traded.
Any team would be taking a risk, but in a new city with a new system, Mayo may make the jump to dominant scorer.
17. Anderson Varejao
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Varejao may be the first Cavalier on this list, but I promise he won't be the last. It seems Cleveland is looking to do a complete overhaul of their terrible, terrible team. This puts Varejao on the trading block.
Despite being injured, there is probably still quite a bit of interest in Varejao, as he is quite a versatile player who can transition between center and forward.
While he was actually playing this season, he was putting up such great numbers that coach Byron Scott started an All-Star campaign for him.
The Thunder, Raptors and Timberwolves all have expressed interest in Varejao. The question is, will they be still interested in him when he has a long rehab ahead and won't return this season?
16. Nene
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If Denver trades Carmelo Anthony, they won't be just trading him; they will look to start a youth movement, and Nene does not fit as part of that plan.
Nene is reportedly unhappy in Denver anyway, and so he will be likely to leave the Nuggets with nothing when he reaches his free agency at the end of the year.
He is currently the league leader in field goals, shooting 64 percent, so he represents a pretty good trade chip for the Nuggets.
He is likely to be packaged in a multi-team trade with Anthony, though he may also go to Houston, which is looking for someone to cure its center woes.
Another team reportedly interested is the Golden State Warriors, who feel he would help keep Monta Ellis happy.
15. Danny Granger
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Larry Bird and Co. had once thought that Danny Granger was untradable. It seems this is no longer the case, but there will be a pretty high price for any team interested.
Granger is a hell of a player, who has picked up in recent times, but his shot has been fairly inconsistent this season.
It seems he is no longer the franchise-player prospect the Pacers had hoped he would be. According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the price will be high for any team interested in picking up Granger.
The Pacer's are looking for a quality power forward and a playmaking 2 guard. Denver and New Jersey have been mentioned as possible suitors, though it seems a lot to lose for a guy not having his best season.
14. Mo Williams
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Basically, everyone in the current Cleveland Cavaliers lineup can consider themselves on notice, and Mo Williams is no different.
Williams is one of the few real trade chips the Cavs have. Picking up a double-double in his first game since returning from injury, he is one of the only players on that team performing up to any kind of expectations. That makes him valuable.
After having the longest losing streak in NBA history, the Cavs should be looking to have a complete overhaul of talent.
13. Andrei Kirilenko
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The Russian gun AK-47 has said he would like to stay in Utah, but that doesn't mean Utah isn't busy shopping him around to see if they can pick up a better player to keep Deron Williams happy.
Apparently, Kirilenko used to enjoy dinners out with fellow Russian, and owner of the Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov. And now it seems that with the Carmelo Anthony deal fallen through, Prokhorov may be interested in pursuing the small forward.
Averaging 11 points, 2.9 assists and 5 rebounds, Kirilenko is unlikely to be with the Jazz next season, but he will likely go during his free agency at the end of the season, rather than getting traded away.
12. Richard Hamilton
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Rip's name first popped up in a trade that would have sent him from Detroit to play with the New Jersey Nets in a deal that would have had him reunite with former Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups and play with Carmelo Anthony.
Unfortunately for the Nets, Detroit and Hamilton, the deal fell through. With Hamilton being deactivated while healthy, and now having a groin injury, it seems that due to a personal issue between Hamilton and the Pistons, he is certain to be traded.
The only question is, who wants a 33-year-old forward with attitude issues?
It isn't all downsides with Hamilton. If a team can keep him healthy and playing, he has been averaging 13 points and two rebounds while unhappy, so his production may increase.
11. Yao Ming
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Yao Ming considered retirement after his most recent injury, and now it looks like the Rockets are looking to trade Chairman Yao.
Yao is full of potential, and has a shooting ability unseen in any other man his size. In 2005, when Yao finally became the dominant center Rockets fans had always hoped he would be, he started to succumb to injuries.
Houston has the core of a potentially dominant team with Brooks, Martin, Lowry and Scola, but they are missing a superstar to put them over. He will be traded to a team that needs salary cap relief, as he is insured for 80 percent of his salary if he misses 41 games.
It will be sad to see him go, but hopefully he can go on to become a quality role player elsewhere. Rumour is, that somewhere might be Sacramento.
10. Antawn Jamison
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Jamison is a talented veteran who is past his prime, and he has proven that he is not only not a franchise player, at this stage of his career he isn't even a reliable second option.
He is averaging 24 points, eight rebounds and two assists, though he is also playing on the worst team in the NBA. Not just currently...possibly ever.
He had high expectations on him to help bring the King a ring in Cleveland, and we all know how that worked out.
Apparently, the Bobcats are interested in Jamison, and it is even rumored that if he can't be traded, Gilbert will buy out his contract. It is sad to see this all-around good guy fall so far.
9. Andrew Bynum
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With the emergence of Lamar Odom as a complete player while Bynum was away with injury, Bynum has been put forward as a potential trade chip by various NBA analysts.
The Lakers are having midseason woes, and the reigning NBA champions seem to be looking for a piece to invigorate the team.
The rumors of Bynum being traded were originally linked to him being traded for Carmelo Anthony. The question is, is the risk with Bynum too big?
Bynum is good when he is actually playing, but he looks like he'll spend much of his career on the bench injured.
While he is developing, he isn't the superstar an aging Kobe Bryant needs to lift the pressure off him. He is a young veteran, but his size is only worth giving up for the right player.
8. Jeff Green
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The Thunder are everyone's favourite young up-and-comers, and though Jeff Green is very talented, he has not developed at the same rate as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
The Oklahoma City frontcourt is notoriously soft, and Durant can't do it alone. Like the Miami Heat, the Thunder need a real big man.
It seems most likely that the Thunder will make a serious play for perennially injured big man Greg Oden.
The Thunder have one of the most exciting players in the league in Durant, and Westbrook is showing himself to be just as good.
They are still not title contenders, but they are only missing one piece of the puzzle.
7. Gerald Wallace
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Other than Carmelo Anthony, Gerald Wallace has been the most mentioned player in trade talk in the whole of the NBA.
Wallace is having a pretty decent season at the moment, averaging 15 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
He also has a pretty large contract for a Charlotte team that is looking to get better as soon as possible. He has two years left, and he will earn $10 million this year.
The only reason Wallace isn't higher is because it is unlikely there will be any takers; Wallace isn't the main guy on the team and no one is building a franchise around him.
It is a ridiculously large contract for a second or third option.
6. Chris Kaman
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A former All-Star, Chris Kaman has sort of had his position filled by the awesome rebounding ability of DeAndre Jordan while he has been out with a pretty bad injury.
He is due back after the All-Star break, but it is unlikely he will be a Clipper if they can find a taker.
Kaman was an All-Star just because the Clippers were forced to run their offense through him, and it is unlikely he will ever reach that level again.
Despite it being unlikely he will repeat his 18 point, nine rebounds a game season, lots of teams need an efficient big man in the middle, making him a pretty decent chip.
5. Andre Iguodala
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It may seem crazy that the Sixers are shopping around Andre Iguodala, particularly as they have been playing well lately, but they obviously don't think they can build a franchise around him.
Iggy would fit well on almost any team looking for an explosive scorer, and if he could learn to take smarter shots and focus on being a distributor, he could be an excellent prospect.
He and Evan Turner have been quite a tandem recently, so despite consistent rumors, don't be surprised to see him still in Philly in a couple of weeks.
4. Steve Nash
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Steve Nash has said he would like to play out his days in Phoenix, but it looks like with the loss of Stoudemire and the team hovering around .500, the Suns will look to start a youth movement, which Nash wouldn't figure into.
Nash is 37, though he could help out a lot of teams with younger point guards who need a veteran to mentor them. The most recent team that has expressed interest in Nash is the Timberwolves, who want a mentor for Ricky Rubio.
This probably wouldn't be ideal for Nash, as if he had to be traded, he would likely want to go to a contender. It would be excellent for the 'Wolves, though, as it would instantly boost their franchise.
It would likely have to be a multi-team deal, though, as the 'Wolves don't seem to have much that would interest the Suns.
3. Deron Williams
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All of a sudden, the NBA seems awash with elite point guards, though Deron Williams still rates among the best.
If the rumors are true and Williams forced Utah to choose between him and legendary coach Jerry Sloan, with Sloan announcing his retirement after 23 seasons with the team, it would seem unlikely he would leave Utah, though you never know.
Williams' attitude at Utah has been terrible this season, and with his drive to win a championship, he probably wants to get out.
Contenders like the Lakers need a new point guard (though it is unlikely Kobe would be happy to see Derek Fisher kicked to the curb).
Deron Williams could make a huge splash and turn a team from contender to favorite in a moment.
2. Dwight Howard
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The Dwight Howard trade rumours are pretty unlikely and seem to have more to do with his free agency next season then any actual wish to leave. In fact, he has come out saying that at this point, he is actually unable to re-sign with the Magic.
Orlando has already made a big splash in the trade market to try and keep Howard happy, but it doesn't seem to be having much of an effect on the win/loss record.
Howard is the only elite center in the NBA at the moment, so any team would give up almost anything to secure him.
So if he is on the trade market, he has to be considered the most important player out there. He only isn't No. 1 because he quite likely isn't on the market at the moment.
1. Carmelo Anthony
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Carmelo Anthony is one of the best pure shooters not named Ray Allen in the NBA at the moment, and so all the frenzy around where he might play next season (or in the coming weeks) makes sense.
The speculation began at 'Melo's wedding when Chris Paul hinted that New York may be forming their own big three of Stoudemire, Paul and Anthony.
At one point, it seemed like a certainty that 'Melo would be heading for basketball Mecca, though nothing is a certainty any more.
Anthony has said that if he doesn't get traded away before the deadline, he would consider signing a contract extension with the Nuggets: not exactly a stunning vote of confidence, but it does offer fans some hope.
