NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony, O.J. Mayo and the Latest NBA Buzz
NBA trade rumors are here and we'll be going back to the Carmelo Anthony saga in Denver. There's still plenty to talk about, as this drama unfolds yet again and the Knicks, Lakers and now the Bulls continue to be linked to Anthony.
We'll also be going around the league, talking about players like Andre Iguodala, who had some interesting comments about the trade deadline yesterday and may or may not be traded by the deadline.
There's plenty to talk about as we get closer and closer to the All-Star break. We also had a full slate of games last night and there's plenty of news to tackle from those games.
As always, there's no need to refresh, as the updates will come straight to you. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave them in the comments.
There's a lot to cover, so let's get right to it.
How Close Were We to a Deal for Carmelo Anthony?
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Carmelo Anthony could have been headed to New York yesterday.
Denver offered the Knicks Anthony and Chauncey Billups for Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, another starter, Eddy Curry and a first round pick and New York turned them down. Let that sink in for a second.
I honestly have no idea what the Knicks are thinking here. Sure, that's an upgraded package from what was originally on the table, but it's still not as good as what New Jersey had offered the Nuggets when the two sides were talking about a trade.
You're not going to get a superstar of Anthony's caliber for peanuts, and Denver isn't going to be lowballed just because of the situation. If New York wants to get him, it is going to have to give up something to get him.
If the Knicks try and fall back on the card that he will sign with them in the offseason, it could come back to haunt them if another team swoops in and deals for Anthony. New York cannot afford to miss out on another superstar. It would be a public relations nightmare for the Knicks, who have started to become competitive with Amar'e Stoudemire.
New York needs to stop fooling around and get this deal done. Holding onto Danilo Gallinari is not worth missing out on a player like Carmelo Anthony.
Who Is in the Running for Carmelo?
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According to the New York Daily News, Denver is focusing on two possibilities when it comes to dealing its superstar, and those teams are the Knicks and Bulls. However, if you're a fan of the Bulls, I wouldn't get my hopes up.
The Nuggets want Chicago to throw Joakim Noah into a deal and that's simply not going to happen. Luol Deng could help salaries match, but no one wants his contract, so Chicago is a team that I wouldn't take as a serious threat to land Anthony.
On the outside of the talks are the Rockets and Mavericks, with the Nets floating around as a bit of a mystery. This is exactly what Denver wants—multiple teams bidding on their superstar, or at least the perception of it.
The Knicks have much more to lose than any other team in this sweepstakes. People have been linking Anthony to New York since the summer, and if Denver can get other teams in on the bidding, it's going to increase the Knicks' offer.
I'm not sure how real the threat is, but it doesn't have to be for New York to increase its offer. There's no way the Knicks front office can justify missing out on Anthony.
Could 'Melo Stay in Denver?
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Depending on who you talk to, there's differing opinions on Carmelo Anthony's fate in Denver. The New York Post is reporting that Anthony is certainly gone before the deadline, no matter what team officials are telling reporters.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein is saying that we shouldn't be shocked if Anthony stays with the Nuggets after the deadline comes and goes, because the strategy of keeping him is gaining more and more support within the organization. Finally, Denver coach George Karl thinks the Nuggets can get what it takes to keep Anthony happy and with the team.
Let's just get this out of the way, Anthony would only stay with Denver for the money. It wouldn't be because of a change of heart, or because he thought the Nuggets gave him the best chance possible to win. It would be simply for the money.
Denver doesn't like the scenario and Anthony is going elsewhere. The Nuggets will do everything possible to move him because that's the smartest move for the franchise. It's clear that Anthony wants to play for the Knicks, and it's just a matter of how bad New York wants him. Sure, there's a chance the Knicks could screw this up, but all the signs point to Anthony playing in Madison Square Garden for years to come.
I'm sorry it had to end this way for all of the Denver fans out there, but it's the truth.
Is Houston a Serious Contender in the Carmelo Sweepstakes?
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The Houston Rockets are an interesting contender for Carmelo Anthony's services and yesterday, when asked about the Rockets, Anthony let his feelings known about that situation.
“It would be interesting, that’s all I can say,” Anthony said to the media. “The Rockets are a good team, they’re an up and coming team right now. They miss Yao. They’re a play-hard team. I’m pretty sure anybody would like to play for that team. Now don’t take that the wrong…don’t spin that tonight.”
It's kind of hard not to spin that one, 'Melo. Houston has a lot of assets and the Rockets are always aggressive at the trade deadline. It's a situation where the Rockets could keep him for the rest of the season and possibly convince him to stay.
Houston could certainly build a team around Anthony and give him a place where he can be happy. Obviously, New York would be his ideal destination, but the Rockets can't be discounted.
Right now, the Rockets are on the outside of these trade talks, but you have to keep an eye on them as we go forward. If Houston can put the best package on the table, there's no reason Denver won't deal Anthony to a Western Conference foe. It is a business after all.
Is Andre Iguodala Staying in Philly?
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Andre Iguodala has heard his name connected to trade rumors over the past couple of months. However, with Philadelphia's improved play, Iguodala has been taken off the block according to media reports.
However, that doesn't mean Iguodala doesn't realize it's a very fluid situation.
"I learned that when you don't control something, you don't put much thought into it," Iguodala said to the media. "We've been playing well, so it hasn't come up. If we start playing bad again, it'll come up again. I'll deal with it when I deal with it.
"It depends on what you guys (in the media) say. If you guys think I'm playing well, I'll stay. If not, they're going to ship my (butt) out of here."
Well, I think we can all say that Iguodala will be with the Sixers past the deadline. Doug Collins has this group playing really well right now and Philly just upset the Spurs on Friday night. The Sixers are a young, deep squad with a lot of athletic players. Not only that, but Elton Brand is playing his best basketball since signing with Philadelphia a couple of years ago.
Philadelphia doesn't really need to shake things up right now and with a lockout looming, people would be hesitant to take on Iguodala's massive contract even if the Sixers wanted to move him. It's really that simple.
The Sixers have a young core and a coach that is getting his team to play better each time it takes the court. While Philadelphia could get some good offers for his services, it's about winning games and that's what the Sixers are doing. With Iguodala running the point forward position, the Sixers have seen increased success on the offensive end.
Iguodala has a unique skill set, and you just don't give that up when you have a talented team that could give some teams a serious run in the playoffs.
Are the Orlando Magic Done Dealing?
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The Orlando Magic already shook things up with two big deals with the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards. However, after that trade, the Magic could use another big man, so much so that Orlando CEO Bob Vander Weide told the media, "We need another big."
However, Orlando general manager Otis Smith wasn't as emphatic when he talked to the Orlando Sentinel.
"We'll look, but I'm pretty content with what we have," Smith said. "If we need to do something before the deadline, we'll make a deal."
Orlando is a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference, it just needs some depth. Smith isn't going to send out signals that he's desperate on the trade market, because it kills all of his leverage in any trade talks.
The Magic showed this past weekend they can contend as they beat up on the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers this past Sunday. Another big man would be nice and would certainly take the pressure off of Dwight Howard down low.
Orlando has a couple of pieces and some trade exceptions to work with, now it's just a matter of who hits the market as we get to the deadline. There are some players out there like Troy Murphy and Hasheem Thabeet. Only time will tell, but don't think the Magic will be passive as we get closer and closer to the deadline.
The Magic know they're close and can compete, it's not a time to sit around and hope things pan out. You have to be active to win a championship.
Who Is on the Block in Memphis?
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According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Memphis Grizzlies are not actively shopping O.J. Mayo, even though the team has taken numerous calls about his services. However, the only player that Memphis is actively shopping is Hasheem Thabeet.
Well, I'd be prepared to be disappointed if I were the Grizzlies. Thabeet was sent to the D-League and was the second pick in the draft. That's not exactly a guy that teams are going to be desperately trying to land at the deadline. The man is a scrub and a total bust.
Mayo, on the other hand, is a player the Grizzlies should really look to move. He has gotten less and less playing time this year and is coming off a suspension. I'm not sure how well he fits into the team's long-term plans and there are a lot of teams out there who would love to have him on their roster.
The report did say that Memphis wasn't opposed to trading Mayo before the deadline, but that the team wasn't actively pursuing it at the moment. I expect to see that change in the coming days as we get closer to the big day.
Memphis is competitive in the Western Conference, and that's with a poor year from Mayo. If the Grizzlies could get something of value for him on the trade market, those could be the pieces to make Memphis a surprise team in the first round of the playoffs.
Thabeet will get a team nothing of value. Memphis may not be able to give him away.
