Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Odds for All Involved Teams to Land 'Melo
Carmelo Anthony can't avoid the trade rumors. They come at him all the time and they involve just about every team.
From the west coast to the east coast, from the Space City to the Windy City, Anthony has been rumored to be headed to several NBA franchises. Title contenders have considered picking him up for the rest of the season. Other teams looking to the future have asked him to sign an extension before they trade for him.
There is no doubt there is major demand for 'Melo. But where is he going to end up?
Here are the odds for each team involved in trade talks for Anthony.
8. New Jersey Nets: 5,000/1
1 of 8
New Jersey pulled out of trade talks with the Denver Nuggets Jan. 19, and it's hard to believe that the Nets will jump back in.
Owner Mikhail Prokhorov cited the public nature of the trade talks and Anthony's unwillingness to sign an extension as the main hang-ups stalling a deal.
New Jersey will be back come free agency.
7. Sacramento Kings: 2,000/1
2 of 8
Sacramento was involved in trade rumors early in the year but they have long subsided. Still, they haven't said, "We will not be trading for Carmelo Anthony."
However, there are two categories of teams involved in trade rumors with Anthony: contenders looking for a boost this season and non-contenders hoping to sign 'Melo to a long term contract.
Anthony isn't signing with the Kings and the Kings aren't even competing for a playoff spot.
6. Los Angeles Clippers: 1,000/1
3 of 8
Carmelo has made it clear that he dictates the trade process at the end of the day. If a team wants him long term, he'll simply refuse to sign an extension.
If the Clippers are going to revive trade talks from earlier in the season, they will require such an extension.
Would 'Melo want to team up with Blake Griffin? Would that be a legitimate championship core? Maybe. But the Clippers would have to part with Eric Gordon and more.
Not happening.
5. Los Angeles Lakers: 250/1
4 of 8
So let me get this straight: Los Angeles was going to trade away its biggest player for another small forward when it's front court is already too thin to consistently challenge the Boston Celtics?
That was the plan, reportedly. The Lakers were going to send the 23-year-old—and often injured—Andrew Bynum to Denver for Anthony. Never mind that the Lakers are already paying Ron Artest more than $6 million to play the same position.
Denver would have been robbing Los Angeles considering 'Melo's impending free agency, ergo, the Lakers apparently want nothing to do with the deal.
4. Chicago Bulls: 200/1
5 of 8
How good would the starting lineup of Anthony, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng be? And then they have Ronnie Brewer, Taj Gibson and Keith Bogans coming off the bench?
It would be fantastic. But the funny thing about trades is that they involve players going both ways. At least one of the three Noah, Deng and Gibson would be headed to Denver.
Hence, trade talks slowed down a while ago. Chicago doesn't want 'Melo enough to give up those players, unless it was Deng. But Denver doesn't want his contract.
3. Dallas Mavericks: 20/1
6 of 8
It feels like Dallas needs and wants to do something before the trade deadline to put it over the top and transform it into a real contender. Owner Mark Cuban has said that he would be open to the idea of "renting" a player for the rest of the season via a trade.
But what does Dallas have to offer? Caron Butler provides an expiring contract. But he's out for the season with injury. Tyson Chandler also provides an expiring contract. But he's become a key part of the Mavs. Several other players also have expiring contracts, but the math wouldn't work out.
Dallas and Denver would have to find a third team to be a facilitator if they want to make a deal.
2. Houston Rockets: 5/1
7 of 8
Denver is not only a playoff team but it looks like one of the five best Western Conference teams. So it's unlikely that the Nuggets would give up their highest scorer for the expiring contract of a player, Yao Ming, that is out for the season with injury.
But if Houston throws in the expiring contracts of Shane Battier and Jared Jeffries, it becomes more likely. Again, it would take a third team to make the numbers work. But the Rockets are considered one of the favorites at this point.
1. New York Knicks: 3/1
8 of 8
The rumors keep swirling but, as more time passes, it seems less and less likely that Carmelo Anthony is traded at all. But if he is, its most likely he ends up in New York.
Another deal was reportedly turned down by the Knicks today that would have sent Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry and a first-round draft pick to Denver. That's a pretty expensive deal for only four months and the playoffs with 'Melo and Chauncey Billups.
But the two sides still have time to go back and forth and work something out.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
