NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony, Nene and The Latest NBA Buzz
NBA trade rumors are still circling, and we're back with another day's trade buzz.
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 Nets continue to be linked to Anthony.
We'll also be going around the league, talking about players like Devin Harris, who could be talked about in multiple deals before 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.
Are The Nets Back In on Carmelo?
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Well, well, well. Look who's come crawling back.
According to Al Iannnazzone on Twitter and Yahoo! Sports, the New Jersey Nets have resumed trade talks with Denver about Carmelo Anthony. A lot of people expected this after the Nets held a press conference saying they were out on the superstar and now it has come to fruition.
The two sides are evidently talking about a scaled down package from the last trade talks that included Derrick Favors and draft picks. However, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com tweeted that the talks are exploratory and nothing is serious or immmient.
If you're the Knicks, this is the last thing you wanted. New York had the inside track and held all the leverage. With the Nets moving to Brooklyn soon, this makes New Jersey a viable threat to swoop in and land Anthony plus an extension. The superstar didn't rule out signing the extension with the Nets before, but then again, he's said plenty of things in the past people shouldn't believe.
Things are starting to heat up for Anthony and this should play right into Denver's hands. If the Nuggets can get two teams bidding against each other for the superstar, then Denver will get a much better package in return than if they just had the Knicks there.
It should be a very interesting finish to the trading period, that's for sure.
Are The Nets and Blazers Talking Trade?
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Things are starting to heat up in the rumor mill and the latest comes from the New Jersey Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers. According to Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record, the two sides are discussing a deal with Devin Harris and Andre Miller as the main pieces of the talks.
New Jersey is trying to expand the trade and throw in Travis Outlaw, who the team signed over the summer, while Portland is interested in Anthony Morrow. The report says New Jersey doesn't want to trade Harris, which is strange, since he was on the block during the Carmelo Anthony talks with Denver a month or so ago.
Other names that have been thrown around are those of Rudy Fernandez and Joel Pryzbilla. Portland certainly has a lot of assets that would be interesting to New Jersey, who is trying to shake up the roster after a disappointing season.
The Nets need to do something. New Jersey lost out on LeBron James and every other major free agent last summer, and while things are progressing with Carmelo Anthony in Denver, no one is considering the Nets the favorites to land the superstar.
However, I don't see how the Nets can part with Harris for anything that is being talked about right now. Portland would be getting a steal in this deal.
Could Tayshaun Prince Be Dealt?
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Last night was supposed to be about a big win for the Detroit Pistons as they beat the Indiana Pacers in a big game that could have playoff implications down the line.
However, after the game, Tayshaun Prince talked to Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News and talked about his situation with the Pistons and the possibility of being traded.
"It would be something I'd definitely look at," Prince said. "Who wouldn't want be in that situation, to have an opportunity to play for another championship?"
There are teams that could use a player like Prince, who can play great defense and be a consistent scoring threat. However, don't expect the Pistons to pull the trigger on moving him before the deadline. After this year, Prince is off the books and with that in mind, the Pistons, who are suffering under the weight of Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva's deals, aren't going to move money that's coming off of the books, especially before a lockout.
Not only that, but Prince has been the best player on the team this year. The playoffs aren't totally out of the question, even if it is a real long shot, and Detroit is going to hold on to the player it drafted years ago and see what happens in free agency.
I wouldn't count on Prince being back if I'm the Pistons.
How Will Brandon Roy's Knees Affect Portland's Plans?
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Brandon Roy will never be the same.
We've known that for a while, but we didn't know exactly how bad it was. According to a report in the Oregonian, Roy only has one or two years left at best with how bad his knees are.
Portland gave Roy a massive contract and now the Trail Blazers have to live with it. However, it doesn't mean the team is doomed to suffer because of it. The Blazers are trying to make moves and are talking trades with New Jersey, with the talks circling around Andre Miller and Devin Harris. However, that isn't the only move that is an option at the moment.
The Blazers contacted Philadelphia about Marreese Speights. Portland offered Villanova product Dante Cunningham but the Sixers quickly shot that down. Reports have been coming out that Portland will be very active at the deadline and the Blazers have to be.
With Roy's knees and the emergence of LaMarcus Aldridge, it's time for the Blazers to start building the team around Aldridge and his skill set. The big man has been amazing for Portland this year, and if the team can swing some deals to bring in talent that plays off of his skills, the Blazers can soften the blow of Roy's massive contract.
No matter what, Portland cannot be passive about this. If the Blazers are, it will haunt them for years and set the franchise back. Portland is doing the right thing buy shopping players around. Let's see if it pays off.
Have Denver's Demands Gone Too Far?
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Reports have come out of New York that suggest the Denver Nuggets have gone insane.
The New York Times is reporting Denver wants Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Landry Fields, Danilo Gallinari and have even asked about Timofey Mozgov for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. Just to sweeten the pot, the New York Post reported the Nuggets have also asked for a first round pick, which the Knicks would get by trading Anthony Randolph.
I'm sure Donnie Walsh is still laughing after that proposal.
We've seen this from the Nuggets before and it's all the same. Denver gets a proposal down and keeps trying to expand on the deal until it's gotten to the point of madness. It is the only way to describe it — madness.
No team would do that deal. Even Isiah Thomas would balk at that deal, and he's the man who made countless horrible trades during his time with the Knicks. When you send out proposals like that, you send out the message that you're not serious about doing a deal.
Denver needs to realize it has no position of strength. The Nuggets will lose Anthony to free agency if they do not trade him so they need to smarten up and get what they can for him. The saga has been a distraction to the entire franchise and it needs to end. If Denver keeps Anthony past the deadline, it deserves what it gets.
Anthony is gone, whether the Nuggets like it or not, and they have to get something for him. Sending out insane, half-baked trade proposals that wouldn't fly in NBA 2K11 is not the way to do it.
Will Houston Be Active At The Deadline?
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According to the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Rockets plan to be very active at the trade deadline and even better for any team that's looking to sell during the next week, the Rockets aren't opposed to taking on contracts.
However, if you're going to call Houston, you better come correct, because the Rockets aren't looking for a quick fix solution to a season that has been highly disappointing but are looking for something that will change the face of the team long-term.
You never know what the trade deadline will bring, but you can be sure the move won't be for Carmelo Anthony. Houston has been reported as being out on Anthony because he won't sign the extension with the franchise.
Houston has plenty of swingmen and Yao Ming's expiring contract it could trade to a team that is getting rid of some of it's big pieces in a rebuilding effort. However, that may be easier said than done, as teams aren't really looking to sell this year with the uncertain labor situation past this year.
The Rockets are always aggressive in the market, but I'm not sure a big move is coming Houston's way. We may see something after a labor agreement is in place, but right now, the market isn't shaping up well for Houston.
Will Denver Make More Moves?
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Carmelo Anthony isn't the only member of the Denver Nuggets.
According to ESPN.com, teams have been calling the Nuggets about secondary trades outside of dealing Anthony and the player getting the most interest is Nene, who has made it clear he isn't happy in his current situation in Denver.
Another player that has been talked about in rumors has been J.R. Smith, who was briefly linked to Chicago, but the Bulls are worried about messing up their chemistry. If Denver moves Anthony, these secondary deals need to get done. The Nuggets will need to start from scratch and moving these players for assets is something that needs to be done for the long-term health of the franchise.
Denver may not win many games after these deals, but at least the Nuggets will be in a position where they can start to build through the draft and free agency. If Denver tries to hold on to what scraps are left after Anthony leaves, the team will look like Cleveland and we know what that looks like.
It's depressing and no fan base will stand for it. Denver needs to stop fooling around on the trade market for Anthony and get the ball rolling. If not, it's going to be a hectic finish to the deadline and the Nuggets will lose any leverage they have in trade talks.
Denver is mismanaging this whole thing and it's sad to watch.
