Carmelo Anthony and the NBA Trading Deadline: Nets, Knicks or Surprise Suitor?
The NBA trade deadline is inching closer and teams are jockeying for a shot at adding Carmelo Anthony to their roster. The Denver Nuggets are fielding offers from several teams as the deadline approaches, and it is only a matter of time before Anthony is wearing a different uniform.
For now the question remains, where is Anthony going to be playing after the All-Star break?
Denver Nuggets
1 of 4
Technically if Denver felt they had a shot at the title or did not get a quality offer, they could keep Anthony on the roster.
Let’s face it, that’s not going to happen. In fact several online sportsbooks,including Hollywood sportsbook, offered odds on if Anthony would be traded, and they were quickly removed when teams stepped up their effort to acquire Anthony.
Surprise Suitor
2 of 4
There are still teams on the outside looking in that could be a factor before the trading deadline. The Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and the Chicago Bulls still express some level of interest, but Anthony will not sign an extension with these teams, making trades nearly impossible.
Don’t forget the LA Lakers are still a potential player in the Carmelo Sweepstakes, and if panic overtakes management, they may be willing to give up enough to get Carmelo. While playing alongside Kobe sounds ideal, it won't happen.
New Jersey Nets
3 of 4
The Nets are starting to emerge as the front runner in the trade talks and putting serious pressure on the New York Knicks.
ESPN reported that earlier Friday, the Bergen (N.J.) Record stated the Nuggets and Nets had agreed on players in a trade for Anthony, but needed to get Anthony to agree to sign a three-year, $65 million extension to seal the deal.
The Record, citing sources, reported that the Nets would get Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Melvin Ely and Renaldo Balkman from the Nuggets.
In turn, the Nets would send Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round picks to Denver.
This deal would add another team as Murphy would be pushed off to another team for pick, but no doubt about it, after this information surfaced, the Knicks had to do something.
They did just that.
New York Knicks
4 of 4
Owner James Dolan met with Carmelo on Thursday night in Los Angeles, the New York Daily News reported on Friday afternoon.
While the details have not been revealed, there is no doubt that the Knicks are the preferred destination for Anthony. With the latest offer from the Nets, the Knicks have no choice but to go “all-in” on Carmelo.
The Knicks would have a public relations nightmare if they lost out on Anthony, and although they will assuredly have to part with some key parts for the future, this deal has to be made.
Dolan will do what it takes to make Carmelo a Knick, and by the time play resumes after the All-Star break, Carmelo Anthony will be a Knick.
Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at mregaw@gmail.com.
