NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony to the Nets and 10 Huge Deals We'd Love to See
With the NBA trade deadline quickly approaching, the Knicks and the Nuggets aren’t the only teams out there looking to make blockbuster moves, or they shouldn’t be the only teams. Truthfully, the NBA has quite a few teams that should be looking to overhaul their roster to make the best move for now and for the future.
These blockbuster moves have to happen outside the box of conventional thinking. They can’t replace the rules associated with a trade, but they cannot be approached with the thinking “what does this do for me today?” A good trade is not always realized for both teams the moment it happens. It takes time.
So, let’s examine 10 huge deals that could rock the NBA this season and beyond. We’ll consult the ESPN Trade Machine and see if we can’t come up with a way to shake things in the NBA up.
10. J.R. Smith To The Chicago Bulls
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The Deal
Chicago Gets
J.R Smith
Denver Gets
Keith Bogans
Charlotte’s 2012 First-Round Pick(owed to the Bulls)
Why This Deal Could Happen
Chicago doesn’t need a flashy two guard. Derrick Rose is all the flash they ever need. However, what they have been lacking is a good playmaker who can create when Rose is off the floor. That’s J.R. Smith in a nutshell. They could get a guy who would allow Rose to sit more minutes down the stretch and save him for the playoffs, where he won’t rest at all.
Denver doesn’t get equal value in Bogans, but they get a pick from Charlotte and that could prove to be hugely important in their rebuilding efforts after Melo leaves.
9. Marvin Williams Goes To The Cleveland Cavaliers
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Cleveland takes a gamble on a piece of the bigger picture...
The Deal
Cleveland Gets
Marvin Williams
Atlanta Gets
Ramon Sessions
Manny Harris
J.J. Hickson
Why This Deal Could Happen
The Cavs are in a total rebuilding mode and they need serious players quick. If they could land themselves a player like Williams, it gives them depth in the front court. If the Hawks could get Sessions, they’ll have depth at the point and if they can get J.J. Hickson, it makes their rotation that much stronger. The Trade Machine says that Atlanta wins 10 more games with this trade, but Cleveland loses 3 more games. I don’t know if I believe that, but it could be the case. Either way, Cleveland is desperate and Williams could be just what they need to shake things up.
8. The Charlotte Bobcats Get Rid Of Gerald Wallace
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Jordan finally makes a move that doesn't involve Kwame Brown.
The Deal
Charlotte Gets
Marcus Camby
Andre Miller
Portland Gets
Gerald Wallace
DJ Augustin
Why This Deal Could Happen
The Bobcats have been working hard to ship out Gerald Wallace, and the Blazers are in a bit of a rebuilding phase. Now, this trade has been rumored about for months, so if it hasn’t happened by now, it’s unlikely to happen. But the value is there for both teams. Sometimes, a trade isn’t about more than just equal value. Sometimes a change of scenery can matter the most.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers Get Stephen Curry
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Cleveland trades for a guy and prays he doesn't realize that he was traded to Cleveland.
The Deal
Cleveland Gets
Stephen Curry
Dan Gadzuric
Golden State Gets
Mo Williams
Miami’s 2012 First-Round Pick
Oklahoma City’s 2011 Second-Round Pick
Cleveland is in need of a young and talented player. Steph Curry is that player. He can be a major piece in the rebuilding effort and Gadzuric gives them a center they can probably sign during the offseason.
In return, the Warriors get Mo Williams. But they also get a number of draft picks they can use to draft size in the front court. They will never get equal value for Curry. This is just something to consider.
6. The Houston Rockets Get Monta Ellis
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The Deal
Houston Gets
Monta Ellis
Louis Amundson
Golden State Gets
Luis Scola
Jared Jeffries
Courtney Lee
Why This Deal Could Happen
This only happens if the determine that Curry is their long term building piece. If they can work out a deal with Houston the Warriors would get some good front court help, and a replacement in the back court. Houston would get a guy who they could build around. The Trade machine determines the Rockets lose out, but in the long run they might be better off.
5. Carmelo Anthony Goes To The New York Knicks
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Finally an end to the trade rumor misery...
The Deal
Denver Gets
Raymond Felton
Wilson Chandler
Danilo Gallinari
Timofey Mozgov
New York Gets
Chauncey Billups
Carmelo Anthony
Why This Deal Could Happen
The Knicks and the Nuggets have been dancing to the sweet sound of a Melo deal for months, but now it looks like it could happen. The Nuggets are aware he walks in the summer if they don’t trade him now. The Knicks don’t want to wait for the summer to make their splash and risk losing him. So the real question isn’t why, but why not get Melo. It’s the best deal the Nuggets will find.
4. Deron Williams Goes To The New Jersey Nets
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The Nets Get Williams and Avery Johnson starts to worry about his job.
Deron Goes to Brooklyn.
The Deal
The Nets Get
Deron Williams
Utah Gets
Derrick Favors
Devin Harris
Why This Deal Could Happen
Carmelo Anthony isn’t the only guy who reportedly wants to walk as soon as they can. The Utah Jazz point guard is reportedly interested in heading to New York. Now, he doesn’t seem as hell bent on playing in the Big Apple as Anthony was, but playing close to their would please him.
If the Nets want to try and get Williams before he walks then now is the time. Offering a solid point guard in return and an up and coming front court player could be the magic ingredients to pry Williams away.
3.The LA Lakers Get Dwight Howard
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Superman saves Tinsletown from years of watching Andrew Bynum on the injury report.
The Deal
Los Angeles Gets
Dwight Howard
Orlando Gets
Andrew Bynum
Ron Artest
Why This Deal Could Happen
If Orlando is going to lose the big who can be the defensive anchor for your team, it’s best to counteract that with a defensive big man who can be the anchor. Now, that doesn’t mean Orlando would be happy about it, but in this deal Orlando has to assume that Howard is going to walk the first chance he gets.
The Lakers would have to sell on their future with Bynum, but the upside is the best center in the game right now. The Hollinger analysis says both of these teams make out in this deal. It’s worth considering.
2. Dallas Mavericks Get Steve Nash
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Nash returns home.
The Deal
Dallas Gets
Steve Nash
Phoenix Gets
Caron Butler
Rodrigue Beaubois
2011 First-Round Pick
Why This Could Happen
Look, the Suns know they’ll never get full value from Nash, but they know they should try and get something. Dallas can accommodate by giving them Caron Butler’s expiring contract as well as an up and coming guard in Rodrigue Beaubois. If they can package that with a first round pick next year they could be in business.
If the needed to they could swap Kidd for Butler and get a little more commitment, but Kidd didn’t have a lot of fun in Phoenix last time, so it might be a moot point.
1. Chris Paul Goes To The Atlanta Hawks
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CP3 takes Hotlanta by storm
The Deal
Atlanta Gets
Chris Paul
New Orleans Gets
Jamal Crawford
Mike Bibby
2012 First Round Pick
2014 First Round Pick
Why This Deal Could Happen
Let’s face facts, the Hornets are going to lose Paul. You can pretend that he’ll stay there, but if he really wanted to, he would have signed an extension by now. Of all the teams you could trade him to the Hawks have the best to offer.
The Knicks will have depleted their roster by the time that Melo leaves so they won’t have the juice to sing Paul. If Paul is in Atlanta, they are instant title contenders. They have the pieces they are just missing that upgrade at the point guard.
New Orleans gets a downgrade for the short term but they get an upgrade in the long run. As long as you make the picks unprotected you could be on the verge of a serious rebuilding effort on a team that is just too stubborn to admit that’s what they have.
