Anthony, Nuggets look ready to part ways

[air gordon]

. Noah's a great rebounder but his D is still suspect against certain players (old mate Bogut torched him all season) and he's a non-factor offensively

that's a moot point there. most legit sized centers with skills give anyone a problem. maybe Perkins vs Howard being the exception...

[Andrew]

Melo still wants out but it seems the Bulls are no longer in the running.

The Bulls are viewed by one source as "not a realistic candidate" due to the team's unwillingness at this point to include Joakim Noah in the deal. The Bulls and Noah are currently negotiating an extension.

Good to hear, I'd still do Deng/Gibson/Johnson for Melo if it was at all feasible but doesn't sound like that's the case.

[Martti.]

I think Melo should play out his final year with the Nuggets and then look for a new team as a free agent. Of course, the Nuggets would prefer a trade so they could get something for him.

[Andrew]

With the impending lockout, that's not necessarily the best career move. It also gives the Nuggets an opportunity to get something in return for him, young players with potential, picks and expiring contracts most likely what they want in return.

[shadowgrin]

Melo prefers a new team and a contract extension so that his salary will be enough when the new CBA happens.

[Rip32]

Apparently Philly has entered the picture. I don't think I would even consider sending Melo there unless I get Turner and Speights, which won't happen.

What I could see is Speights-Lou-Igoudala for Anthony-Martin-Another expiring?

You'd have to think Philly would only do a deal if they could fit Elton Brand in there though, right?

[Lamrock]

I'd rather have Iguodala than Melo, but if Philly does get Melo (which they won't - every team, even the Timberwolves, have been linked to Anthony), the package would almost certainly be Iggy and Lou/Speights.

[benji]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=27eqn7f

There we go. Everyone wins.

[Lamrock]

So basically the Bulls trade their best player, and a very solid backup PF just so they can dump the contracts of Deng (3rd or 4th best player) for an equally bad contract in Elton Brand's corpse?

[shadowgrin]

It's an Elton Brand homecoming. It's a feel good story if that happens!

[Andrew]

I don't know about that, the prospect doesn't exactly fill me with cheer. Though I guess it's kind of a feel good story for the Sixers.

[NovU]

Brand has lost like 13, 14 pounds I hear. Perhaps, he has some value now. Also he's allegedely playing at C this year. Not sure if it's good for the team, but probably we'll see an increase in his reb stats.

[Cartar]

Brand has lost like 13, 14 pounds I hear. Perhaps, he has some value now. Also he's allegedely playing at C this year. Not sure if it's good for the team, but probably we'll see an increase in his reb stats.

I think he'll average like 14 points and 7-8 rebounds, but that doesn't make his contract any prettier.

[rise]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=27eqn7f

There we go. Everyone wins.

Trading away Noah, Deng, Johnson, and Gibson, all for Elton Brand?

Something in the back of my head tells me that wouldn't be a great move for the Bulls...

[Andrew]

Sixers may be out of the picture shortly after entering it.

According to one Sixers front-office source, the team is "not in any discussions at all" regarding a potential three-way trade involving the Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets. In a scenario reported Wednesday by Ken Berger of cbssports.com, the Sixers would consider trading the expiring contracts of Jason Kapono and Willie Green along with the talent of Thaddeus Young and Iguodala to the Nuggets for superstar Carmelo Anthony.

The same source said that while the trade has been discussed internally "a little," the franchise believes it has no real shot at Anthony, who has said he would agree to be traded to the Nets, Knicks, Magic, or Bulls.

[Lamrock]

Shocking.

[shadowgrin]

Also he's allegedely playing at C this year. Not sure if it's good for the team

He's been playing some minutes at the 5 last season and yes, it is usually good for the team.

[rise]

Isn't he kind of short for a C?

[Lamrock]

He is, but his wingspan is like 7'2" IIRC.

[Andrew]

Sources: Nuggets soften trade stance

The Denver Nuggets' resistance to trading star forward Carmelo Anthony is fading away, according to sources with knowledge of Denver's thinking.

The Nuggets still aren't aggressively shopping Anthony and haven't withdrawn their long-standing offer of a contract extension, but numerous sources told ESPN.com that Denver officials have in recent days let other teams know for the first time that they will listen to pitches after previously resisting such discussions.

"I'm not sure how soon, but I do think they're going to trade him [between now and February]," said one rival GM.

Anyone with any intention of keeping Melo around beyond this season would probably be better to make a trade sooner rather than later, so that terms can be worked out and an extension signed. On the other hand, desperation could allow someone to get him for a steal closer to the trade deadline.

[kibaxx7]

Even for Melo, IMO Green, Kapono, Iggy AND Young is a little too much.

[shadowgrin]

Not really. Only concern with that is losing Iggy's defense.

[Cartar]

Depends, if extended. Funny to think, if Melo would be traded to Sixers, as Sixers traded their franchise player to the Nuggets only 3 years back.

[Rip32]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5610989

The proposed deal, sources said, also would involve the Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Bobcats. It would deliver Nets rookie forward Derrick Favors, Jazz veteran Andrei Kirilenko and multiple first-round picks to Denver in exchange for their franchise player, potentially bringing a resolution to Anthony's uncertain future before the Nuggets hold their first practice of the new season.

Sources told ESPN.com that the deal, which has yet to be finalized, also would send former All-Star point guard Devin Harris to Charlotte, with Bobcats forward Boris Diaw moving to Utah.

The four teams, said one source close to the talks, are "seriously engaged" after extensive talks Thursday.

Denver would make out like bandits in that deal. I'm not sure who the Nets' would have at PG if they traded away Harris, but the deal doesn't really hurt anyone too bad. Diaw could be a solid player in Sloan's system if he plays within it and Harris helps the woeful PG situation in Charlotte.

I hope that goes down.

[rise]

I really hope this goes through.

The Nets could bounce from the 12-70 team they were last year to a consistent playoff team with Carmelo.

Denver gets a ton for Carmelo - Kirilenko is probably one of the most solid all-around players around right now, Favors would be a great addition with a good amount of potential, and they get a bunch of first round picks.

Boris Diaw in Utah? Not quite sure what happen there, but swapping Kirilenko with Diaw may be a slight downgrade for the Jazz.

My favorite part is the Charlotte bit. (Obviously, because I live there.) I didn't like the idea of DJ Augustin/Shaun Livingston being a starting PG. Now we could have an all-star in Devin Harris. I'd be kind of sad letting Boris Diaw go and have Tyrus Thomas start, but that's OK because we now could have a legit shot of forming our own little trio of Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, and Devin Harris. Pretty nice right?