Carmelo Anthony Thread (Merging)

[5th pick sucks]

[urlOne month after Carmelo Anthony’s high-powered team of advisers first began pressuring the Denver Nuggets to trade him, the superstar scorer has not wavered in his desire to be dealt, multiple sources told CBSSports.com.

“There’s no sign of reconsideration on Carmelo’s part, despite what [Denver] has publicly said,” said one of the people involved in the process.

The two sides remain locked in a stalemate over Anthony’s future while a three-year, $65 million extension offer sits untouched in front of him. While Nuggets officials – including influential adviser Bret Bearup and executive Josh Kroenke – continue to rebuff trade inquiries while hoping to repair the franchise’s relationship with Anthony, privately the team is beginning to examine which teams would have the most attractive combination of young players, draft picks and expiring contracts to complete a deal. And the team currently viewed by people close to the situation as having the most realistic chance of putting together a blockbuster, perhaps multi-team deal for Anthony is the New Jersey Nets.

“They’re working the hardest to get a deal done,” one of the sources said.

With No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors, multiple extra draft picks, and Devin Harris, whose $8.98 million contract could be parlayed into a serviceable replacement for Anthony in a three-team trade, New Jersey has the makings of a package that would appeal to Nuggets officials, one of the people with knowledge of Denver’s strategy said. The key, according to the person, would be involving a third team to convert Harris into something the Nuggets would view as “decent replacement value” for Anthony.

That is where another team equipped with attractive assets could enter the picture, multiple sources said: the Philadelphia 76ers. New team president Rod Thorn and GM Ed Stefanski – who formerly worked together in New Jersey – could be central to constructing a deal that would compel the Nuggets to move Anthony rather than endure a season-long distraction that ends with Anthony leaving as a free agent after the season. The key pieces of the Philadelphia equation would be the expiring contracts of Jason Kapono ($6.64 million) and Willie Green ($3.98 million), a young talent such as Thaddeus Young, and Andre Iguodala, who is coming off a solid contribution to Team USA’s gold-medal performance at the FIBA World Championships. Some executives believe the Sixers would at least discuss including No. 2 overall pick Evan Turner if it meant getting Anthony, but that would defeat the purpose of going over the luxury tax to get Anthony in the first place.

Thorn drafted Favors, so that is one piece that is expected to be integral to the discussion once the Nuggets officially begin seeking trade packages for Anthony. The dropoff in talent from Anthony to Iguodala is considerable, but so is the savings; Iguodala is due $44 million over the next three seasons, compared to the $65 million Anthony would command. Two people familiar with Denver’s strategy confirmed the Nuggets would be intrigued by a deal centered around Iguodala. The Nets could sweeten any such offer with Golden State’s 2012 first-round pick and two extra second-round picks they own in the same draft.

A package sending Anthony to the Nets, Favors to Philadelphia and Iguodala to Denver is one way all of these moving parts could come together. But Thorn is said to have reservations about such a deal, which has yet to rise to the level of discussion among the teams.

The situation is complicated by the difficulty in putting enough assets in the deal to satisfy the Nuggets, who don’t want the first move of GM Masai Ujiri’s regime to be trading the team’s cornerstone. Even more crucial is the need for Anthony to indicate he’d be willing to sign an extension with the team that acquires him. It is believed that Anthony, a Brooklyn native whose wife, LaLa Vasquez, also is from there, would sign off on a deal to the Nets, who move to the New York City borough in two years. It is not clear how Anthony would feel about signing an extension with Philadelphia, a city that is halfway between his New York birthplace and the Washington, D.C., area where he grew up. The Sixers were not on Anthony’s initial list of preferred destinations, which included the Knicks, Magic, Bulls and Nets. Anthony, who is good friends with former Sixers star Allen Iverson, also is aware of how harshly Philadelphia treats its sports stars, a person with knowledge of his thinking said.

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. The Knicks, Anthony’s first choice, are viewed by rival executives as not having enough assets to entice the Nuggets. New York has Eddy Curry’s $11.3 million expiring contract, promising big man Anthony Randolph, and swingman Wilson Chandler, but the team’s draft-pick cupboard is bare. Adding to the frustration among Nuggets officials, sources say, is that Anthony’s team has been slow to offer a comprehensive list of trade possibilities.

As the Nuggets walk the tightrope between getting value for Anthony and trying to compel him to reconsider and sign the extension, other factors are in play. Ujiri, a former Nuggets scout who was with the organization when Anthony was drafted, just lived through the nightmare of losing star Chris Bosh in Toronto. Ujiri was part of the management team that decided not to trade Bosh at the February 2010 trade deadline, and Bosh bolted to join Dwyane Wade and LeBron James in Miami. The Raptors got a trade exception and two first-round picks – small consolation for the loss of the team’s franchise player.

Which is exactly what the Nuggets are trying to avoid, one way or another.
][/url]

[bobbyc]

So the deal would be?

Nets get Melo

Sixers get Favors and 2012 first round pick

Denver gets Iggy and Harris

Leaving the Nets without a decent pg and over the salary cap, and golden states pick could turn out to be a top 5. I think the better move could be to just to leave it be and wait on favors and the 2012 first rounder and be active in making free agency and trades that slowly build their talent up. Unless they can keep Harris and trade a less important player from the team. This deal just looks too demanding for the Nets.

[60cent]

Boy... Now that Melo has cleared that he really wants to leave Denver, and its looking more like a trade is going to happen, i dont really know what to think of it. To be honest, im kinda getting nervous because i really dont want him, but the only way to win is to get a superstar because that superstar can also help to get another superstar. Waiting for Favors, Lopez or another top 5 player in the next draft sounds good as well but its more like gambling... What if they dont pan out to even be a solid player? At least we all know how good Melo can be.

[kmsmith5]

The gsw pick is top 7 protected

[VCRJKidd15]

haha so all the 76ers have to give up is Iggy and they get favors and a top 7 st round pick...doubt it

[vincecarter4pres]

haha so all the 76ers have to give up is Iggy and they get favors and a top 7 st round pick...doubt it

Exactly.
This is another silly "rumor" started by a writer(I believe this is Kerber). All it is, is speculation based on somethings that we do know, that Melo likely wants out and if he stays in Denver it means they pull off a blockbuster to put a star alongside him.

I don't see Denver wanting Iggy or his contract if they move Melo either, especially if given the choice between him and Favors.

I love how executives around the league say Philly wouldn't include Evan Turner because it would defeat the purpose in trading for Melo, but hey, the Nets will give up Favors, Harris and picks, because hey, it's the Nets and we're (Please Use More Appropriate Word)!

[ecuhus1981]

^

Yeah, I posted a thread on the T&T board based on these rumors. I seem to be the only person that picked up on this, so I want to emphasize it:

"The key, according to the person, would be involving a third team to convert Harris into something the Nuggets would view as “decent replacement value” for Anthony.

That is where another team equipped with attractive assets could enter the picture, multiple sources said: the Philadelphia 76ers."

CONVERT is the operative word. That means that Harris would be going to Philadelphia, NOT Denver, which makes sense, since the Nuggets already have native son Chauncey Billups and young sparkplug Ty Lawson. So, Berger is saying that the Sixers are getting Devin AND Favors for playing along in this deal. Iguodala alone clearly is not enough value. That's why in my deal, I proposed that PHI send Marreese Speights and Jason Smith to DEN, and Jrue Holiday to us. This seems to make the most sense, as we will need more than Farmar to run the point (T-Will can fill in the gap, but I prefer him to primarily stay at his career position, SG). I thought it was fair, but PHI fans balked. They are really high on Jrue after his strong production in March and April (similar to us with T-Will). Still, I really think that this is the most logical way to make the deal work. It looks like this:

Trade ID# 5694554

DENVER - Anthony/Smith for Iguodala/Kapono/Speights/'11 NJN 1st/'12 GSW 1st

NEW JERSEY - Harris/Favors/Humphries/'11 NJN 1st/'12 GSW 1st for Anthony/Holiday

PHILADELPHIA - Iguodala/Kapono/Speights/Holiday for Harris/Smith/Favors/Humphries

[vincecarter4pres]

Melo is going to wind up here with no Favors or Brook involved if he does indeed wind up here, IMO.

This illusion that Denver has leverage is amusing.

It's Chris Bosh last season all over again.

They'll get something good for him, but a prospect like Favors is an absolute pipe dream IMO.

[enetric]

So the deal would be?

Nets get Melo

Sixers get Favors and 2012 first round pick

Denver gets Iggy and Harris

Leaving the Nets without a decent pg and over the salary cap, and golden states pick could turn out to be a top 5. I think the better move could be to just to leave it be and wait on favors and the 2012 first rounder and be active in making free agency and trades that slowly build their talent up. Unless they can keep Harris and trade a less important player from the team. This deal just looks too demanding for the Nets.

I think the way it reads...Harris goes to the 76ers with Favors. Which to me? Is ABSURD! If ROd gets that for Iggy...that is rediculous. I would give him Troy/Twill. Or Devin/picks. Switch the high contract with the low end...fine no problem.

But if Deinv will take Iggy and picks for Melo...then we should BALK at Favors.

To me...the idea that we HAVE to give up Favors and that is KEY? Yeah...if he were going to Denver!!!! But they landed Evan Turner. Iggy's contract isnt all that. If Denver is actually interested and Philly isnt trying to GET Melo...then clearly they are back to trying to figure out how to streamline payroll. They could deal Brand...so they are looking to move Iggy who Turner makes more expendable...and streamline. Devin would be a nice upgrade on what they have...and he isnt overpaid. So? They get picks...or they can have a pick or two...and that's that.

Then we get to keep Favors and Brook...which is what I really want to do here anyway. And as I said prior...no problem to me to use Troy to then try and get a PG. I had said...willing to take back Billups if that makes sense for Denver....but if they are really looking at Iggy...then they arent rebuilding. That means...they wouldnt be so hyped to move Billups unless they got a PG out of this deal. In the rebuild thinking...where we deal direct with Denver...we save them cash...and help them get under the LTT.

But if they are taking Iggy...that would mean they might streamline but not cold dump and create holes.

Either way...I am NOT hyped about getting Melo and gutting this team. Yes...I am the first one to say stars league. But this is a scorer...who is lacking in every other facet of his game. Pay him 22mil and make a gaping hole at the point...give up the stud big man prospect....honestly...why not just keep our assets and our 20mil in cap space for next summer and just see how it goes. Melo at the cost of gutting the team...NOT WORTH IT.

Its a direct and long lasting ticket to the middle. And that could be a 35 win middle not a 45 win middle.

[enetric]

haha so all the 76ers have to give up is Iggy and they get favors and a top 7 st round pick...doubt it

Exactly.
This is another silly "rumor" started by a writer(I believe this is Kerber). All it is, is speculation based on somethings that we do know, that Melo likely wants out and if he stays in Denver it means they pull off a blockbuster to put a star alongside him.

I don't see Denver wanting Iggy or his contract if they move Melo either, especially if given the choice between him and Favors.

I love how executives around the league say Philly wouldn't include Evan Turner because it would defeat the purpose in trading for Melo, but hey, the Nets will give up Favors, Harris and picks, because hey, it's the Nets and we're (Please Use More Appropriate Word)!

We agree on premise. Cant understand why Denver wants Iggy. if they lose Melo...looking a ttheir payroll...better off dumping and rebuilding.

But if they are doing this? And King goes for the ride? Wow. Talk about Rod screwing him over hard. No way this deal makes any sense. Philly makes out like bandits.

I mean see last year with Sac. They got Tyeke...and moved Kevmart mid season for the log jam. Its very similar to Philly. So Sac got Landry for a yonger Marting and Philly get Devin and FAVORS????

WOW! And lets realize...Philly is in a tougher spot because of Brand. That contract has them with LESS leverage since everyone knows they are looking to get better while getting less costly in payroll.

I wont feel good about King until I see what he does here. Melo at that salary doesnt make any sense if we have to gut the team! I want no part of giving up Favors or Brook in this deal. NONE. Devin fine. Troy fine. Picks fine. And reluctantly...even Twill depending on what we end up with here. Not daying all of that...saying...all of those pieces can be in play for me. But....keep the young bigs out of it. Not for Melo. No way.

[enetric]

^

Yeah, I posted a thread on the T&T board based on these rumors. I seem to be the only person that picked up on this, so I want to emphasize it:

"The key, according to the person, would be involving a third team to convert Harris into something the Nuggets would view as “decent replacement value” for Anthony.

That is where another team equipped with attractive assets could enter the picture, multiple sources said: the Philadelphia 76ers."

CONVERT is the operative word. That means that Harris would be going to Philadelphia, NOT Denver, which makes sense, since the Nuggets already have native son Chauncey Billups and young sparkplug Ty Lawson. So, Berger is saying that the Sixers are getting Devin AND Favors for playing along in this deal. Iguodala alone clearly is not enough value. That's why in my deal, I proposed that PHI send Marreese Speights and Jason Smith to DEN, and Jrue Holiday to us. This seems to make the most sense, as we will need more than Farmar to run the point (T-Will can fill in the gap, but I prefer him to primarily stay at his career position, SG). I thought it was fair, but PHI fans balked. They are really high on Jrue after his strong production in March and April (similar to us with T-Will). Still, I really think that this is the most logical way to make the deal work. It looks like this:

Trade ID# 5694554

DENVER - Anthony/Smith for Iguodala/Kapono/Speights/'11 NJN 1st/'12 GSW 1st

NEW JERSEY - Harris/Favors/Humphries/'11 NJN 1st/'12 GSW 1st for Anthony/Holiday

PHILADELPHIA - Iguodala/Kapono/Speights/Holiday for Harris/Smith/Favors/Humphries

I still hate it. HATE IT. Want Favors out of there. Put Troy in somehow...get us a PG...be done with it.

[enetric]

Melo is going to wind up here with no Favors or Brook involved if he does indeed wind up here, IMO.

This illusion that Denver has leverage is amusing.

It's Chris Bosh last season all over again.

They'll get something good for him, but a prospect like Favors is an absolute pipe dream IMO.

Amen brother. But I wont go as far as you and say it WONT happen. If it were Rod? Iw ould agree. King is an X factor. Does he have the guts to walk away? THis trade could make or break him in my eyes. I mean...he lands Melo he will be praised by the media. PERIOD. But...that doesnt mean they are right. See the way they make a big whoop about Amare to the Knicks. Amazing how they ignore all the Knicks gave up for the right to over pay Amare.

Has King learned his lesson? Would he walk away if the cost is too high? Gotta hope.

[jerseyjac]

Yeh, I hate these rumors..King would be absolutely out of his mind to give up Favors in this sort of deal...come on this isnt difficult to gauge, Denver isnt in the driver seat, supposenly their guy wants out...

Like VC4P and enetric stated, let someone else pay out of the ass for Melo...

[Revolutionistt]

I probably want Melo on this team more than any of you, but not for this deal. My hope is that now that hes adamant about leaving paired with what bosh and lebron did this summer that we can get him for a great deal. Nets are really the only team with the right pieces to land him, so it really gives us leverage. I dont mind giving up Harris OR Favors, but not both. Damion James is looking really impressive, if Favors gets moved Id be happy giving him minutes. And if its Harris I guess Farmar would be the starter, hes a good passer but nowhere near the offensive skill set of Harris. Which I think could work, have him feed Lopez and Favors and rack up the assists as opposed to looking to score for himself.

[kmsmith5]

haha so all the 76ers have to give up is Iggy and they get favors and a top 7 st round pick...doubt it

top 7 protected means they don't get the pick if it is top 7. So 8th or worse. If it's top 7 for 3 years it turns into 2 2nd rounders.

What are the chances that an 8th or worse pick is even gonna be a starter let alone an all-star?

It would be a real shame to "gut" a 12 win team.

[jeff1624]

haha so all the 76ers have to give up is Iggy and they get favors and a top 7 st round pick...doubt it

top 7 protected means they don't get the pick if it is top 7. So 8th or worse. If it's top 7 for 3 years it turns into 2 2nd rounders.

What are the chances that an 8th or worse pick is even gonna be a starter let alone an all-star?

It would be a real shame to "gut" a 12 win team.

Poeple really need to STFU regarding our 12 wins last year.. Newsflash, we have a total of 4 players from last years team.. so f'ing annoying have to hear it everytime the Nets are mentioned. I'm sorry we don't want to trade every single asset for a guy who'll be a gree agent in a year AND a guys who's arguably not even a top 10 player in the league. If it were Durant, Lebron and Howard.. hell yeah I'll trade Favors, 1st round unprotected picks and all of the cap space in the world... but Carmelo Anthony?? Will he really get us over the top, especially since we'd have to trade our 2 best PF's and maybe even our PG for him..

And yes, potential all stars do get picked after the 8th pick (Jennings 2009, Lopez 2008, Noah 2007, Bynum 2005, Jefferson 2004 etc), so it's incredibly valueable. You're kidding yourself if you think it isn't.

[Revolutionistt]

haha so all the 76ers have to give up is Iggy and they get favors and a top 7 st round pick...doubt it

top 7 protected means they don't get the pick if it is top 7. So 8th or worse. If it's top 7 for 3 years it turns into 2 2nd rounders.

What are the chances that an 8th or worse pick is even gonna be a starter let alone an all-star?

It would be a real shame to "gut" a 12 win team.

Poeple really need to STFU regarding our 12 wins last year.. Newsflash, we have a total of 4 players from last years team.. so f'ing annoying have to hear it everytime the Nets are mentioned. I'm sorry we don't want to trade every single asset for a guy who'll be a gree agent in a year AND a guys who's arguably not even a top 10 player in the league. If it were Durant, Lebron and Howard.. hell yeah I'll trade Favors, 1st round unprotected picks and all of the cap space in the world... but Carmelo Anthony?? Will he really get us over the top, especially since we'd have to trade our 2 best PF's and maybe even our PG for him..

And yes, potential all stars do get picked after the 8th pick (Jennings 2009, Lopez 2008, Noah 2007, Bynum 2005, Jefferson 2004 etc), so it's incredibly valueable. You're kidding yourself if you think it isn't.

Melo not a top 10 player?? Youre insane. True, alone he doesnt make the nets a contender, but they certainly improve drastically to earn a playoff spot and attract more players next season. Im not for taking the gamble to see how favors and our 2012 first rounder will pan out. I predict favors to be really good, but not on melo's level. Get the proven star player and roll from there.

[vincecarter4pres]

Melo is barely a top 10 player.
His play fluctuates so badly and the top 7 to say 18 range is so subjective it's arguable he falls out of the top 10 in any given season as well.
There is no doubt Melo is a star and a winner, but he is absolutely not a superstar.
He's a really good player, but it seems a majority of the league, media and fans severely overrate him.


And to hit on a point of yours from the last page without quoting, I don't see the relevance of Harris or Favors, as in giving up one of them. They don't compare in the least. Favors, although obviously can become a bust, is an elite big man prospect with huge trade value and an enormous amount of true potential for this team.
Harris is a stopgap, or a starter of overall low importance in the grand scheme of things if this team is to be a contender. He is not a building block, an elite player or excessively valuable and he is easily replaceable. You cannot compare the two on any level except who is currently the better player.

[jeff1624]

I said arguably..

Lebron James
Dwyane Wade
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Durant
Dwight Howard
Dirk Nowitzki
Chris Paul
Deron Williams
Tim Duncan (even at this stage of his career)

And then you could go with any of Carmelo, Gasol, Nash, Bosh, Amare or Roy for the 10th spot.. So it isn't clear cut as you're making it out to be.

Again.. how is trading for a SF while making holes at the pg and PF positions ''improve'' our chances of making the playoffs???

Is

Lopez
Humphries
Carmelo
Morrow
Farmar

a playoff team???... no.

[kmsmith5]

No one wants to give up favors in a deal, but it may just be the only way. Some people think it's worth it and others don't. When it comes to philly, the only way to keep favors would be to take on brand. Now before you dismiss the idea because of his contract, consider the fact that any deal to get melo would put njn out of major free agent contention for at least 3 years anyway. Also, brand isn't a terrible player, he's just compared to his pre injury self and has a terrible contract. It would have to be something like this:

NJ in: Melo, Brand
Den in: Iguodala, TWill, humph, Ross, GSW 1st, 2011 NJN 1st, $6mil.
PHI in: Harris, Murph

from Phillys POV it's broken down like this: Harris for Iggy is close talent wise, but Harris is cheaper. Then it's brand for murph. Now my only question is, how much is it worth to Philly to get rid of brands contract for a starting and expiring PF? I'd say at least a protected 1st to Den and possibly Jrue Holiday to the Nets.