PA's rumor come true: Nugs shopping Melo?

[TrentTuckerForever]

From Wiretap:

It's hard to envision any business run by [Nuggets owner Stan] Kroenke allowing an asset as valuable as Anthony to walk away for nothing. Either the I's will be dotted and the T's will be crossed on a new deal with the Nuggets long before the trade deadline next winter or you can color Melo gone from Denver.

Unwilling to use coach George Karl's battle with cancer as an excuse, Nuggets management saw the team's first-round flameout in the playoffs as proof the current roster is unlikely to win a championship.

With guard Chauncey Billups approaching his 34th birthday, forward Kenyon Martin facing recovery from yet another knee surgery and the distinct possibility of labor strife interrupting the 2011-12 season, it's not too early for everybody to begin long-term planning and ask a tough question:

Does Denver have a future as a serious NBA contender with a nucleus of Anthony, promising guard Ty Lawson and frustrating center Nene?

Without a solid commitment from Anthony, the Nuggets might feel as if they have no choice except to blow up the roster and start over.

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_15405631?

Jefferson for Anthony is one Big Al deal I think we could all get behind...

[Foye]

I don't think we will get it done and even if we do Anthony will be leaving the team in the offseason.

[prefuse73]

If we seriously want to pursue this route, than I think we will see Big Al traded for simply an expring contract and a pick (perhaps Tyson Chandler who would be a good fit with our offense), and no further commitment to our capspace after signing pek and darko. So we essentially difer our cap space for one year and go after Carmelo next year when there will be fewer competitors for his services. We also avoid the 1 year rental as foye described.

[shangrila]

I think they'll look into it, but the trade would only happen if Anthony showed that he was willing to stay here in Minnesota long term. Otherwise, they'd probably do as prefuse said and pool their capspace for a run at him next season although I think he's gone to a place like New York before he comes here.

[Krapinsky]

EVEN if Melo did not sign an extension, I would still be willing to trade Big Al for him straight up

[Rolf]

The last thing we (or any other team that aquires him) need to worry about is Melo bolting after one year. He's going to sign a max extension this offseason, whether with the Nuggets or whatever team he's traded to. Why would he wait until next offseason, when the new CBA is instituted and the dollar amount on max contracts is drastically cut? This would be like the Garnett to Boston trade - Any team that aquires him does so with an agreement that he's immediately extended.

For a team to have a shot at Melo, they'd need:

-A package that is inticing to the Nuggets
-A post-trade roster that still allows Melo to compete at a high level
-A willingness to pay max money to extend him this summer, rather than wait until next year, when he could be had for cheaper (after the new CBA) but with more competition from other teams

[jpatrick]

The current CBA expires after next season so the 2011 FAs would be under the new CBA? Hmmm...that is an interesting twist. Melo would really really not want to be in Denver (or whatever market trades for him) to take the risk that the max salary gets cut, maybe drastically.

If he does get put on the market, Denver will have a ton of offers. I don't think Jefferson would get it done. PA speculated Jefferson plus all three of our picks. I'm guessing at this point the starting offer is Johnson and Jefferson and Denver probably asks for more.

[jordananderson]

The current CBA expires after next season so the 2011 FAs would be under the new CBA? Hmmm...that is an interesting twist. Melo would really really not want to be in Denver (or whatever market trades for him) to take the risk that the max salary gets cut, maybe drastically.

If he does get put on the market, Denver will have a ton of offers. I don't think Jefferson would get it done. PA speculated Jefferson plus all three of our picks. I'm guessing at this point the starting offer is Johnson and Jefferson and Denver probably asks for more.

I don't think they would expect that much....they would rather have just Al then absolutely nothing if he doesnt sign an extension. Who would offer there best player & there top pick? I could see Jefferson, Brewer and the rights to Bjelica? I don't know, I dont see us giving Jefferson & Wes though.. at least I hope we wouldn't have to do that.

[collin_k41]

They'd rather have Al than nothing, but they could get more from other teams.

Al+Brewer+Rubio for Melo

Flynn/Sessions
Webster/Johnson
Melo/Johnson
Love/Pekovic
Darko/Pekovic/Hollins

That's a really good team going into the future and plus it's a Syracuse All-star team. Of course, we only do this deal if Melo is signed to a new contract.

[TrentTuckerForever]

He's going to sign a max extension this offseason, whether with the Nuggets or whatever team he's traded to. Why would he wait until next offseason, when the new CBA is instituted and the dollar amount on max contracts is drastically cut? This would be like the Garnett to Boston trade - Any team that aquires him does so with an agreement that he's immediately extended.

Exactly. Any other scenario makes zero sense.

For a team to have a shot at Melo, they'd need:

-A package that is inticing to the Nuggets
-A post-trade roster that still allows Melo to compete at a high level
-A willingness to pay max money to extend him this summer, rather than wait until next year, when he could be had for cheaper (after the new CBA) but with more competition from other teams

Al Jefferson is 25 years old, proven as a 20-10 guy without ever having played next to a center as good as Nene. I think that's a conversation starter by itself, even though the Nuggets are in our division.

I'd offer Melo for Al, Brewer and a future 1st. Melo obviously gets a max extension.

[Worm Guts]

I don't think Jefferson is a conversation starter for Melo, and least not based on current rumors of his value.

[Rolf]

I just glanced over at the Denver board and it sounds like the writer who originated this rumor is more or less their local version of Sam Smith, so we probably shouldn't get our hopes up.

[C.lupus]

I don't think Jefferson is a conversation starter for Melo, and least not based on current rumors of his value.

I don't think "Minnesota Timberwolves" is a conversation starter to be honest. We would have to throw in our best young talent and, once we did that, there is no reason for Melo to sign an extention here. I'd offer Al, Brewer, and Flynn but I don't think Denver would bite.

[TrentTuckerForever]

This is a different kind of value, though. During the draft Kahn was looking to move Al for expirings and picks, basically moves that would make the Wolves worse next year.

This is a move that would make Denver worse in the short run, but better position them for the future. A move that would probably be a sign that players like Billups and JR Smith would be traded too... in other words blowing up the team. Who could Denver get for Melo who better fits a rebuild (young, established production, big) than Jefferson?

[Worm Guts]

I don't think Jefferson is a conversation starter for Melo, and least not based on current rumors of his value.

I don't think "Minnesota Timberwolves" is a conversation starter to be honest. We would have to throw in our best young talent and, once we did that, there is no reason for Melo to sign an extention here. I'd offer Al, Brewer, and Flynn but I don't think Denver would bite.

You're right that it's probably unrealistic, but if you thought Toronto would take a S&T for Bosh of Al + a future first round pick, then you could offer Denver something like Love, Johnson, Flynn +cap space. Then you cross your fingers that Bosh would be willing to sign with us because we have Melo.

[dunkonu21]

Yes, Al, Brewer and Flynn is a good value. I'd throw that at Denver and hope Melo can stand losing for one year.

Sessions/???
Wesley/Martell
Melo/Bjelica
Love/Pek
Darko/Pek

[TrentTuckerForever]

I just glanced over at the Denver board and it sounds like the writer who originated this rumor is more or less their local version of Sam Smith, so we probably shouldn't get our hopes up.

Some of their posters see the quandry, though:

Fact is that the Nuggets are stuck in a bad spot. They do not have the assets to dramatically improve the team without moving Melo, Billups, or Nene and really have not shown a willingness to spend the money since AI that it would take to do the deals either way.

If the Nuggets get enough quality assets I don't know that I would rule out a Melo trade, But I would want a young improving big and a top young Sg, with cap relief/ picks.

I'm not saying it's a likely scenario, but it is interesting. Either Love or Jefferson + some combination of Brewer, Webster or Johnson would at least be reasonable.

I had a conversation on the trade board awhile ago with some Denver posters that said their starting point in an Anthony trade with MN would be Love/Rubio. Is Jonny good enough to be a 3rd option (behind Anthony and Jefferson)? I may be in the minority but I would do Love/Brewer/Rubio for Anthony:

Anthony/Johnson
Jefferson
Milicic/Pekovic
Webster/Ellington
Flynn/Sessions

[jordananderson]

We arent going to trade Rubio, and I don't know why they would want him, they already have Billups and Lawson.

[jpatrick]

The CBA angle is interesting. Do you think Melo would extend here to get maximum money versus waiting one year and going back east to NY or NJ and being the savior but "probably" for less money with the changes to the CBA?

I would think a bare minimum offer would be Jefferson, Johnson plus something. Jefferson couldn't even fetch us an expiring and a mid lotto during the draft (no matter what we think his value should be), he's not going to get Melo a week later.

[The J Rocka]

Obviously they want Al or Love, want a SF to replace Melo- Brewer, Johnson, or Webster. If they really want another PG they can have Sessions or Flynn depending on if they believe Lawson is the franchise PG or not. I would want Flynn to stay because of his personality, he's gonna be able to talk Melo into staying here especially both of them being from the East Coast and playing at Syracuse.