This seems to be our NBA topic for the past few weeks. So I will try to make my prediction of where Melo lands:
5% - Golden State Warriors
The nuggets have been to rumored to call GSW and ask them of the available of Stephen Curry. Of course Golden State claims him to be off the table but an intriguing offer at best. Especially with Curry coming off a great rookie season but especially exploding after the all-star break. Curry put up a rookie season staggering 17.5 points, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds. Plus he is on his rookie contract for the next 3 years! To make this trade work the GSW would have to add several players to make the salaries match. It would have to be a straight blockbuster deal across the board. Something like Curry, Ellis, Bierdrins, Radmanovic expiring and Bell for Anthony, Billups and Nene. Denver doesn't have to hit rebuild mode and GSW is instantly a top 4 team in the West.
Very unlikely, but it would be awesome.
10% - La Clippers
This was a rumored landing spot for Anthony for about 15 seconds. Clippers would give up Kaman in an instant if that was Denver's wanting center piece. Especially with Dampier still on the market. Too bad Denver's wanting center piece is a player who has yet to play a game yet in Blake Griffin. The Nuggets have also been rumored to inquire about Eric Gordon. You gotta wonder if the Clips pull the trigger on a Gordon and Kaman for Anthony. Time will tell...
15% - Houston Rockets
The rockets could put together a pretty decent looking package that Denver would have to at least consider. A package centered around Kevin Martin with some fillers seems to get thrown around a lot lately. Would a duo package of Aaron Brooks, K mart and a 1st round draft pick get it done? There would have to be some fillers for salary sake of course and the biggest question is with Brooks and Martin gone is Melo still willing to sign an extension in Houston?
30% - Chicago Bulls
If the Bulls were willing to depart with Joakim Noah this trade would have been done a week ago. Luol deng, J Noah and a 1st round draft pick for Melo. Whatever fillers on each side to make salaries match and we would be watching Melo at the Bulls media day! But so far, the Bulls are not willing to give up Noah....Yet. If you have to give up an great rebounder and defender in Noah to feature a nice core of Rose, Melo and Boozer you have to do it. I like Noah, but he is not a top 10 player in the league. Carmelo Anthony is. And Carmelo would almost definitely sign an extension in Chi Town. Why wouldn't he!?
45% - New Jersey Nets
The Nets have gotten to other teams together to help them get a trade through to secure Anthony. It would something like this:
Nuggets get Kirilenko expiring contract, Derrick Favors and two 1st round draft picks from NJ
Utah gets Boris Diaw
Charlotte gets Devin Harris
Nets get Anthony
This may be the Nuggets best on the table offer as of right now. It probably would be done already if Melo would for sure 100% sign an extension in NJ. So far, he has not made that claim and that is why it has yet to go through. If it is going to happen, look for it to happen within the next few days.
And for the moment you have all been waiting for, my prediction for where Carmelo Anthony plays his 2010/2011 season....
50% - New York Knicks
They have some decent assets in Anthony Randolph and Galinari. They do not have a 1st round pick until 2014 (thank you Isaiah Thomas) and this is something the Nuggets are not budging on in their trade requests.
So I bet you wonder how I can pick them if they have the least amount of assets? Because this is where Carmelo wants to play. He grew up in New York, he played at Syracuse and his buddy is the starting PF for the Knicks. If Melo can not get a trade to New York odds are he plays it out in Denver and just opts out next year and joins the Knicks as a free agent. I do not see Denver letting this happen. Look at what happened to Cleveland and Toronto....
Long shot surprise pick: Dallas Mavericks
Because you can never truly count out Mark Cuban from making a move. What outside of Dirk wouldn't he offer for Melo? I bet he would pay 1 billion dollars....
