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Ginobili2Duncan

08-17-2010, 06:17 PM

Magic could be in play for Anthony

4:24PM ET
Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=den)

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http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/1975.jpg (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1975) In addition to New York on Tuesday, we've looked into what Chicago and New Orleans could offer Denver for Carmelo Anthony (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1975).
But neither of those two locales have been mentioned as a place Anthony would like to head, unlike New York.
Yet, there is another team now being reported as a destination Anthony would be agreeable to: Orlando.
According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports (http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/23943102), "Melo would accept other destinations as well, and the Magic are believed to be at the top of his list along with the Knicks, according to a person familiar with his strategy."
Orlando could trade Vince Carter (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=136) for Melo straight up, but we highly doubt such a trade would happen.
One we ran through ESPN's NBA Trade Machine (http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=23m4azv) that's somewhat conceivable?
Anthony and Renaldo Balkman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2986) for Mickael Pietrus (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2173), Marcin Gortat (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2758) and Brandon Bass (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2745).
Balkman heading with Melo to the Magic makes up for Orlando getting rid of two frontcourt players in Gortat and Bass -- both of whom have talent, but have been buried a bit on Orlando's frontline.
Pietrus, a small forward, could take over the gap left by the departing Melo in Denver.
There are a few snags here, most notably Denver perhaps having a too-crowded frontcourt, and the Nuggets perhaps not getting enough talent and value back for Anthony.
But we'll leave it on the table as a hypothetical trade for now.

Gallinari the price for Melo?

12:37PM ET
Danilo Gallinari | Knicks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=nyk)

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http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/3428.jpg (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3428) Earlier on Tuesday (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20100817#17907), we rounded up some chatter that suggested Carmelo Anthony (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1975) could leave Denver via a trade at some point in the near future.
As such, the Knicks, a team he's rumored to be favoring at this juncture, could pursue his services.
As we've previously noted (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20100729#17654), despite word to the contrary, new additions in Ronny Turiaf (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2789), Anthony Randolph (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3455) and Kelenna Azubuike (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2821) would be available for trade, so any of them could be included in such a deal.
But on Tuesday, some have suggested that prized youngster Danilo Gallinari (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3428) will likely have to be part of a package, as Denver will be looking for solid value back for trading their best player.
Alan Hahn of Newsday tweeted (http://twitter.com/alanhahn/statuses/21413014912): "As for the Melo chatter, Knicks fans have to be ready to part with Gallinari if their team has any shot at trading for Carmelo. Fact."
And ESPN's Bill Simmons chimes in similarly (http://twitter.com/sportsguy33/statuses/21410356329): "My New York Knicks buddies are funny: [They] want Melo, but only if Gallo isn't in the deal. Yeah, I'm sure Denver will jump at Randolph, Eddy Curry (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=990), Wilson Chandler (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3194) and a [2014 first-round pick]."
So while Knicks fans might not like the idea of parting with their 3-point threat, Gallo may have to go in any such deal for Melo.

Anthony could leave Denver via trade

11:13AM ET
Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=den)

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http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/1975.jpg (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1975) We noted on Sunday that Carmelo Anthony (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1975)'s continued apathy towards his contract extension (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20100815#17898) with Denver could mean he's leaning towards free agency this summer, and a possible change of address to New York.
On Monday, Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_15790008) connected the dots -- including Melo's apparent New York lean -- and described it all as a "grim conclusion" for the Nuggets.
And then came word from ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Monday night that all signs are pointing to Anthony leaving Denver.
But Bucher wrote that it could come via a trade.
And The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_15800179?) reported on Tuesday that the team is quietly shopping him.
"After quietly gauging trade interest in Anthony for weeks, the team's consternation has only risen as he has made no move to accept a $65 million offer for a three-year contract extension that was formally presented more than a month ago," wrote Mark Kiszla. "The Nuggets don't want to get LeBron'd."
So while nothing seems imminent on Melo leaving Denver -- and just how and when it's going to happen appears up the air as well right now -- all signs are pointing to him not being a Nugget come next season.

-- Ryan Corazza

http://a.espncdn.com/i/columnists/bucher_ric_30.jpg Ric Bucher

Anthony wants to leave Denver (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5468878)

"All signs continue to point toward the eventual divorce between Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets. League sources say it is now a matter of when, not if, Anthony and the Nuggets will go their separate ways. Anthony is weighing whether to sign a three-year, $65 million extension offered by the Nuggets. His dilemma, league sources say, is what affords him the best chance of continuing his career elsewhere. Anthony could sign with Denver and convince the team to then trade him. His other option would be to not sign the extension, thereby forcing the team to move him rather than risk losing him next summer as a free agent."

What New Orleans can offer for Melo

1:56PM ET
New Orleans Hornets

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http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nba/med/trans/nor.gif (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=nor) A few weeks back (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20100727#17603), we speculated the with some smart roster and financial moves, the Hornets could perhaps position themselves to make a run at Carmelo Anthony (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1975) in free agency next summer.
After all, such a coup could mean Chris Paul (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2779) might be more likely to stay with the team beyond the summer of 2012.
And now that Anthony could be on the trade block, we suppose it's time to re-explore what the Hornets could do to acquire him in such a fashion.
Outside of Paul, the Hornets don't have that attractive of pieces, especially when you consider they just traded Darren Collison (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3973), who shined in his rookie season when Paul was out with injury.
Yet, David West (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2177) could give Denver some value in the frontcourt, and Peja Stojakovic (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=813)'s expiring contract could give Denver some more flexibility going forward.
If the Nuggets were getting West in return, it's possible they'd be agreeable to parting with Chris Andersen (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1135).
Andersen and Melo for Peja and West works in ESPN's NBA Trade Machine (http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2eo4sf3).
Yet, the Nuggets have essentially traded Anthony and Andersen for West in this scenario, and it's likely they can get better value and pieces from another team.
As such, we'll call New Orleans as a bit of stretch for his services via a trade right now.