Melo Appears On SNL

'Melo To Jersey Back On + Possible 3 Team Trade?

Denver-NJ in advanced talks on Anthony, Billups, Balkman, Ely, Williams for Favors, Harris, Murphy, Uzoh and 4 1st rounders, source tells Y!

Via Twitter


Although details of a formally scheduled meeting have yet to emerge, Denver officials are operating under the assumption that Melo and Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov will finally meet face-to-face during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, according to sources close to the process. The Nuggets encourage that meeting, sources say, because trading with New Jersey has always been more favorable to Denver than dealing with New York and because the Nuggets -- who still like New Jersey’s Derrick Favors better than any player who’s been made available to them in the months-long Melo trade saga -- know that the Nets remain unwilling to participate in a trade unless Anthony also commits to an extension in New Jersey.

Via ESPN

Now this is an interesting development and hopefully the 'Melo to the Tri-State Area saga finally ends. There were also recent rumours involving Portland and the Nets regarding a deal involving Harris and possibly Andre Miller as the main principals. I wouldn't be surprised if the two rumours end up into a three team deal with Miller returning to Denver as it doesn't make sense for Harris to go to Denver with a young PG like Lawson already waiting for his turn. The deal would look like this:

Denver Nuggets trade:

Carmelo Anthony
Chauncey Billups
Shelden Williams
Renaldo Balkman
Melvin Ely

Denver Nuggets receive:

Derrick Favors
Andre Miller
Luke Babbitt
Troy Murphy
Ben Uzoh
4 1st Round Picks

New Jersey Nets trade:

Derrick Favors
Devin Harris
Troy Murphy
Ben Uzoh
4 1st Round Picks

New Jersey Nets receive:

Carmelo Anthony
Chauncey Billups
Shelden Williams
Renaldo Balkman
Melvin Ely

Portland Trailblazers trade:

Andre Miller
Luke Babbitt

Portland Trailblazers receive:

Devin Harris

Melo Headed to Jersey?

Recent reports have indicated that a 3 team deal involving the Nuggets, the Pistons and the Nets is close to being completed. The proposed deal would see Carmelo Anthony in a Nets uniform along with both Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups, who he would have played with had the Pistons picked him back in 2003. It has also been reported that Billups will seek a buyout if he is indeed moved there. I guess Jersey Shore didn't really improve his outlook on New Jersey.

But this trade raises a very important question ... wouldn't Melo be better off staying in Denver? In the proposed deal the 10-27 Nets would have a very aging backcourt in Billups and Hamilton with very little depth upfront. I won't fully analyze the deal until the full details come out but I don't like the deal for New Jersey or Carmelo. The Nets are going all in on a trade which will only make them a middle of the pack team in the Eastern conference.

Latest On Melo Trade

UPDATE:

The four-team blockbuster trade that would have landed Carmelo Anthony in New Jersey has died and the Nets have ended their pursuit of the superstar for the time being.

A source said the Nets "need some closure on the matter" and are pulling out of the chase for Anthony "at least for now."

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter)

According to Sam Amick, Jason Kidd cautioned Carmelo Anthony against viewing the Nets as a suitable alternative to the Knicks in the New York market.

Amick also reports that the Knicks would have to deal almost all of their young talent -- including Anthony Randolph, Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas and Wilson Chandler -- in order to make a trade for Anthony now. In one proposed trade, Chandler would have gone to Houston in a multi-team deal involving the Rockets.

The price tag, however, could come down around the February trade deadline and the Knicks may be hoping that Anthony falls to them as a free agent next summer.

Read more: Via Fanhouse

An NBA source said that Carmelo Anthony's arrival for media day in Denver on Monday would mean that the proposed trade to send him to New Jersey is dead.

The Nuggets are reportedly shopping Anthony to alternative suitors like Philadelphia for Andre Iguodala and Golden State for Stephen Curry. It is not clear whether Anthony would agree to sign a contract extension with either team. But it is possible that the Sixers would be willing to make a move for Anthony without an extension, in order to shed the long-term contract of Iguodala.

Via Denver Post

A source connected to the ongoing trade discussions involving Carmelo Anthony said that there is "better than a 50 percent chance" that a trade will be completed within the next 24-48 hours.

William Wesley met with Jay-Z last week in New York to help set the stage for Anthony's arrival with the Nets, said a person with direct knowledge of the meeting.

While the Nuggets want to talk to Anthony directly, sources familiar with his position think that the team's attempt to change his mind about leaving Denver will be futile.

Any positive comments Anthony may make to the media on Monday are likely to be spin rather than actually indicating an open mind about remaining in Denver.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets are not sure they want to accept Derrick Favors as the centerpiece in a trade of their superstar.

Via CBS Sports

My 4 Team Melo-To-Nets Trade Idea

It seems like there is a hold up between some of the teams involved in the recent 'Melo trade rumours... namely the Jordancats with their refusal to part with DJ Augustine even though they are the one benefitting the most in that 4 team deal considering they are only giving up the French Pastry...


... aka the Pillsbury Diawboy for Devin Harris. Unlike the failed Chandler deal, Charlotte is NOT a critical component to the 4 team Melo trade. Which means they can be replaced by any other team in the league.

I also would like to ask why the Nets are also moving Harris in the same deal when they DON'T need to? Why create a hole at the PG spot when it's one of the most important positions in the NBA today? Why not replace him with Troy Murphy? It creates a hole up front but 4's are a lot easier to find than 1's in the league. Not to mention that Harris has a bigger impact on the game.

So here is my proposal:

Trade:
Troy Murphy
Derrick Favors
Quinton Ross
2012 1st Round Pick via Golden State

Receive:

Carmelo Anthony
Chris Wilcox

Trade:
Carmelo Anthony
Renaldo Balkman

Receive:

Derrick Favors
Andrei Kirilenko
2012 1st Round Pick via Golden State

Trade:
Andrei Kirilenko
Ronnie Price

Receive:

Troy Murphy
Renaldo Balkman


Trade:

Chris Wilcox

Receive:

Ronnie Price
Quinton Ross

The Pistons don't use Chris Wilcox and need another point guard on the roster. Troy Murphy makes a lot more sense for Utah both financially and fit wise on the team. Not to mention that pudgy Diaw won't get off the bench with Sloan coaching the team.

Wilcox isn't much but a starting lineup with Lopez, Wilcox, Carmelo, Williams and Harris is better than Lopez, Murphy, Carmelo, Williams and Farmar.

The funny thing is, what the Nets should have done was KEEP Yi rather than dump him for nothing as he is looking like a different player this summer at the FIBA World Championship. Atleast then they wouldn't have had problems filling the 4 spot following the Melo trade. All the 3M in extra cap space got them was Farmar, Outlaw, Petro and Morrow. Ok fine Morrow was a good signing but the rest were below average at best.

But am I really surprised? They have this man running the team now..