Nash Would Play For Canada If Triano Was Still The Coach?

Nash sang the praises of Raptors coach Jay Triano to Barbosa — “He also said if he was a coach he would have come back,” Barbosa said Nash told him about Triano, referring to the Canadian national team — and tried to welcome him to his country.

Via National Post

Did he tell you anything about Jay Triano? "The thing that he told me when I think you guys wanted him to make a part of the national team was that he was so close with the coach that the time he went with the national team it was because of the coach. He also said if (Triano) was a coach he would have come back. He said that he's a good coach that I would like."

Via Raptorblog

I've always speculated this was the case but this is the first time I've seen it in the papers. Or maybe my memory is fuzzy. I can only imagine how much it would have helped Canada Basketball's Senior Men's program and the game in Canada. I guess the clip below explains the sad state of the Senior Men's National Team.




Not to worry though as Canada does have young NBA caliber talent like Thompson, Joseph, Pangos, Kabongo, Birch, Wiltjer, Olynyk, Wiggins etc coming up through the program. No more Ryan Bell and Aaron Doornekamp in a couple of years.

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

Iguodala, Westbrook And Smith Talk Taxes, Politics On FOX

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..