Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 2:24 pm  |  26 responses

Trader’s Market: Melo Pt. 2 – Southern Hospitality

Is Melo Jordan-bound or pulling a Houdini on us?

by Sandy Dover / @SandmanSeven

Dang. Well, so much for Miami Heat swingman LeBron James causing a stir that was relative to his own former team’s demise — he’s been responsible for not only Chris Paul’s vacillations about leaving the New Orleans Hornets, but his Three Musketeers move has now gotten Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony into the act and now, he’s sent word that he’s looking to go elsewhere (yeesh). With that out of the way, the Trader’s Market is going to see how Carmelo Anthony might best fit in with a number of teams that could make good trade partners with the Nuggets and maximize his own skCarmelo Anthonyills to win big.

I’ll be the ultimate GM here, with the help of ESPN’s Trade Machine.

(Part 1 can be found here.)

TRADE 3

Carmelo Anthony and Arron Afflalo go to the Orlando Magic; Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus go to the Denver Nuggets

WHY IT WORKS

If the Orlando Magic were to acquire the likes of another star perimeter player to pair with Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis, it’s not impossible to believe that the Magic could go to the NBA Finals. Melo would be able to be such a distraction offensively that honest man-to-man defense by opposing teams might be the risk they would have to take to prevent a perimeter double-team from turning into a Dwight Howard dunk fest. Getting Arron Afflalo would make Orlando that much more competent on defense and on the ball offensively.

The brilliance in acquiring Vinsanity, for the Denver Nuggets, would be that the Nuggets would have no pressure to re-sign the man, considering he’s in his last years of superstar pay (and quasi-star play). He’d be a nice bridge to keep the team in playoff mode, but nothing special, if we’re being honest with ourselves. Getting Mickael Pietrus would be the real treat, as he’s in his prime and blossoming just as the Nuggets need a player to be able to play well as all the other players on the roster continue to age, get injured or wind up in some sort of trouble. Air France’s modest salary and good play make his acquisition a win for Denver in their losing Melo.

TRADE 4

Anthony, JR Smith and Renaldo Balkman go to the Charlotte Bobcats; Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw go the Denver Nuggets

WHY IT WORKS

The Charlotte Bobcats would certifiably become players with Carmelo Anthony and coach Larry Brown together. Getting one of the NBA’s best teachers together with one of the most gifted players in the League, with a boss (Michael Jordan) who endorses said player would present a great threesome of competitive fire for the team. Also, Brown coaching a knucklehead like Smith would likely be just the thing to help him mature (and having the greatest player ever to play the game behind Smith might do the trick as well). Renaldo Balkman could bring Gerald Wallace-lite hustle and would make Charlotte a more well-blended team heading into the Playoffs.

Denver, on the other hand, would be able to still compete for leadership atop the Western Conference standings with a more mature, great-playing Stephen Jackson on the wing next to Chauncey Billups. Boris Diaw would almost have to get himself into great shape with the thinner air up in Colorado, so his contributions would almost certainly be passably good, while Gerald Wallace would give the Nuggets another All-Star forward, but one who would defend almost as well as Carmelo scores. Above all, JR Smith would be gone and no longer a distraction. The Playoffs would be likely, but nothing beyond the second round would be expected.

TRADE 5

Anthony and Balkman go the Atlanta Hawks; Jamal Crawford and Marvin Williams go to the Denver Nuggets

WHY IT WORKS

Melo, Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford. Already a team that has been looking up for the past five years, adding No. 15 to an already-loaded squad could just be enough to push the Atlanta Hawks into Finals contention (they’d be in line to do some things in the conference finals — I think; his arrival would certainly push the Hawks’ payroll into the cosmos in the future years, that’s for sure). Getting rid of a complaining Jamal Crawford and a somewhat (relatively) average Marvin Williams would be nothing in acquiring Mr. Anthony, but there’s only so much that the Hawks could realistically do with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic already primed for future championship bouts.

Denver, on the other hand, would be able to get a very good shooter/scorer to pair with Billups in the Nuggets’ backcourt, and they’d likely do well sharing ball-handling duties, both being some form of the elusive combo guard archetype; re-signing Crawford would be great for continuity and continued elevated production from the shooting guard spot. The former Tar Heel Williams would be a steady presence on the wing and give some additional perimeter presence to a team that could more threats from mid-range and beyond the arc; Williams also is a competent scorer around the basket, and is just crafty enough to allow Denver center Nene to get a few good looks when the opposing defense looks to lock down slashers like the small forward. The Playoffs would be a near certainty.

Sandy Dover is a novelist/writer, artist and fitness enthusiast, as well as an unyielding Prince fan (for real). You can find Sandy frequently here at SLAMonline, as well as at Facebook and Twitter.

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • arjae828 Posted: Aug.31 at 2:35 pm
    no way crawford & j.r. could ever play on the same team.

  • larrylegend Posted: Aug.31 at 2:44 pm
    ORLANDO MAGIC (what a florida rivalary that would be)…but only if he looses fat and plays D, so…

  • AlbertBarr Posted: Aug.31 at 3:18 pm
    The Orlando Trade would make the most sense…for both teams. Denver would also get the cap relief of Vince’s expiring contract.

  • total scrotal implosion Posted: Aug.31 at 3:39 pm
    Orl makes most sense, but they would want more than just vince and peaches

  • xplore Posted: Aug.31 at 3:43 pm
    first off trade 3 is pretty much old vince carter who really can’t do much. you know on of those players who the crowd waits for him to do something
    and rarely something doesn’t haappen. melo, now this guy has some potential waiting to explode. this guy is young and can become the greatest player. and vince already had his time with the spectacular dunks like his 360 windmills.

  • xplore Posted: Aug.31 at 3:54 pm
    SORRY I MESSED UP ON LINE 4 OF MY COMMENT ON TRADE 3. I MEANT TO SAY and something rarely happens. THANX okay on trade 4 im kinda likin this. melo would really help a rebuilding team not to mention he will be with air jordan. gerald wallace might have a good fit with denver, but it might be risk. wallace needs to get his outside scoring down. THEN WE’LL TALK!

  • xplore Posted: Aug.31 at 4:01 pm
    I love trade 4 on the hawks point of view. let’s see JJ, HORFORD, MELO, JOSH SMITH. is that a big 4? BIBBY IS OVERRATED. let’s pause and think about denver. denver will have C-BILL, CRAWFORD, NENE,JR SMITH. not much of a big 3 or 4. let’s see yeah they kould win if the 3 ball is going down for them. But where’s the height? how can they manage to even compete with lakers, celtics, or heat?

  • xplore Posted: Aug.31 at 4:03 pm
    sOrRy MEANT TRADE 5 FOR HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THANXX

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Aug.31 at 4:15 pm
    Your welcome?

  • D12FSU Posted: Aug.31 at 4:54 pm
    please…..make the magic trade happen! we would probably have to throw in gortat and anderson/bass

  • Michael NZ Posted: Aug.31 at 6:29 pm
    Vince Carter is nothing but an expiring contract. Bobcats trade wouldn’t happen, but if you’re Denver and you know losing Melo is a given, at least thats some talent coming back. Actually think that the Hawks option could be a possibility.

  • Overtime Posted: Aug.31 at 8:22 pm
    The Charlotte trade would be a steal for Denver (since theyve pretty much gotta get rid of Melo).
    Hawks might act be a possibily, as Crawford’s starting to make noise about an extension

  • Jon Posted: Aug.31 at 8:54 pm
    Some of the biggest pile of crap I’ve read in awhile. Remember we’re talking about Melo here, one of the top 8 player sin the world right now. And trading him for the likes of G.Wallace? Pieturus? Please…at least throw in a Brook Lopez or someone half decent.

  • Michael NZ Posted: Aug.31 at 9:09 pm
    Is Melo REALLY top 8 material?

  • San Dova Posted: Aug.31 at 9:50 pm
    JON > Carmelo Anthony is probably top-15 in the league, but not top-8. LBJ, Wade, Kobe, Dirk, Durant, CP3, Dwight Howard, and Gasol are players that are easily better than Melo right now, and that’s eight players right there; not to mention Steve Nash, Duncan, Amar’e, Deron Williams, Gilbert Arenas…Carmelo’s close, but beyond scoring, his contributions have him falling back.

  • NBA Kid Posted: Aug.31 at 9:51 pm
    I really wanna see Melo on the Magic. I think if the Nuggets throw in Birdman and the Magic add Gortat and a 1st round pick, the trade looks more realistic

  • Michael NZ Posted: Aug.31 at 10:08 pm
    @Sandy: Arenas? Anyway, here’s the players I’d rate ahead of Melo: Dwight, Pau, Duncan, Dirk, LeBron, Durant, Wade, Kobe, CP3 and Deron Williams.
    –
    Marginal: Brandon Roy, Steve Nash, Derrick Rose, Rondo, Amar’e.
    –
    So I got Anthony in the 11-13 range.

  • BETCATS Posted: Aug.31 at 10:11 pm
    Carmelo Anthony? DO NOT WANT. He would wine and dine us, then leave after a year. Who cares that he works for Jordan, he could just as easily switch shoe companies (like that hasnt been done by other guys before). Plus trading a man who i want to see retire a Bobcat/the centerpiece of our franchise to get him is just retarded.

  • MikeC. Posted: Aug.31 at 10:24 pm
    I’m just waiting for a team to say “Eff you for demanding a trade and refusing to honor your contract!” Then trading that player to the exact opposite of where the player wants to go. Melo wants bright lights of NY? Enjoy Milwaukee. Melo wants to play with Dwight? Have fun in Minneapolis. The team owners are in charge if they are willing to take a PR hit to prove a point.

  • MikeC. Posted: Aug.31 at 10:26 pm
    That being said, I’m a total hypocrite who wants Melo in blue and orange.

  • drjnieto Posted: Aug.31 at 10:26 pm
    Melo, JR, Martin for Vince C, Gortat, Bass or Anderson, Michael P.
    Magic will be sick
    J Nelson–Duhon, J Will
    JR Smith–JJ Redick
    C Anthony- Q Rich
    R Lewis-Bass or Anderson
    D Howard-Marti, Orton
    Bench JJ redick, Bass or Anderson, Martin, Q Rich, J Will, Orton

  • San Dova Posted: Aug.31 at 11:17 pm
    MICHAEL NZ > Yep, Arenas. He’s always been better than Melo in the league. While his last three injury-plagued years have kept him off, he rates higher than Melo; not by much, but he’s higher to me. My list wasn’t rating in order, by the way.

  • meloman2.0 Posted: Aug.31 at 11:27 pm
    Melo is top 5 in the L. period!

  • Michael NZ Posted: Aug.31 at 11:53 pm
    Sandy: you listed the players you felt were better than Melo RIGHT NOW, not 5 years ago, correct? (which was when Arenas peaked). Isn’t their current form/ability the only thing relevant? Besides its hardly surprising Arenas was better in 2005 – it was only Melo’s second/third year.

  • San Dova Posted: Sep.1 at 7:18 am
    MICHAEL NZ > I was thinking more 2007, but still, I suppose you’ve made your point. He’s still not a top-10 player (but barely though).

  • c_cantrell Posted: Dec.15 at 4:23 pm
    if only trade 3 would go down

Comments




The comments section is a place to further discuss the topics in this post. Commenters who seek to accomplish any of the following may be banned: - Personally attack other commenters. - Make derogatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation or religion. - Troll, or comment with the intention of creating problems. Trolling includes, but isn't limited to, baiting people to flame at you, encouraging people to leave the site, spamming and using alternate IDs.