Mavericks Join the ‘Melo Derby

Mark Cuban has reportedly thrown his hat in the ring for Anthony’s services. Why the hell not? Dallas Basketball reports: “The Mavs have in recent days ‘continue to touch base’ with the Nuggets regarding Carmelo Anthony trade ideas, sources tell us. But it seems there are three immovable hurdles blocking ‘Melo-to-the-Mavs from viability. As detailed to us tonight by two NBA sources, those hurdles are: What Denver believes it can get in exchange from somebody like New Jersey, which features young ‘lottery-level’’ talent like Devin Harris and Derrick Favors. If the Nuggets are preparing to tear down their roster and rebuild – the likely path assuming Anthony departs – they will want to do so with a core of young-but-proven talent. Our understanding is that while Rodrigue Beaubois might fit that profile, Dallas comes up short in terms of other names. Dominique Jones? He’s the 25th pick, a rookie, who is toiling in the D-League. J.J. Barea? Not a building block. Ian Mahinmi and Alexis Ajinca? Obviously not A-level talent. What Dallas has done, to its credit, is develop some ‘D-level’ guys into ‘C-level’ guys; Mahinmi and Ajinca would have supplemental value in trades. But Denver isn’t interested in supplements. Nor, apparently, are they interested in a package that would also feature the expiring contract of Caron Butler.”