Possible Rockets Offers

The Proposed Deals


1. The Rockets get: F Carmelo Anthony

The Nuggets get: SG Kevin Martin, F Jared Jefferies, and 2011 draft pick

In the simplest scenario, the Nuggets would take back Martin’s monstrous deal and rapid-fire scoring faculty, Jefferies’ expiring contract, and the right to swap picks with the Knicks should the conditions outlined above come to fruition. This trade seems unlikely, since, it seems, any discussion would start with Brooks.

2. The Rockets get: F Carmelo Anthony

The Nuggets get: PG Aaron Brooks, Trevor Ariza trade exception, F Jared Jefferies, 2011 draft pick and SG Jermaine Taylor

In another “just Anthony” deal, Ujiri and Karl would obtain a Billups surrogate to pair with Lawson, a valuable spending chip, a potential lottery talent, and a bargain basement, athletic guard with mouthwatering upside. Lowry would take the reins as the Rockets' full-time starter, while Morey would need to pursue a backup point. Can Lowry start on a productive playoff team, much less a championship-caliber one?

3. The Rockets get: F Carmelo Anthony, G-F J.R. Smith

The Nuggets get: PG Aaron Brooks, SG Kevin Martin, F Jared Jefferies, F-C Jordan Hill, F Mike Harris, a 2011 draft pick, and SG Jermaine Taylor

In this more complex scheme, Denver would dump Smith and land both Brooks and Martin, a readymade starting backcourt on a playoff contender. Ujiri would welcome some financial flexibility, and Hill and Taylor’s young legs and potential. Harris is a throwaway addition—but by no means a useless player—to make the money work.

4. The Rockets get: F Carmelo Anthony, PG Chauncey Billups

The Nuggets get: PG Aaron Brooks, SG Kevin Martin, SF Shane Battier, F Jared Jefferies or Trevor Ariza trade exception, F Jordan Hill, 2011 or 2012 draft pick, and SG Jermaine Taylor

The final two proposals would wipe out all or most of the Rockets’ trade assets. Morey would do it if he could attain Anthony. This scenario supposes that Denver wants to package Anthony and Billups, not Anthony and Smith. Since Anthony and Billups make $17 million and $13 million, Morey would need to submit all of the above pieces to make salaries match.

5. The Rockets get: F Carmelo Anthony, PG Chauncey Billups, and SF J.R. Smith

The Nuggets get: PG Aaron Brooks, SG Kevin Martin, SF Shane Battier, F Jared Jefferies, F Jordan Hill, 2011 or 2012 Draft Pick, Trevor Ariza trade exception, and SG Jermaine Taylor

This “kitchen sink” scenario supposes Ujiri wants to package all three players in an Anthony exchange. It takes a lot of Houston assets to match the $30 million Morey would get back in this deal. Again, I think Morey would do it to fetch a performer of Anthony’s caliber.

After a further examination of the rules, I should note that three of these trades would not garner league approval if executed as published. A team cannot add a trade exception to a deal to make the finances work. Think of these ideas, then, as discussion starting points.

 

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...trades-rockets-could-engineer-to-land-anthony